DOCSLIB.ORG

Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge EPA/625/R-92/013 Revised July 2003

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge EPA/625/R-92/013 Revised July� 2003 United States Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Regulations and Technology Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge EPA/625/R-92/013 Revised July 2003 Environmental Regulations and Technology Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge (Including Domestic Septage) Under 40 CFR Part 503 This guidance was prepared by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Risk Management Research Laboratory Center for Environmental Research Information Cincinnati, OH 45268 Recycled/Recyclable P rinted with vegetable-based ink on paper that contains a minimum of 50% pos t-consumer fiber content processe d chlorine free. Notice This report has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and approved for publication. The process alternatives, trade names, or commercial products are only ex­ amples and are not endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other alternatives may exist or may be developed. ii Foreword The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged by Congress with protecting the Nation’s land, air, and water resources. Under a mandate of national environmental laws, the Agency strives to formulate and implement actions leading to a compatible balance between human activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. To meet this mandate, EPA’s research program is providing data and technical support for solving environmental problems today and building a science knowledge base necessary to manage our ecological resources wisely, understand how pollutants affect our health, and prevent or reduce environmental risks in the future. The National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) is the Agency’s center for investigation of technological and management approaches for preventing and reducing risks from pollution that threaten human health and the environment. The focus of the Laboratory’s research program is on methods and their cost-effectiveness for prevention and control of pollution to air, land, water, and subsurface resources; protection of water quality in public water systems; remediation of contaminated sites, sediments and ground water; prevention and control of indoor air pollution; and restoration of ecosystems. NRMRL collaborates with both public and private sector partners to foster technologies that reduce the cost of compliance and to anticipate emerging problems. NRMRL’s research provides solutions to environmental problems by: developing and promoting technologies that protect and improve the environment; advancing scientific and engineering information to support regulatory and policy decisions; and providing the technical support and information transfer to ensure implementation of environmental regulations and strategies at the national, state, and community levels. This publication has been produced as part of the Laboratory’s strategic long-term research plan. It is published and made available by EPA’s Office of Research and Development to assist the user community and to link researchers with their clients. Hugh W. McKinnon, Director National Risk Management Research Laboratory iii Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 What is Sewage Sludge? .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 U.S. Regulation of Treated Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) ..................................................... 4 1.3 Implementation Guidance .................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Definitions ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Pathogen Equivalency Committee ..................................................................................... 6 1.6 What is in this Document? ................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2 Sewage Sludge Pathogens ............................................................................................. 8 2.1 What are Pathogens? ..................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Pathogens in Sewage Sludge .......................................................................................... 8 2.3 General Information on Pathogens .................................................................................. 10 2.4 Protecting Public Health -The Part 503 ........................................................................... 11 2.5 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3 Overview of Part 503 Subpart D Requirements, Their Applicability, and Related Requirements ................................................................................................. 20 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Pathogen Reduction Requirements ................................................................................. 20 3.3 Vector Attraction Reduction (VAR) Requirements [503.33] ............................................. 21 3.4 Applicability of the Requirements [503.15 and 503.25] ................................................... 21 3.5 Frequency of Monitoring .................................................................................................. 22 3.6 Sampling Stockpiled or Remixed Biosolids ..................................................................... 22 3.7 Recordkeeping Requirements [503.17 and 503.27] ......................................................... 23 3.8 Reporting Requirements for Sewage Sludge [503.18 and 503.28] ................................... 23 3.9 Permits and Direct Enforceability [503.3] ........................................................................ 25 Chapter 4 Class A Pathogen Requirements .................................................................................. 26 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Vector Attraction Reduction to Occur With or After Class A Pathogen Reduction [503.32(a)(2)] .................................................................................................. 26 4.3 Monitoring of Fecal Coliform or Salmonella sp. to Detect Growth of Bacterial Pathogens [503.32(a)(3)-(8)] ............................................................................................................. 