Ever since 1976, livestock farmers in Fiji have been intrigued about biogas digesters as an animal waste management measure, but the concept has never evolved into one that is sustainable. Renewed interest came in 1997 after a better Chinese Modified Dome (CMD) design was established, with this came government funding, however by 2002, some failure was also observed. This study set out to investigate the reasons why biogas digesters have never been established as a sustainable concept, its effectiveness as an animal waste management tool and what changes if any, can be made to try and influence the further development of the concept in Fiji. In order to achieve the objectives, which were simply obtaining the answers to the questions presented above, several different approaches had to be followed. This study was the first on biogas digesters in Fiji and it was unique in the sense that the major component dealt with the social aspects of farmers in relation to their biogas digesters. Basically the study was carried out in two parts - desktop studies and field studies. Desktop studies were done to better understand the situation while the field studies included semi-structured interviews with the farmers as well as the collection of biophysical data. Twelve outcomes are presented in chapter 7 of this paper. Two in particular are the improvement of construction and maintenance, which can only come about through training. The research questions are also answered in chapter 7, with recommendations put forward on possible directions to take in terms of trying to influence the development of the concept in Fiji / Master of Science (Hons)

No presente trabalho foram realizados estudos para verificar as interferências do lançamento de resíduos de Estações de Tratamento de Água nas Estações de Tratamento de Esgoto com decantação primária. A ETA estudada utilizava cloreto férrico como coagulante primário e possuía decantadores com descarga de fundo diária. As interferências nos decantadores primários da ETE foram simuladas por meio de testes de sedimentação e nos digestores de lodo, por meio de testes de tratabilidade anaeróbia. Testes e análises complementares também foram realizados para verificar eventuais interferências no tratamento biológico da fase líquida do esgoto e no tratamento físico da fase sólida do esgoto. Os resultados indicaram aumento na eficiência de sedimentação em conseqüência do aumento da quantidade e concentração do resíduo de ETA introduzido no esgoto. Obteve-se, por exemplo, um incremento de até 50% na remoção de sólidos suspensos e turbidez, 40% na de DQO e fosfatos e 30% na de nitrogênio. No entanto, obteve-se um maior volume de lodo primário, embora de menos concentrado. De acordo com os resultados dos testes de tratabilidade anaeróbia, os resíduos da ETA não foram tóxicos ao processo. Com relação ao tratamento biológico da fase líquida do esgoto e ao tratamento físico do lodo, não foram verificadas interferências significativas no desempenho dos mesmos, embora recomenda-se o desenvolvimento de pesquisas mais específicas, especialmente sobre o processo de adensamento. Pode-se concluir que resíduos similares aos gerados na ETA estudada poderão ser dispostos em ETEs com decantação primária, sem interferências prejudiciais no seu desempenho. / In the present work simulations studies were conducted to verify the impact of Water Treatment Plants (WTP) residuals on the performance of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP). The WTP under investigation used ferric chloride as primary coagulant, was type Complete Cicle with sedimentation tanks with daily bottom discharge. The interferences in the primary sedimentation tanks were simulated using sedimentation tests, while the sludge digesters were simulated using anaerobic treatability tests. Complementary tests and analysis also were realized to verify eventual interferences in the wastewater biological treatment and in the physical treatment of the sludge. The results indicated an increment in the sedimentation eficiency caused by increasing the WTP residuals dose added into the wastewater. As WTP residuals was added at up to 225 mg dry weight solids per liter of wasterwater, the removal of solids, COD, phosphate and nitrogen, for example, increased in 50%. However, the primary tanks settled sludge volume increased considerably. According to the anaerobic treatability tests results, the WWP residuals had not toxical effects on the process, interfering positively on the methane production. Concerning the wastewater biological treatment and sludge physical treatment, no significant impacts on their performance were observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that conventional WWTP can receive similar WTP residuals as those of the WTP here studied without any negative impacts on their performance.

No presente trabalho foram realizados estudos para verificar as interferências do lançamento de resíduos de Estações de Tratamento de Água nas Estações de Tratamento de Esgoto com decantação primária. A ETA estudada utilizava cloreto férrico como coagulante primário e possuía decantadores com descarga de fundo diária. As interferências nos decantadores primários da ETE foram simuladas por meio de testes de sedimentação e nos digestores de lodo, por meio de testes de tratabilidade anaeróbia. Testes e análises complementares também foram realizados para verificar eventuais interferências no tratamento biológico da fase líquida do esgoto e no tratamento físico da fase sólida do esgoto. Os resultados indicaram aumento na eficiência de sedimentação em conseqüência do aumento da quantidade e concentração do resíduo de ETA introduzido no esgoto. Obteve-se, por exemplo, um incremento de até 50% na remoção de sólidos suspensos e turbidez, 40% na de DQO e fosfatos e 30% na de nitrogênio. No entanto, obteve-se um maior volume de lodo primário, embora de menos concentrado. De acordo com os resultados dos testes de tratabilidade anaeróbia, os resíduos da ETA não foram tóxicos ao processo. Com relação ao tratamento biológico da fase líquida do esgoto e ao tratamento físico do lodo, não foram verificadas interferências significativas no desempenho dos mesmos, embora recomenda-se o desenvolvimento de pesquisas mais específicas, especialmente sobre o processo de adensamento. Pode-se concluir que resíduos similares aos gerados na ETA estudada poderão ser dispostos em ETEs com decantação primária, sem interferências prejudiciais no seu desempenho. / In the present work simulations studies were conducted to verify the impact of Water Treatment Plants (WTP) residuals on the performance of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP). The WTP under investigation used ferric chloride as primary coagulant, was type Complete Cicle with sedimentation tanks with daily bottom discharge. The interferences in the primary sedimentation tanks were simulated using sedimentation tests, while the sludge digesters were simulated using anaerobic treatability tests. Complementary tests and analysis also were realized to verify eventual interferences in the wastewater biological treatment and in the physical treatment of the sludge. The results indicated an increment in the sedimentation eficiency caused by increasing the WTP residuals dose added into the wastewater. As WTP residuals was added at up to 225 mg dry weight solids per liter of wasterwater, the removal of solids, COD, phosphate and nitrogen, for example, increased in 50%. However, the primary tanks settled sludge volume increased considerably. According to the anaerobic treatability tests results, the WWP residuals had not toxical effects on the process, interfering positively on the methane production. Concerning the wastewater biological treatment and sludge physical treatment, no significant impacts on their performance were observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that conventional WWTP can receive similar WTP residuals as those of the WTP here studied without any negative impacts on their performance.