Sludge accumulation, treatment and disposal can represent a high percentage of the operating cost for a wastewater system. This is especially important for small-scale and onsite wastewater treatment systems, where sludge removal can be one of the few operating costs of the system. In 2000, as a result of a large number of septic system failures, the community of Wardsville installed a Clearford Industries Inc. Small Bore Sewer™ (SBS™) system which included two-chamber 3600 L tanks located on the properties of individual homes. The tanks were collectively attached to a small bore piping system to deliver the effluent from the tanks to a small community wastewater treatment system. During the summer of 2007, a field study was initiated with a community survey, followed by a review of candidate sites, leading to the selection of 29 sites for site investigation and sampling. Sampling involved the collection of samples for sludge characterization along with the measurements of the height of solids (scum and sludge) within the tank. The data were analyzed to determine the factors having a statistically significant impact on solids accumulation rates within each of the two chambers of the tank. Household water usage was found to be the variable having the strongest association with sludge and scum accumulation, and models were estimated relating solids accumulation to water usage in order predict pump out frequency. A second field sampling program was conducted in Wardsville during April 2008, involving only the first chamber of 13 primary clarifier tanks. Overall contributions have been made in understanding and quantifying solids accumulation rates and sludge characterization in onsite primary clarifier tanks. As well, the information gained from the analysis of the data collected provides a meaningful insight into the factors influencing solids accumulation within individual residential primary clarifier tanks, and points to future research directions for understanding the factors influencing solids accumulation. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-04-25 15:34:46.243

In 2001, the Quebec Ministry of Environment modified its waste management regulation and obliged dairy farms to treat their milk house wastewaters to prevent contamination of water courses. For small dairy farms with fewer than 60 cows, conventional technologies implied an investment of at least $15 000 to comply with the new regulation. / The objective of this master's project was therefore to develop a low cost and sustainable technology for the treatment and disposal of milk house wastewaters that would permit on-farm recycling of nutrients and water. With the help of the research results of Urgel Delisle and Ass., the new system was done by modifying existing septic tank systems on two dairy farms with 40-50 cows by installing a sediment and milk fat trap before the septic tank, and building a drained 0.45ha seepage field in a pasture or cropped field, after the septic tank. / The modified septic tank system on each farm was monitored during a three year period, which involved checking the system for clogging by digging out sections of sewer pipes after two years of operation; measuring and sampling milk house wastewaters to establish the annual nutrient load, and comparing the water quality in drainage from the seepage field to that of a nearby control field. / The milk house wastewaters produced by the farms led to an average nutrient load of 60kg TN/ha/y, 50kg TP/ha/y and 80 kg TK/ha/y. The average volume of wastewater applied to the seepage field, between 16 and 19mm/month, did not saturate the soil as no sign of gleying (reduction of iron oxides) was observed when excavating the sewer pipes. In general, soil pH decreased when milk house wastewater entered the seepage field, while the NH4-N, K and Ca concentrations increased. However, soil salinity was low (<4 dS m -1) on these farms. The soil P concentration was unchanged on one farm, but there was rapid and significant accumulation of P in the 20-60 cm depth of the soil profile on the second farm. The accumulation of milk fat inside the sewer pipes on one farm resulted from the disposal of wasted milk into the septic system, the absence of a water softener and the fact that this fat was not regularly removed from the trap. The milk fat was then flowed into the septic tank harming the correct operation of the system. Drainage water quality was similar from the seepage field of the modified septic tank system as an adjacent control field. / The low cost of system modification, about $4 400 Can., and the treatment efficiency achieved meant that the concept is feasible and offers a suitable solution for small dairy farms.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-146).

No description available.