27 4.4 Alternative 1: Thermally Treated Sewage Sludge [503.32(a)(3)] ....................................... 28 4.5 Alternative 2: Sewage Sludge Treated in a High pH-High Temperature Process (Alkaline Treatment) [503.32(a)(4)] ................................................................................................. 30 4.6 Alternative 3: Sewage Sludge Treated in Other Processes [503.32(a)(5)] ....................... 31 4.7 Alternative 4: Sewage Sludge Treated in Unknown Processes [503.32(a)(6)] ................. 32 4.8 Alternative 5: Use of PFRP [503.32(a)(7)] ....................................................................... 32 4.9 Alternative 6: Use of a Process Equivalent to PFRP [503.32(a)(8)] ................................. 33 4.10 Frequency of Testing .................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 5 Class B Pathogen Requirements and Requirements for Domestic Septage Applied to Agricultural Land, a Forest, or a Reclamation Site ..................................... 36 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 36 5.2 Sewage Sludge Alternative 1: Monitoring of Fecal Coliform [503.32(b)(2)] ....................... 36 5.3 Sewage Sludge Alternative 2: Use of a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRPs) [503.32(b)(3)] ............................................................................... 37 5.4 Sewage Sludge Alternative 3: Use of Processes Equivalent to PSRP [503.32(b)(4)] ....... 38 v 5.5 Site Restrictions for Land Application of Biosolids [503.32(b)(5)] .................................... 38 5.6 Domestic Septage [503.32(c)] ......................................................................................... 41 Chapter 6 Processes to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRPs) .............................................. 43 6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 43 6.2 Aerobic Digestion ...........................................................................................................43 6.3 Anaerobic Digestion ........................................................................................................ 45 6.4 Air Drying ........................................................................................................................ 46 6.5 Composting ..................................................................................................................... 47 6.6 Lime Stabilization ............................................................................................................ 48 6.7 Equivalent
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Combined Vermifiltration-Hydroponic System
    applied sciences Article A Combined Vermifiltration-Hydroponic System for Swine Wastewater Treatment Kirill Ispolnov 1,*, Luis M. I. Aires 1,Nídia D. Lourenço 2 and Judite S. Vieira 1 1 Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), School of Technology and Management (ESTG), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; [email protected] (L.M.I.A.); [email protected] (J.S.V.) 2 Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit (UCIBIO)-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT), NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Intensive swine farming causes strong local environmental impacts by generating ef- fluents rich in solids, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pathogenic bacteria. Insufficient treatment of hog farm effluents has been reported for common technologies, and vermifiltration is considered a promising treatment alternative that, however, requires additional processes to remove nitrate and phosphorus. This work aimed to study the use of vermifiltration with a downstream hydroponic culture to treat hog farm effluents. A treatment system comprising a vermifilter and a downstream deep-water culture hydroponic unit was built. The treated effluent was reused to dilute raw wastewater. Electrical conductivity, pH, and changes in BOD5, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphorus, and coliform bacteria were assessed. Plants were monitored throughout the experiment. Electrical conductivity increased due to vermifiltration; pH stayed within a neutral to mild alkaline range. Vermifiltration removed 83% of BOD5, 99% of ammonia and nitrite, and increased nitrate by Citation: Ispolnov, K.; Aires, L.M.I.; 11%.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Leachate Recirculation and Ph Adjustment
    Distributed Model of Solid Waste Anaerobic Digestion Effects of Leachate Recirculation and pH Adjustment Vasily A. Vavilin,1 Sergey V. Rytov,1 Ljudmila Ya. Lokshina,1 Spyros G. Pavlostathis,2 Morton A. Barlaz3 1Water Problems Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia; e-mail: [email protected] 2Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512 3North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7908 Received 25 March 2002; accepted 5 June 2002 DOI: 10.1002/bit.10450 Abstract: A distributed model of solid waste digestion bioreactors have been operated for over a decade. However, in a 1-D bioreactor with leachate recirculation and pH the cost of these systems is relatively high (Westegard and adjustment was developed to analyze the balance be- tween the rates of polymer hydrolysis/acidogenesis and Teir, 1999). In “wet” complete mixed systems, the organic methanogenesis during the anaerobic digestion of mu- solid waste is diluted with water to less than 15% total nicipal solid waste (MSW). The model was calibrated on solids (TS), while in “dry” systems, the waste mass within previously published experimental data generated in 2-L the reactor is kept at a solids content in the range of 20–40% reactors filled with shredded refuse and operated with TS. Because batch digesters are technically simple, the capi- leachate recirculation and neutralization. Based on model simulations, both waste degradation and meth- tal cost is significantly lower than for continuously fed di- ane production were stimulated when inhibition was pre- gesters, though some technical problems still exist (ten vented rapidly from the start, throughout the reactor vol- Brummeler, 2000).
