Water treatment residue (WTR), a by-product of the water treatment process, consists primarily of precipitated hydroxides of the coagulants used in the water treatment process, along with sand, silt, clay, humic compounds, and dissolved organic matter. It is usually disposed of by landfill, a technology with numerous problems that include dwindling landfill capacity, extensive dewatering requirements for the WTRs, high costs of transportation, and potential liability for landfill clean-up. Therefore, land disposal (or land treatment) presents a popular alternative disposal method based on the principle that the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of the soil can be used to assimilate applied waste without inducing any negative effects on soil quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of land disposal of the WTR generated by Umgeni Water, a local water treatment authority, on soil quality. These effects were investigated using depth samples from soil profiles of Westleigh and Hutton soil forms at field trials located at Ukulinga Research Farm, near Pietermartizburg and Brookdale Farm, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, respectively. Four rates of WTR (0, 80, 320, and 1280Mg ha-1 incorporated into the soil) were investigated at both trials, in addition to mulched treatments at rates of 320 and 1280Mg ha-1 at Brookdale only. Sampling of plots was carried out in September 2001 and May 2002, and all treatments were investigated under fallow and grassed cultivation. Laboratory measurements used to assess soil quality included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (QC), and microbial activity using f1uorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis. At both trials in September 2001 WTR-amended plots displayed higher pH in the 0-200mm soil in comparison to the controls, whereas by May 2002 pH had returned to the condition of the controls. Addition of WTR at Ukulinga resulted in higher QC in September 2001, but in May 2002 this was similar to the controls. However, at Brookdale QC was unaffected by WTR. At Ukulinga and Brookdale the effect of WTR on EC was variable, and microbial activity in the soil profile was unaffected by WTR addition. Observations at Ukulinga and Brookdale reflected long term changes (3 and 5 years, respectively) to soil quality following WTR addition. To examine the initial changes in soil quality a laboratory experiment was set up using the field trial soils. Research objectives were also extended to include WTRs from Rand Water (Johannesburg), Midvaal Water Company (Stilfontein), Amatola Water (East London), and two samples from the Faure Water Treatment Plant (near Cape Town). The second Faure sample (Faure2 ) was collected when blue green algal problems were experienced at the plant. The measurements used to investigate these short term effects on soil quality were soil pH, EC, and microbial activity as indicated by respiration rate. Each of the WTRs added to the Hutton and Westleigh soils increased soil pH by varying increments, and the higher the WTR application rate, the higher was the pH recorded. With the exception of the Rand and Umgeni WTRs that clearly increased soil EC, the effect of the otherWTRs on EC was variable. The Faure1 and Amatola WTRs appeared to have no effect on microbial activity, whereas the Umgeni, Rand, Midvaal, and Faure2 WTRs stimulated microbial activity by Day 2 following the addition of WTR, but this had declined by Day 14. As for pH, higher microbial activity was recorded at higher WTR application rates. Changes in microbial community structure of the Hutton soil only, following the addition of WTR were examined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. Community profiles of the different WTRs proved to be markedly different. However, WTR-amended soil retained banding patterns consistent with the control soil indicating that dominant populations in the Hutton soil had been retained. The field trials indicated that long term effects of land disposal of WTR were not detrimental to the measured indicators of soil quality namely, pH, EC, QC, and microbial activity. The laboratory assessments of the short term response of the Hutton and Westleigh soil forms to WTR addition suggested that the tested variables were altered by WTR, but not significantly changed to the detriment of soil quality. Microbial community analysis indicated that the community structure of the Hutton soil was not significantly altered by WTR amendments. Present findings provide no evidence to suggest that land disposal of WTR is detrimental to soil quality. It is therefore regarded as a feasible disposal option although there are some aspects that should be investigated further. These include investigations into rhizosphere/microbial interactions and the feasibility of growing cash crops. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-155). Also available via the Internet.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