Graduation date: 1999

This study investigated the commissioning and maintenance of a Pennells two-tank bioreactor system with specific reference to its application in rural areas of KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa to treat sewage and generate biogas. The septic tank configuration was installed in a community which lacked electricity and domestic waste disposal. An artificial wetland was constructed at the outlet of the system to facilitate further treatment. Inefficient operation and maintenance of the system occurred due to various social/community-related problems which are typical of a field- and community-based project of this nature in a rural region of a Third World African country. These problems affected both maintenance and digester performance. The Pennells system was characterized by incomplete anaerobiosis which limited methanogenesis. Despite this, and attendant problems of low temperatures and elevated pH values, COD removal resulted. Laboratory-scale batch cultures, in conjunction with fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, were used to identify a suitable anaerobic digester sludge for inoculation purposes. Perturbation experiments with locally used detergents and toxic compounds demonstrated the inimical effects of these agents. In contrast, low concentrations of penicillin and tetracycline promoted methanogenesis. Further analysis with light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy identified the acidogens as the predominant bacterial species, whilst fluorescence microscopy confirmed the absence of methanogens in the bioreactor. / Thesis (M.Sc)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

The study took place in Vietnam at Hanoi University of Science in the framework of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) – “An advancement of the German-Vietnamese University partnerships”. The research has been supported by the program: “Wastewater and Solid Waste Management in Provincial Centers” and belongs to its technical component. The present diploma thesis elaborates the current situation of sewage sludge management in Vietnam and is dealing with sludge characteristics from both domestic sewage treatment facilities and septic tanks. During the research, different treatment components and treatment facilities have been analyzed to carry out a comprehensive survey of sewage sludge types. In this thesis, a guideline (draft) was developed as a main result, which can be helpful to bridge the legislative gap for sewage sludge re-use in Vietnam. In conclusion, an integrated concept has been developed, which recommends the application of selected proceeding elements to treat sewage sludge and the further utilization of re-useable materials in agriculture in a controlled and environmentally-safe manner. / Die Diplomarbeit wurde im Rahmen des Deutsch-Vietnamesischem Auslandsaustauschprogramms an der „Hanoi University of Science“ verfasst. Dieses Vorhaben wurde unterstützt von dem DAAD (Deutschen Akademischen Austausch Dienst), und ist im technischem Bereich des Programms “Wastewater and Solid Waste Management in Provincial Centers“ einzugliedern. Die vorstehende Diplomarbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem aktuellen Klärschlammmanagement in Vietnam und liefert dabei detaillierte Resultate zu verschiedenen Klarschlammtypen aus kommunalen Abwasserbehandlungsanlagen. Bei den Untersuchungen wurden verschiedene Abwasser- und Klärschlammbehandlungsanlagen untersucht, um einen Überblick zu den gebräuchlichen Behandlungsmethoden in Vietnam zu erarbeiten. Zusätzlich wurden die institutionellen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen überprüft. Der Entwurf einer Verordnung zur Verwertung von Klärschlamm in der Landwirtschaft wurde vorgelegt, um eine bestehende rechtliche Lücke in Vietnam zu schließen. Mit dieser Arbeit wurde ein integriertes Konzept entwickelt, welches mittels verschiedene verfahrenstechnische Elemente den Klärschlamm behandelt und darauffolgend das verwertbare Material in ausgewählten landwirtschaftlichen Flächen in einer kontrollierten und umweltschonenden Weise verwertet.