    [Show full text]
  • Infiltration/Inflow Task Force Report
    INFILTRATION/INFLOW TASK FORCE REPORT A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR MWRA MEMBER SEWER COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MARCH 2001 INFILTRATION/INFLOW TASK FORCE REPORT A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR MWRA MEMBER SEWER COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MARCH 2001 Executive Summary This report is the product of the Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Task Force. It has been developed through the cooperative efforts of the 43 Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) member sewer communities, MWRA Advisory Board, The Wastewater Advisory Committee (WAC) to the MWRA, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), Fore River Watershed Association (FRWA), Mystic River Watershed Association (MRWA), Neponset River Watershed Association (NRWA), South Shore Chamber of Commerce (SSCC), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and MWRA. The I/I Task Force recommends implementation of the regional I/I reduction goals and implementation strategies detailed in this report. The report outlines a regional I/I reduction plan with appropriate burdens and benefits for stakeholders. The report is intended to be a guidance document for use by local sewer communities, as well as other regional stakeholders, who may tailor appropriate aspects of the report recommendations to their unique situations. Severe storms in October 1996 and June 1998 led to the unusual circumstance of numerous sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from local and MWRA collection systems. In the aftermath of these events, EPA and DEP began an aggressive effort to make MWRA regulate flows from community sewer systems. MWRA recommended cooperative efforts by local collection system operators, as well as regulators and environmental advocates, would be more effective than a prescriptive, enforcement based approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislation for the Reuse of Biosolids on Agricultural Land in Europe: Overview
    sustainability Review Legislation for the Reuse of Biosolids on Agricultural Land in Europe: Overview Maria Cristina Collivignarelli 1 , Alessandro Abbà 2, Andrea Frattarola 1, Marco Carnevale Miino 1 , Sergio Padovani 3, Ioannis Katsoyiannis 4,* and Vincenzo Torretta 5 1 Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy; [email protected] (M.C.C.); [email protected] (A.F.); [email protected] (M.C.M.) 2 Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy; [email protected] 3 ARPA Lombardia, Pavia Department, via Nino Bixio 13, 27100 Pavia, Italy; [email protected] 4 Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece 5 Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, via G.B. Vico 46, 21100 Varese, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 17 September 2019; Accepted: 25 October 2019; Published: 29 October 2019 Abstract: The issues concerning the management of sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants are becoming more important in Europe due to: (i) the modification of sludge quality (biological and chemical sludge are often mixed with negative impacts on sludge management, especially for land application); (ii) the evolution of legislation (landfill disposal is banned in many European countries); and (iii) the technologies for energy and material recovery from sludge not being fully applied in all European Member States. Furthermore, Directive 2018/851/EC introduced the waste hierarchy that involved a new strategy with the prevention in waste production and the minimization of landfill disposal.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Standards for Wastewater Facilities
    RECOMMENDED STANDARDS for WASTEWATER FACILITIES POLICIES FOR THE DESIGN, REVIEW, AND APPROVAL OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT FACILITIES 2014 EDITION A REPORT OF THE WASTEWATER COMMITTEE OF THE GREAT LAKES - UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BOARD OF STATE AND PROVINCIAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS MEMBER STATES AND PROVINCE ILLINOIS NEW YORK INDIANA OHIO IOWA ONTARIO MICHIGAN PENNSYLVANIA MINNESOTA WISCONSIN MISSOURI PUBLISHED BY: Health Research, Inc., Health Education Services Division P.O. Box 7126 Albany, N.Y. 12224 Phone: (518) 439-7286 Visit Our Web Site http://www.healthresearch.org/store/ten-state-standards Copyright © 2014 by the Great Lakes - Upper Mississippi River Board of State and Provincial Public Health and Environmental Managers This document, or portions thereof, may be reproduced without permission if credit is given to the Board and to this publication as a source. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................................... v 10 ENGINEERING REPORTS AND FACILITY PLANS 10. General ............................................................................................................................. 10-1 11. Engineering Report Or Facility Plan ................................................................................ 10-1 12. Pre-Design Meeting ....................................................................................................... 10-12
    [Show full text]
  • Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture: Good Practice Examples
    SAFE USE OF WASTEWATER IN AGRICULTURE: GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES Hiroshan Hettiarachchi Reza Ardakanian, Editors SAFE USE OF WASTEWATER IN AGRICULTURE: GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES Hiroshan Hettiarachchi Reza Ardakanian, Editors PREFACE Population growth, rapid urbanisation, more water intense consumption patterns and climate change are intensifying the pressure on freshwater resources. The increasing scarcity of water, combined with other factors such as energy and fertilizers, is driving millions of farmers and other entrepreneurs to make use of wastewater. Wastewater reuse is an excellent example that naturally explains the importance of integrated management of water, soil and waste, which we define as the Nexus While the information in this book are generally believed to be true and accurate at the approach. The process begins in the waste sector, but the selection of date of publication, the editors and the publisher cannot accept any legal responsibility for the correct management model can make it relevant and important to any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, expressed or the water and soil as well. Over 20 million hectares of land are currently implied, with respect to the material contained herein. known to be irrigated with wastewater. This is interesting, but the The opinions expressed in this book are those of the Case Authors. Their inclusion in this alarming fact is that a greater percentage of this practice is not based book does not imply endorsement by the United Nations University. on any scientific criterion that ensures the “safe use” of wastewater. In order to address the technical, institutional, and policy challenges of safe water reuse, developing countries and countries in transition need clear institutional arrangements and more skilled human resources, United Nations University Institute for Integrated with a sound understanding of the opportunities and potential risks of Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources wastewater use.
