UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS
DECEMBER 2007
PROGRAMME

BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering Levels 3 and 4

MODULE NAME

Wastewater Engineering

DATE

Tuesday
11
December 2007

MODULE CODE

TIME

9:30 11:30 Hours

DURATION

NO. OF
QUESTIONS SET

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Answer ANY 4 Questions.
All questions carry equal marks.
Table for Question 2(c) is enclosed.

NO. OF QUESTIONS
TO BE ATTEMPTED

CIVE 3223(5)/
CIVE 4016(5)
2 Hours

WASTEWATER ENGINEERING CIVE 3223(5) / CIVE 4016(5)

Answer ANY 4 questions.

All questions carry equal marks.
Question 1
(a)

Discuss the importance of grit removal from wastewater at a wastewater

treatment plant. List the methods of disposal of the grit removed.
[8 marks]

(b)

Design an aerated grit chamber installation for an average wastewater flow rate
of 0.3 m3/s and a peak flow rate of 1.0 m3/s. The average depth is 3m, the
width-to-depth ratio is 1.5:1, and the detention time at peak flow is 3.5 minutes.
The aeration rate is 0.4 m3/min per m of tank length. Determine the dimensions
of the grit chambers and the total air required.
[14 marks]

(c)

Comment on the use of constant velocity grit channels.

[3 marks]

Question 2
(a)

Discuss the role of primary treatment in the treatment of domestic wastewater.

[5 marks]

(b)

Discuss the principal benefits that are associated with the application of flow
equilization at wastewater treatment plants.
[5 marks]

(c)

A survey of effluent from a distillery has shown that the average hourly flow rates
are as shown in the table attached. Laboratory tests indicate that 70% of the
suspended solids will settle at a rate of 3.5 m/h or greater. From the data in the
table enclosed and the information on settling velocity provided would you
suggest that a balancing tank prior to sedimentation tank and aerobic biological
treatment would be an advantage? If so, recommend a size after the balancing
tank.
[15 marks]

Page 1 of 3

WASTEWATER ENGINEERING CIVE 3223(5) / CIVE 4016(5)

Question 3

(a)

(b)

The success of an activated sludge process depends on the settling of the solids in
the final settling tank. If it is reported that the sludge has bulked, very briefly:
(i)

Explain the meaning of the term bulking and how the problem can be
assessed. (Give indicative values).

(ii)

What are the likely causes for the bulking?

(iii)

The effect of the bulking on the Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS)
concentration and the BOD removal efficiency.
[9 marks]

An activated sludge reactor of capacity 6000m3 receives an influent flow rate of

18000 m3/d. The BOD of the settled wastewater is 250 mg/L and the plant is
required to produce an effluent containing 30 mg/L BOD5 and 60 mg/L
suspended solids. If the operating mixed liquor suspended solids of the reactor is
2,500 mg/L, calculate:
(i)

the F/M ratio of the reactor.

(ii)

the volume of solids to be wasted daily from the return sludge in order to
give a sludge age of 10 days, assuming the returned-sludge solids
concentration to be 9,000 mg/L.
[5 marks]

(iii)

the oxygen requirements of the reactor, assuming there is no nitrogenous

oxygen demand
[6 marks]

Page 2 of 3

[5 marks]

WASTEWATER ENGINEERING CIVE 3223(5) / CIVE 4016(5)

Question 4
The following MLSS data were derived from a pilot plant study on the settling
characteristics of an activated sludge:
MLSS
(mg/L)
Initial Settling Velocity
m/h

1000 2000
4.0

2.8

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

1.14

0.55

0.31

0.2

0.13

0.094

0.07

If the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) in the aeration unit is 4500 mg/L, compare
the required recycle ratios, limiting solids flux and cross-sectional areas of clarifier for
underflow solid concentrations between 8000 mg/L and 12000 mg/L, using increases of
1000 mg/L. The daily wastewater flow is 20,000 m3/d.
[25 marks]

Question 5
(a)

Differentiate between anaerobic, facultative and maturation ponds used for

wastewater treatment.
[9 marks]

(b)

Recommend a suitable pond system to treat domestic sewage from a developing

country small community of 5000 people to an effluent standard BODs < 25 mg/L
and faecal coliforms < 1000 / 100 mL. State all assumptions made.
[16 marks]
BOD loading on anaerobic ponds

= 400 kg/ha.d

BOD loading on facultative ponds = 500 kg/ha.d

BOD removal in facultative ponds = 0.725 BOD5 design loading + 10.75 kg/ha.d

Ne =

Ni
1 + 2.6t

N i & N e = No. of faecal coliforms / 100 ml in influent and effluent respectively.

END OF QUESTION PAPER

/nr

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