No Brasil cerca de 50,3% da população é atendida por rede coletora de esgoto, do qual apenas 42,7% é tratado. Uma parcela de 12% da população total do país utiliza fossa séptica para o tratamento do esgoto gerado em suas residências. Apesar de suas vantagens, os tanques sépticos apresentam moderada remoção de matéria orgânica, girando em torno de 50%. Nesse sentido, vê-se a necessidade do aprimoramento desse sistema a fim de melhorar sua eficiência. O aumento da concentração de biomassa microbiana no sistema por meio da inserção de material suporte é um método frequentemente utilizado com este propósito, pois isso permite que os microrganismos fiquem por mais tempo dentro do sistema, aumentando seu tempo de contato com o esgoto e, consequentemente, elevando a eficiência de degradação da matéria orgânica. A garrafa PET tem sido estudada como material suporte em tanque séptico. O uso desse material em sistemas individuais de tratamento de esgoto está relacionado com o desenvolvimento de uma técnica sustentável e acessível a comunidades sem acesso à rede coletora. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi introduzir material suporte em tanque séptico em escala de bancada, o qual foi operado em quatro etapas: Etapa 1 (sem material suporte), Etapa 2 (50% de ocupação), Transição (sem material suporte) e Etapa 3 (10% de ocupação). O material suporte utilizado foram tiras de garrafa PET lixadas, com 1,5 cm de largura e 15,5 cm de comprimento. Os parâmetros de monitoramento, avaliados no esgoto afluente e efluente, foram: pH, alcalinidade total, ácidos graxos voláteis (AGV), DQO total e filtrada e série de sólidos. A concentração de microrganismos aderidos ao material suporte nas Etapas 2 e 3 foi monitorada por meio da concentração de proteínas (PT), polissacarídeos (PST) e sólidos totais voláteis aderidos (STVA). O resultado do monitoramento de pH, alcalinidade e AGV indicou estabilidade do sistema em todas as etapas de operação, sendo que a presença de material suporte não interferiu nesses resultados. A inserção de material suporte contribuiu para o aumento da eficiência do sistema, sendo que as maiores médias de remoção de DQOT e DQOF foram na Etapa 3 (77,9% e 74,4%) e as menores na Etapa 1 (49,7% e 40,5%). Em relação aos sólidos, a Etapa 2 apresentou as melhores eficiências de remoção de sólidos totais (42,1%) e sólidos em suspensão totais (82,3%) e a Etapa 3, as de sólidos dissolvidos totais (33,2%) e voláteis (87,4%). As análises de PT, PST e STVA indicaram a maior concentração de biomassa microbiana no material suporte na Etapa 2, fato esse que não refletiu na melhor eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica. Conclui-se que a inserção de tiras de garrafa PET como material suporte em tanque séptico apresentou melhoria na eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica, sendo que o percentual de ocupação de 10% apresentou os melhores resultados. / In Brazil about 50,3% of the population is served by a sewage collection network, of which only 42,7% is treated. A 12% share of the country’s total population uses septic tank to treat sewage generated in their homes. Despite their advantages, septic tanks present moderate removal of organic matter, spinning around 50%. In this sense, it is necessary to improve this system in order to improve its efficiency. The increase of microbial biomass concentration in the system by the insertion of support material is a method frequently used for this purpose, as this allows the microorganisms to remain for longer in the system, increasing their time of contact with the sewage and, consequently, increasing the efficiency of organic matter degradation. The PET bottle has been studied as a septic tank support material. The use of this material in individual sewage treatment systems is related to the development of a technique that is sustainable and accessible to communities without access to the collection network. In this sense, the objective of this research was the introduction of support material in a septic tank in a bench scale, which was operated in four stages: Step 1 (without support material), Step 2 (50% occupation), Transition (without support material) and Step 3 (10% occupation). The support material used were sands PET bottle strips, with 1,5 cm wide and 15,5 cm long. The monitoring parameters, evaluated in the influent and effluent sewage were: pH, total alkalinity, volatile fatty acids (VFA), total and filtered COD and solid series. The concentration of microorganisms adhered to the support material in Stages 2 and 3 was monitored by means of the concentration of proteins (PT), polysaccharides (PST) and adhered total volatile solids (STVA). The results of the monitoring of pH, alkalinity and VFA indicated stability of the system in all stages of operation, and the presence of support material did not interfere in these results. The insertion of support material contributed to increase the efficiency of the system, and the highest removal rates of DQOT and DQOF were in Step 3 (77.9% and 74.4%) and the lowest in Step 1 (49.7% % and 40.5%). In relation to solids, Step 2 presented the best removal efficiencies of total solids (42.1%) and total suspended solids (82.3%), and Step 3, total dissolved solids (33,2%) and volatile (87,4%). The analyzes of PT, PST and STVA indicated the highest concentration of microbial biomass on support material in Step 2, a fact that did not reflect the better efficiency of organic matter removal. It was concluded that the insertion of strips of PET bottle as a support material in septic tank showed an improvement in the organic matter removal efficiency, and the occupancy percentage of 10% presented the best results.

Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente e manta de lodo (UASB) no tratamento combinado de esgoto sanitário com o lançamento de lodo proveniente de tanques sépticos. O estudo foi desenvolvido em escala plena na Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) do Campus I da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) em São Carlos-SP. Foram utilizados dois reatores UASB com 18,8 m³ cada, um reator (UASB I) com função de controle e o outro reator (UASB II) no qual foi descarregado o lodo séptico. A pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas: a primeira compreendeu o início de operação e o monitoramento dos reatores e, da segunda fez parte os ensaios de lançamento de lodo séptico no sistema. A partida foi efetuada sem utilização de inóculo e os reatores foram operados com tempo de detenção hidráulica médio (TDH) de 8 h, vazão afluente média de 2,35 m³/h e velocidade ascensional de 0,6 m/h. Em seis meses de operação os reatores apresentaram eficiências médias de remoção de DQO nos reatores UASB I e UASB II iguais a 49% e 65%. Quanto à remoção de sólidos os reatores UASB I e UASB II atingiram remoção de 36% e 37% para ST e de 67% e 63% para SST, respectivamente. Após esse período, deu-se início ao estudo que avaliou o impacto do lançamento de lodo séptico no UASB II. Foram realizados três ensaios com diferentes volumes de lodo (1; 3 e 5 m³) descarregados na forma de pulso com vazão média de 5,24 m³/h. Os lodos sépticos utilizados na pesquisa foram coletados por caminhões limpa-fossa e descarregados em um reservatório (15 m³) na ETE para posterior lançamento no reator UASB II. Foram feitas as caracterizações das amostras dos lodos sépticos (coletadas no ato da descarga em cada ensaio), com as quais pôde-se constatar a heterogeneidade da composição desse tipo de resíduo e sua viabilidade de pós-tratamento anaeróbio. Nos ensaios foram realizados monitoramentos temporais logo após a descarga de lodo para acompanhamento da resposta ao pulso de carga imposto. No geral, o reator UASB apresentou capacidade de degradar aproximadamente 2/3 da carga orgânica lançada com o lodo séptico. Os resultados são um indicativo de que a disposição de lodo sépticos em reatores UASB, quando bem programada, é uma solução viável e de grande importância para o tratamento dos resíduos provenientes de tanques/fossas sépticas. / The performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) in the sanitary wastewater combined treatment with sludge disposal of septic tanks was evaluated in this work. The study was carried out (full scale) in the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) located in campus I of the University of Sao Paulo (USP), city of Sao Carlos, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two UASB reactors were used; volume of each reactor ~ 18,8 m³. UASB I was the control reactor, and UASB II was the reactor in which the septic sludge was disposed. The research was divided in two steps: the first one, which has taken into account the beginning of reactors operation and, the second one, in which occurred the disposal of septic sludge in the reactors. The start-up was carried out without utilization of inoculums. Reactors were operated with an average hydraulic retention time of 8 hours, average influent flow rate of 2.35 m³/h, and upflow velocity of 0.6 m/h. In six months, reactors presented average removal efficiencies of COD in UASB I and UASB II of 48% and 65%, respectively. Concerning to the solid removal, UASB I and UASB II have achieved removal of 36% and 37% for TS, and 67% and 63% for TSS, respectively. After this period of time, the evaluation of disposal impact of septic sludge was started in UASB II. Three essays with different sludge volume (1, 3, and 5 m³) were carried out; sludge volume was disposed in a pulse way with average flow rate of 5.24 m³/h. Septic sludge utilized in the research was collected by clean septic tank trucks, and disposed in a reservoir (volume of 15 m³) in WTP, in order to allow further disposal in the UASB II. By the hand of characterization of septic sludge samples (collected when disposal was carried out), it was possible to verify the heterogeneity about composition of this kind of waste and its availability in terms of anaerobic post-treatment. Temporal monitoring after the sludge disposal was carried out in order to allow the accompaniment of results provided by the pulse. In general, UASB reactor presented capacity in terms of degradation of approximately 2/3 of the organic load disposed with septic sludge. The results are a good indicative that the disposal of septic sludge in UASB reactors is a viable solution, and it is very important for the treatment of wastes from septic tanks.