    [Show full text]
  • Simplified Sewerage Systems and Potential Application to Rural Louisiana Communities
    University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO Senior Honors Theses Undergraduate Showcase 5-2018 Simplified Sewerage Systems and Potential Application to Rural Louisiana Communities Homero de Toledo Sobrinho University of New Orleans Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/honors_theses Part of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons Recommended Citation de Toledo Sobrinho, Homero, "Simplified Sewerage Systems and Potential Application to Rural Louisiana Communities" (2018). Senior Honors Theses. 100. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/honors_theses/100 This Honors Thesis-Unrestricted is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Honors Thesis-Unrestricted in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Honors Thesis-Unrestricted has been accepted for inclusion in Senior Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SIMPLIFIED SEWERAGE SYSTEMS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATION TO RURAL LOUISIANA COMMUNITIES An Honors Thesis Presented to the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of New Orleans In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science, with University High Honors And Honors in Civil Engineering by Homero de Toledo Sobrinho May 2018 Acknowledgments I would like to express my great appreciation of the help given by Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Processes Introduction
    Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Processes Introduction Excess Foam High Effluent Suspended Solids High Effluent Soluble BOD or Ammonia Low effluent pH Introduction Review of the literature shows that the activated sludge process has experienced operational problems since its inception. Although they did not experience settling problems with their activated sludge, Ardern and Lockett (Ardern and Lockett, 1914a) did note increased turbidity and reduced nitrification with reduced temperatures. By the early 1920s continuous-flow systems were having to deal with the scourge of activated sludge, bulking (Ardem and Lockett, 1914b, Martin 1927) and effluent suspended solids problems. Martin (1927) also describes effluent quality problems due to toxic and/or high-organic- strength industrial wastes. Oxygen demanding materials would bleedthrough the process. More recently, Jenkins, Richard and Daigger (1993) discussed severe foaming problems in activated sludge systems. Experience shows that controlling the activated sludge process is still difficult for many plants in the United States. However, improved process control can be obtained by systematically looking at the problems and their potential causes. Once the cause is defined, control actions can be initiated to eliminate the problem. Problems associated with the activated sludge process can usually be related to four conditions (Schuyler, 1995). Any of these can occur by themselves or with any of the other conditions. The first is foam. So much foam can accumulate that it becomes a safety problem by spilling out onto walkways. It becomes a regulatory problem as it spills from clarifier surfaces into the effluent. The second, high effluent suspended solids, can be caused by many things. It is the most common problem found in activated sludge systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Chemical Industry Wastewater Treatment
    CHEMICAL INDUSTRY WASTEWATER TREATMENT Fayza A. Nasr\ Hala S. Doma\ Hisham S Abdel-Halim", Saber A. El-Shafai* * Water Pollution Research department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt "Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt Abstract Treatment of chemical industrial wastewater from building and construction chemicals factory and plastic shoes manufacturing factory was investigated. The two factories discharge their wastewater into the public sewerage network. The results showed the wastewater discharged from the building and construction chemicals factory was highly contaminated with organic compounds. The average values of COD and BOD were 2912 and 150 mg02/l. Phenol concentration up to 0.3 mg/l was detected. Chemical treatment using lime aided with ferric chloride proved to be effective and produced an effluent characteristics in compliance with Egyptian permissible limits. With respect to the other factory, industrial wastewater was mixed with domestic wastewater in order to lower the organic load. The COD, BOD values after mixing reached 5239 and 2615 mg02/l. The average concentration of phenol was 0.5 mg/l. Biological treatment using activated sludge or rotating biological contactor (RBC) proved to be an effective treatment system in terms of producing an effluent characteristic within the permissible limits set by the law. Therefore, the characteristics of chemical industrial wastewater determine which treatment system to utilize. Based on laboratory results TESCE, Vol. 30, No.2 <@> December 2004 engineering design of each treatment system was developed and cost estimate prepared. Key words: chemical industry, wastewater, treatment, chemical, biological Introduction The chemical industry is of importance in terms of its impact on the environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Recovery from Sewage Sludge: the Case Study of Croatia