The topic "Environmental Security of Wastewater System" was selected for the creation of my thesis by several fundamental reasons.The main one is the vital importance of water for the functioning of human society.Drinking water sources are limited and the current relatively easy access to good quality water leads to irresponsible waste of this commodity.Besides wasting there is another big problem with environmental pollution,which is closely related to the degradation of sources of drinking water.With the increase of human population,environmental conditions began to worsen rapidly and this issue became to be discussed by multinational organizations.The so-called Environmental Security is currently very topical subject.It is introduced gradually into school curricula.Large amounts of funds have been invested to the environmental safety of water management in the past few years.An especially,there have been build many waste water treatment plants.The thesis is oriented locally on the municipality of Příbram.Its administrative area covers 74 municipalities and military training area of Brdy.The administrative area is mostly formed by smaller communities that are self-sustaining in water management.It is necessary to ensure sufficiently good conditions of the environment to prevent its degradation.The aim of this thesis is mainly to map the impacts of failure of sewage system and eventual propose of appropriate interim solutions of such failure.The research question is closely related to it: What is the current level of environmental safety of water? To achieve the set objectives,primarily I applied the method of literary research,through which was described the basic information necessary to understand the issue.It was also used method of qualitative research,which was carried out on the basis of interviews with experts in that field.The collected data were organized in a logical survey and analyzed by the a SWOT analysis.The thesis is divided into two main sections.The first one is a theoretical part,which describes the water cycle,explains what is infrastructure and,consequently,it highlights the importance of critical infrastructure.It also explains the concept of water management and presents the basic characteristics and methods of processing and treatment of drinking and waste water.It also states the basic legislation governing the issue of water and ultimately defines the concept of environmental security.The second part describes the sewage system in the area of Příbram and maps the ways of creation and the subsequent magnitude of failure of analyzed wastewater treatment plants.In direct relation to this,it assesses the possible emergence of environmental impact.Waste water can be divided into several groups according to where and how they arise.Taking account of their origin,wastewater may contain a wide variety of harmful substances.A failure of the wastewater system would be not only a current problem of environmental pollution at the site where the waste water was getting into the nature,but a long term adverse effect,which would be later manifested in the form of,for example,contamination of soil and groundwater,which would subsequently mix with drinking water resources.It could also lead to the death of some animals,disabling eating crops in that location and spread of various infectious diseases.This condition is highly undesirable and therefore it is necessary to implement preventive measures to prevent environmental safety.From this research,it was found that the formation of potentially serious impacts on the environment due to the failure of the sewage disposal plants in the area of Příbram is not expected.The operators are ready to remove immediately and quite efficiently incurred defects in order to avoid serious long-term failure.In relation to this,the environmental safety of the sewage disposal plants in the area of Příbram can be evaluated as very good.

A sustentabilidade pode ser encarada como uma nova disciplina do conhecimento humano, agregando em seu escopo o conflito entre as dimensões ambiental, econômica e social. Esta Tese desenvolveu uma Metodologia de Avaliação da Sustentabilidade, aplicada a sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, bem como a sua aplicação na forma de um estudo de caso. A referida metodologia insere-se como uma ferramenta que pode ampliar o processo decisório, quando de um Estudo de Concepção, etapa anterior ao desenvolvimento de um projeto de uma estação de tratamento de esgotos, indo além dos critérios técnicos e econômicos. Ainda, dentro de sua estrutura, foi implementada uma plataforma participativa composta pela comunidade em estudo e por especialistas na área de saneamento ambiental. Foram comparadas três alternativas de processos de tratamento passíveis de serem implantadas em uma estação de tratamento de esgotos, situada no município de Capão da Canoa: reator anaeróbio e banhados construídos, lagoas de estabilização e banhados construídos, assim como o sistema de lodos ativados seguidos por uma etapa de desinfecção. Da análise dos referidos processos, a alternativa que contemplou as lagoas de estabilização associadas aos banhados construídos mostrou o melhor desempenho à luz das três dimensões da sustentabilidade. Com base nos resultados obtidos, observou-se que a Metodologia de Avaliação proposta, pode, efetivamente, elucidar os projetistas sobre a questão da sustentabilidade associada aos sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, bem como promover um processo decisório participativo, onde resultem soluções técnicas mais justas e transparentes. / The sustainability can be seen as a new discipline of human knowledge, adding to the scope of the conflict between the environmental, economic and social dimensions. This Thesis developed a methodology for assessment of the sustainability applied to wastewater treatment systems and its application as a case study. The methodology should be seen as a tool that can extend the decison making process, starting from a preliminary study of design, the stage preceding the development of a project from a wastewater treatment plant, going beyond the technical and economical criteria. More, inside its structure was implemented a participatory platform, compound by the community under study and by experts in the field of environmental sanitation. Were compared three alternatives of procedures that can be implanted in a wastewater treatment plant, located in Capão da Canoa: UASB reactor and constructed wetlands, stabilization ponds and constructed wetlands, as well as the activated sludge system followed by a stage of disinfection. From the analyses of those cases, the alternative that included the stabilization ponds associated with constructed wetlands showed the best performance under the perspective of the three dimensions of sustainability. Based on the results, it was observed that the assessment methodology proposed can, indeed, elucidate the designers on the issue of sustainability associated with wastewater treatment systems and promote a participatory decision process with more fair and transparent technical solutions.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar a técnica de desaguamento de resíduos sólidos gerados em estações de tratamento de água utilizando tubos geotêxteis - Bags, que representam uma alternativa tecnológica para a redução do teor de umidade dos resíduos. O trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas: ensaios com Bags suspensos e com Bags dispostos sobre o solo. Nos estudos são abordadas as características mais relevantes do processo de desaguamento face às solicitações mecânicas e hidráulicas a que qualquer sistema está submetido, bem como são apresentados resultados e discussões sobre as características físico-químicas dos resíduos gerados, geocondicionados nos Bags geotêxteis e da água drenada. A técnica de desaguamento por Bags mostrou-se uma alternativa viável para a redução do teor de umidade, apresentando um melhor desempenho em relação às técnicas convencionais. Pode-se também utilizá-la em paralelo com outras técnicas já existentes para a otimização do processo de desaguamento. Ressalta-se que a correta operação da tecnologia garante a eficiência da drenagem, sendo, então, necessária a adição de polímeros como agentes coagulantes, de forma a promover a separação da fase líquida da fase sólida. Observou-se que os resíduos geocondicionados ao reduzirem o teor de umidade passam a concentrar alguns componentes químicos tais como: sílica, nitrogênio e alumínio. As dificuldades relacionadas à disposição de resíduos sólidos em estações de tratamento de água justificam esse estudo. A despeito dos resultados satisfatórios desse estudo, é importante salientar a necessidade de mais projetos que avaliem os resultados obtidos nos ensaios e o comportamento dos Bags com o passar do tempo, já que a técnica mostrou-se viável ambiental, econômica e tecnicamente. / The present study aims at evaluating the disposal process of slurry from a water treatment plant. In replacement to the conventional technique of disposing slurry in pools, a geotextile tube has been used to dehydrate and retain the slurry inside the Bag. This is achieved because the geotextile is permeable, yet soil-tight, and any excess water pressure is expelled from the tube. The work has been divided in two sets of tests: suspended Bags to define a treatment methodology and a prototype geoBag laid on the ground over a drained layer to simulate the treatment process. The mechanical, hydraulic and chemical responses associated with this process considering both solid waste and drained water contents have been evaluated and discussed. As a whole, the use of geoBags has proved to be a viable option to reduce the water content in slurry, as well as an attractive alternative to replace or to be combined with other techniques currently in use in Brazil. A critical aspect controlling the efficiency of the operation is the addition of polymers for flocculation before introducing slurry into the Bag so that liquid and solid phases are dissociated. Upon monitoring the process, it has been observed that solids retained inside the Bag exhibit concentrated levels of chemical components such as silica, nitrogen and aluminum. This study has been considered relevant in face of the environmental needs and public policy control of the disposal of solid wastes. In spite of being a promising alternative technique to slurry treatment, further investigation is needed to evaluate the trials results of this research and bag behavior as time goes by. So far, the technique has proved to be environmentally, economically and technically feasible.