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:03:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarcellaSLA_DISSERT.pdf: 2551228 bytes, checksum: 0102a63798a5e4ea6258e625c054ceb4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-28 / The sludge generated in stabilization ponds can be designed for various purposes, among them we mention agricultural use, recovery of degraded areas and civil construction. The choice of these alternatives should be made based on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the sludge. In this context, this study characterized the digested sludge from an anaerobic lagoon in Cidade do Natal/RN, which deals exclusively with residues of depleted septic tanks and pits. The sludge showed levels of macro and micronutrients that confirm its potential for agriculture, with 139.49 g.kg -1 organic matter, 15.40 g.kg-1 nitrogen and metal concentrations below those required by Resolution No. 375/06 of CONAMA, besides the absence of fecal coliform and less than 0.15 viable helminthes eggs/g, on average. The particle size distribution showed that most of the particles have a diameter similar to the sand, allowing the replacement of this input, for example. Analysis of the leachate and of the sludge solubilized classified as non-inert and non-hazardous according to NBR 10.004/04. The volume produced in three years of operation by the pond was 1903.50m?, equivalent to approximately 400 kg of dry sludge. Overall, the concentrations of the parameters were similar to literature, although none of them addresses sludge anaerobic pond treating sewer from septic tanks and pits.The sludgepresents technical feasibility to various types of use, however the cost of dewatering and especially with transport can derail it. It needs to be made a more thorough study of the costs to prove its economic viability / O lodo gerado em lagoas de estabiliza??o pode ser destinado para diversos fins, dentre eles citam-se o uso agr?cola, a recupera??o de ?reas degradas e a constru??o civil. A escolha dessas alternativas deve ser feita baseada nas caracter?sticas qualitativas e quantitativas do lodo. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho caracterizou o lodo digerido de uma lagoa anaer?bia na Cidade do Natal/RN, que trata exclusivamente os res?duos esgotados de tanques s?pticos e fossas. O lodo apresentou teores de macro e micronutrientes que confirmam seu potencial para a pr?tica agr?cola, com 139,49 g.kg-1 de mat?ria org?nica, 15,40 g.kg-1 de nitrog?nio e concentra??es de metais inferiores ?s exigidas pela Resolu??o n? 375/06 do CONAMA, al?m de aus?ncia de coliformes termotolerantes e menos de 0,15 ovos de helmintos vi?veis/g. em m?dia. As granulometria mostrou que a maioria das part?culas tem di?metro semelhante ao da areia, permitindo a substitui??o desse insumo, por exemplo. An?lises do lixiviado e do solubilizado classificaram o lodo como n?o inerte e n?o perigoso, de acordo com a NBR 10.004/04. O volume produzido em tr?s anos de funcionamento pela lagoa foi de 1.903,50m?, equivalente a aproximadamente400 kg de lodo seco.De forma geral, as concentra??es dos par?metros foram semelhantes ? literatura pesquisada, embora nenhuma delas aborde lodo de lagoa anaer?bia tratando res?duos esgotados de tanques s?pticos e fossas. O lodo apresenta viabilidade t?cnica para v?rios tipos de uso, por?m os custos com desaguamento e principalmente com transporte podem inviabiliz?-lo. ? necess?rio que seja feito um estudo mais aprofundado dos custos para atestar sua viabilidade econ?mica