    energies Article Energy Recovery from Sewage Sludge: The Case Study of Croatia Dinko Đurđevi´c 1,* , Paolo Blecich 2 and Željko Juri´c 1 1 Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; [email protected] 2 Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 26 April 2019; Accepted: 16 May 2019; Published: 20 May 2019 Abstract: Croatia produced 21,366 tonnes of dry matter (DM) sewage sludge (SS) in 2016, a quantity expected to surpass 100,000 tonnes DM by 2024. Annual production rates for future wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Croatia are estimated at 5.8–7.3 Nm3/people equivalent (PE) for biogas and 20–25 kgDM/PE of sewage sludge. Biogas can be converted into 12–16 kWhel/PE of electricity and 19–24 kWhth/PE of heat, which is sufficient for 30–40% of electrical and 80–100% of thermal autonomy. The WWTP autonomy can be increased using energy recovery from sewage sludge incineration by 60% for electricity and 100% of thermal energy (10–13 kWhel/PE and 30–38 kWhth/PE). However, energy for sewage sludge drying exceeds energy recovery, unless solar drying is performed. 2 The annual solar drying potential is estimated between 450–750 kgDM/m of solar drying surface. The lower heating value of dried sewage sludge is 2–3 kWh/kgDM and this energy can be used for assisting sludge drying or for energy generation and supply to WWTPs. Sewage sludge can be considered a renewable energy source and its incineration generates substantially lower greenhouse gases emissions than energy generation from fossil fuels.
    [Show full text]
  • Glossary of Wastewater Terms
    Glossary of Wastewater Terms Activated Sludge Sludge that has undergone flocculation forming a bacterial culture typically carried out in tanks. Can be extended with aeration. Advanced Primary Treatment The use of special additives to raw wastewater to cause flocculation or clumping to help settling before the primary treatment such as screening. Advanced Wastewater Treatment Any advanced process used above and beyond the defacto typical minimum primary and secondary wastewater treatment. Aerobic Wastewater Treatment Oxygen dependent wastewater treatment requiring the presence of oxygen for aerobic bacterial breakdown of waste. Alkalinity A measure of a substances ability to neutralize acid. Water containing carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and occasionally borates, silicates, and phosphates can be alkaline. Alkaline substances have a pH value over 7 Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment Wastewater treatment in the absence of oxygen, anaerobic bacteria breakdown waste. Bacteria Single cell microscopic living organisms lacking chlorophyll, which digest many organic and inorganic substances. An essential part of the ecosystem including within human beings. Bioengineering The use of living plants as part of the system, be it wastewater treatment, erosion control, water polishing, habitat repair and on. Biosolids Rich organic material leftover from aerobic wastewater treatment, essentially dewatered sludge that can be re-used. BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand Since oxygen is required in the breakdown or decomposition process of wastewater, its "demand" or BOD, is a measure of the concentration of organics in the wastewater. Clarifier A piece of wastewater treatment equipment used to "clarify" the wastewater, usually some sort of holding tank that allows settling. Used when solids have a specific gravity greater than 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Utilization of Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy and Rheology for Sludge Characterization and Monitoring
    Utilization of ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and rheology for sludge characterization and monitoring by Jordan Smyth A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Environmental Engineering Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © Jordan Smyth, 2018 Abstract Operation of sludge treatment processes mainly relies on manual control, which is far from ideal. There is a need for new approaches to optimize the operation of sludge treatment processes and wastewater plants. This research aims to identify new tools and methods that can be used for in- line and real-time characterization and monitoring of sludge. Two methods that were examined in this thesis that have potential to be used as monitoring technologies were ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry and torque rheology. Effluent and filtrate absorbance measurements in the ultraviolet/visible range were successful in monitoring the progress of aerobic digestion. Torque rheology was not found to be sensitive enough for monitoring aerobic digestion of sludge, however it was able to detect changes in the total solids content of anaerobically digested sludge. Torque rheology detected significant changes in anaerobically digested sludge when trivalent cations were added, but not when divalent cations were added. i Acknowledgements First off, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Banu Ormeci. Her guidance, knowledge and motivation throughout the entire process was so helpful. She has had such a positive influence on my life and I will forever be grateful. I would also like to thank Dr.
    [Show full text]