A sustentabilidade pode ser encarada como uma nova disciplina do conhecimento humano, agregando em seu escopo o conflito entre as dimensões ambiental, econômica e social. Esta Tese desenvolveu uma Metodologia de Avaliação da Sustentabilidade, aplicada a sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, bem como a sua aplicação na forma de um estudo de caso. A referida metodologia insere-se como uma ferramenta que pode ampliar o processo decisório, quando de um Estudo de Concepção, etapa anterior ao desenvolvimento de um projeto de uma estação de tratamento de esgotos, indo além dos critérios técnicos e econômicos. Ainda, dentro de sua estrutura, foi implementada uma plataforma participativa composta pela comunidade em estudo e por especialistas na área de saneamento ambiental. Foram comparadas três alternativas de processos de tratamento passíveis de serem implantadas em uma estação de tratamento de esgotos, situada no município de Capão da Canoa: reator anaeróbio e banhados construídos, lagoas de estabilização e banhados construídos, assim como o sistema de lodos ativados seguidos por uma etapa de desinfecção. Da análise dos referidos processos, a alternativa que contemplou as lagoas de estabilização associadas aos banhados construídos mostrou o melhor desempenho à luz das três dimensões da sustentabilidade. Com base nos resultados obtidos, observou-se que a Metodologia de Avaliação proposta, pode, efetivamente, elucidar os projetistas sobre a questão da sustentabilidade associada aos sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, bem como promover um processo decisório participativo, onde resultem soluções técnicas mais justas e transparentes. / The sustainability can be seen as a new discipline of human knowledge, adding to the scope of the conflict between the environmental, economic and social dimensions. This Thesis developed a methodology for assessment of the sustainability applied to wastewater treatment systems and its application as a case study. The methodology should be seen as a tool that can extend the decison making process, starting from a preliminary study of design, the stage preceding the development of a project from a wastewater treatment plant, going beyond the technical and economical criteria. More, inside its structure was implemented a participatory platform, compound by the community under study and by experts in the field of environmental sanitation. Were compared three alternatives of procedures that can be implanted in a wastewater treatment plant, located in Capão da Canoa: UASB reactor and constructed wetlands, stabilization ponds and constructed wetlands, as well as the activated sludge system followed by a stage of disinfection. From the analyses of those cases, the alternative that included the stabilization ponds associated with constructed wetlands showed the best performance under the perspective of the three dimensions of sustainability. Based on the results, it was observed that the assessment methodology proposed can, indeed, elucidate the designers on the issue of sustainability associated with wastewater treatment systems and promote a participatory decision process with more fair and transparent technical solutions.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar a técnica de desaguamento de resíduos sólidos gerados em estações de tratamento de água utilizando tubos geotêxteis - Bags, que representam uma alternativa tecnológica para a redução do teor de umidade dos resíduos. O trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas: ensaios com Bags suspensos e com Bags dispostos sobre o solo. Nos estudos são abordadas as características mais relevantes do processo de desaguamento face às solicitações mecânicas e hidráulicas a que qualquer sistema está submetido, bem como são apresentados resultados e discussões sobre as características físico-químicas dos resíduos gerados, geocondicionados nos Bags geotêxteis e da água drenada. A técnica de desaguamento por Bags mostrou-se uma alternativa viável para a redução do teor de umidade, apresentando um melhor desempenho em relação às técnicas convencionais. Pode-se também utilizá-la em paralelo com outras técnicas já existentes para a otimização do processo de desaguamento. Ressalta-se que a correta operação da tecnologia garante a eficiência da drenagem, sendo, então, necessária a adição de polímeros como agentes coagulantes, de forma a promover a separação da fase líquida da fase sólida. Observou-se que os resíduos geocondicionados ao reduzirem o teor de umidade passam a concentrar alguns componentes químicos tais como: sílica, nitrogênio e alumínio. As dificuldades relacionadas à disposição de resíduos sólidos em estações de tratamento de água justificam esse estudo. A despeito dos resultados satisfatórios desse estudo, é importante salientar a necessidade de mais projetos que avaliem os resultados obtidos nos ensaios e o comportamento dos Bags com o passar do tempo, já que a técnica mostrou-se viável ambiental, econômica e tecnicamente. / The present study aims at evaluating the disposal process of slurry from a water treatment plant. In replacement to the conventional technique of disposing slurry in pools, a geotextile tube has been used to dehydrate and retain the slurry inside the Bag. This is achieved because the geotextile is permeable, yet soil-tight, and any excess water pressure is expelled from the tube. The work has been divided in two sets of tests: suspended Bags to define a treatment methodology and a prototype geoBag laid on the ground over a drained layer to simulate the treatment process. The mechanical, hydraulic and chemical responses associated with this process considering both solid waste and drained water contents have been evaluated and discussed. As a whole, the use of geoBags has proved to be a viable option to reduce the water content in slurry, as well as an attractive alternative to replace or to be combined with other techniques currently in use in Brazil. A critical aspect controlling the efficiency of the operation is the addition of polymers for flocculation before introducing slurry into the Bag so that liquid and solid phases are dissociated. Upon monitoring the process, it has been observed that solids retained inside the Bag exhibit concentrated levels of chemical components such as silica, nitrogen and aluminum. This study has been considered relevant in face of the environmental needs and public policy control of the disposal of solid wastes. In spite of being a promising alternative technique to slurry treatment, further investigation is needed to evaluate the trials results of this research and bag behavior as time goes by. So far, the technique has proved to be environmentally, economically and technically feasible.

abstract: The production and applications of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) has increased rapidly in the last decade, with release of ENM to the environment through the sewer system and municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) being of concern. Currently, the literature on ENM release from WWTPs and removal of ENM by WWTPs is insufficient and disorganized. There is little quantitative data on the removal of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene oxide (GO), or few-layer graphene (FLG), from wastewater onto biomass. The removal of pristine and oxidized MWCNTs (O-MWCNTs), graphene oxide (GO), few-layer graphene (FLG) and Tween™ 20-coated Ag ENM by the interaction with biomass were determined by programmable thermal analysis (PTA) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The removal of pristine and O-MWCNTs was 96% from the water phase via aggregation and 30-min settling in presence or absence of biomass with an initial MWCNT concentration of 25 mg/L. The removal of 25 mg/L GO was 65% with biomass concentration at or above 1,000 mg TSS/L. The removal of 1 mg/L FLG was 16% with 50 mg TSS/L. The removal of Tween™ 20 Ag ENM with concentration from 0.97 mg/L to 2.6 mg/L was from 11% to 92% with biomass concentration of 500 mg TSS/L to 3,000 mg TSS/L, respectively. A database of ENM removal by biomass was established by analyzing data from published papers, and non-linear solid-liquid distribution functions were built into the database. A conventional activated sludge (CAS) model was built based on a membrane bioreactor (MBR) model from a previous paper. An iterative numeric approach was adapted to the CAS model to calculate the result of non-linear adsorption of ENM by biomass in the CAS process. Kinetic studies of the CAS model showed the model performance changed mostly in the first 10 days after changing influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration, and reached a steady state after 11 days. Over 60% of ENMs which have distribution coefficients in the database reached higher than 50% removal by the CAS model under general operational conditions. This result suggests that traditional WWTP which include the CAS process can remove many known types of ENMs in certain degree. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Civil and Environmental Engineering 2015

Submitted by Andreza de França Alamino null (andreza.alamino@hotmail.com) on 2016-09-10T18:02:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_versão_final_pdf_repositório_unesp.pdf: 1884907 bytes, checksum: 6161a04cdaac1c53204da25be3831d76 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-13T14:20:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 alamino_af_me_araiq.pdf: 1884907 bytes, checksum: 6161a04cdaac1c53204da25be3831d76 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-13T14:20:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 alamino_af_me_araiq.pdf: 1884907 bytes, checksum: 6161a04cdaac1c53204da25be3831d76 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-19 / O presente trabalho aborda a degradação simultânea de dois contaminantes emergentes, o plastificante bisfenol A (BPA) e o fármaco carbamazepina (CBZ), aplicando-se processos oxidativos avançados (POA), particularmente o processo foto-Fenton. Durante os ensaios de degradação, o BPA e a CBZ foram determinados por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) em uma única análise, utilizando dois detectores acoplados em série, o detector de fluorescência (FLU) para o BPA e detector de arranjo de diodos (DAD) para a CBZ. Foi necessária a otimização das condições do método cromatográfico, tais como, composição da fase móvel, 50% etanol-água, vazão, 0,500 mL min-1, comprimento de onda de excitação e emissão para o BPA, 277 e 300 nm nesta ordem, e absorção para a CBZ de 286 nm ou 211 nm. Após a construção da curva analítica foram determinados os parâmetros analíticos como: linearidade, limites de detecção e quantificação. Os ensaios de degradação foram efetuados em duas matrizes distintas, água e efluente de estação de tratamento de esgoto, coletado antes do lançamento nos rios, objetivando desenvolver um método de degradação em baixas concentrações em amostras reais. Pela complexidade da matriz foi necessário fazer o “clean up” das amostras por extração em fase sólida (EFS) nas alíquotas retiradas durante as degradações no efluente. A faixa de recuperação da EFS foi avaliada em três níveis e atingiu de 82 a 84% para o BPA e de 92 a 99% para a CBZ. A velocidade de degradação tanto de BPA como de CBZ foi influenciada pela matriz, pois foi maior em água do que no efluente. O tempo de degradação em água foi de 60 minutos e em efluente de 90 minutos. A degradação de BPA atingiu 88% em água e 77% em efluente, enquanto que de CBZ atingiu 95% em água e 61% em efluente. A remoção de carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD) nas amostras de efluente foi avaliada, porém as concentrações de Fe(III) e H2O2 utilizadas, 12,0 μmol L-1 e 300 μmol L-1 nesta ordem, não foram suficientes para degradar a matéria orgânica do efluente, mas foram suficientes para a degradação dos compostos alvos na concentração de 250 μg L-1.