Mangosuthu University of Technology

The department of Civil engineering and

Surveying

Name: L F Makwedini
Student No: 21731713
Work: WATER ENGINEERING II ASSIGNMENT
Date: 29 August 2018
 Abstract

To report on the design required for the biological filter and more about how it
could be installed including the methods, the outlet structure capacity, help
the EThekwini municipality in purification and distribution of the water, the
spillway capacity, the stilling basin and the necessary river bed lining, taking
into account the stability problems. And the water to be treated ranges to 2
million litres per day.

Introduction

The biological filter is a process where water is treated through different stages
which involve the growth and containment of specific microorganisms working
as a consortium to maintain a natural and balanced aquatic environment. The
biological filter operates like a regular drinking water filtration unit, but with a
few critical differences. Just as in a water filtration system, the water flows into
the filter through the wash water troughs, over the trough weirs, and down
through the media (both sand and support gravel) to the underdrains

Biological filtration is the use of biological agents (like bacteria) to remove toxic
wastes (like ammonia) by converting them into less toxic wastes. Bacterial
growth occurs in porous surface areas. For instance sponges, rock and gravel
can act as substrate for bacteria.
 Design of biological filtration

Designing biological filtration system requires careful attention in ensuring that the
right types of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria ,bio filters control procedures are
based in the maintenance of its bacterial community Similarly are the beneficial
aspects that either engineered or non-engineered biological treatment systems have
in the drinking water production process The biological treatment in the production of
drinking water occurs through the process of bio filtration in which microbial
communities are immobilized in a support bed material in contact with the water
phase, in the conservation of its associated activity and in the assurance of the
physical, chemical, and biological quality of the corresponding effluent. Among
others, important factors in developing and controlling bio filter performance include
bio filter maturation time, operational temperature, adequate oxygen levels, redox
control, appropriate contact time between the fluid and fixed phases and proper
backwash conditions.

The timeframe for a bio filter to reach steady state biological activity is an important
design parameter. For example the acclimation period in sand filters to achieve
consistent manganese removal can be up to two months. EBCT refers to the time
required for the influent water to move through the media and is considered a vital
component for effective bio filtration. EBCT is based on the loading rate and the
volume of the filter media. As an example, an EBCT of 10 to 20 minutes has been
shown to remove 90 percent of bio filter influent organic matter. However optimal
EBCTs may be determined by the composition of the biofilm microbial consortia as
well as the nature and levels of contaminants to be removed. Concerning
temperature, it has been shown for instance that while ammonia removal efficiency
by bio filtration can reach up to 90 percent at temperatures ranging between 4 to 10º
C, it decreases to about 30 percent at temperatures below 4º C. Regular
backwashing is necessary for the continuous operation of fixed-bed bioreactors, the
operating procedure for backwashing may affect reactor performance. For example,
if backwash water contains chlorine, when other operating parameters are not
optimal, the reactor performance will be impaired, similarly, backwash intensity and
frequency can also affect reactor performance as well as the distribution and/or
activity of the microbial communities present in the bioreactor.

Questions still remain regarding the capacity and safety of engineered bio filtration in
the context of drinking water production. In this regard Abundant clean water is
widely recognized as one of the top survival priorities, with most survival instructors
saying that you need at least a gallon per person per day for drinking and cooking.
The most common means of purifying water is by using a filter but there are other
options like:
– Boiling the water – it’s hard to purify enough water to meet a family or group’s
survival needs and you would still have to filter the particles;

– Chemical purification (such as using chlorine) – requires that you have enough of a
stock of chlorine to last through the crisis.

And so it seems the bio-filter is your best option in a crisis. Bio-filters can easily be
made out of readily available materials. They essentially duplicate the same process
that a water treatment plant uses to purify water, but on a much smaller scale. This
 multi-stage process removes dissolved and suspended solids, as well as almost
all waterborne pathogens.
The pathogens are the important part of water filtration. These pathogens are
bacteria and protozoa which can infect our digestive systems, causing diarrhoea and
dehydration. Left long enough, they can cause death by dehydration. More than
anything, they are the ingredient hiding in most fresh water sources, which can make
us ill. So, that has to be our focus.
How would our biological filter work that would produce clean water would be a three
stage filter, allowing each stage to provide a finer level of filtration.
First step being
The first level consists of gravel and is there to remove larger solids, such as leaves,
twigs, bugs and even pieces of faeces that might be in the water.
Second step being
The second layer is sand, which will remove floating and dissolved particles of solids
as the water passes through it.
Thirdly being
At this point, all that is left to be a problem is the microscopic pathogens, which are
reduced by over 99 percent by the final layer, that of activated charcoal.

, while studies on biological drinking water treatment have mainly focused on

removing the target of interest, they have not extensively addressed other
characteristics of effluent quality that might be affected by the biological treatment
processes. For instance, considering that either microbes or adsorbed contaminants
from the biological treatment process could end up in the reactor’s effluent, more
data is needed about its microbiological quality.

Building a Bio-Filter

There are a number of ways that you can build your own bio-filter. Some people try
to make them in soda bottles or other small containers. The problem with this is that
the filtration isn’t as thorough as it is for larger filters. More than anything, you want a
thick layer of activated charcoal, so that it can remove the pathogens from the water.
So, I recommend building it in six tank.

Biological filter will need:

 100 tons of sand

 100 tons of pea gravel
 50 tons bag of activated charcoal or carbon (volume will be about equal to the sand
and gravel)
 six tanks that are cylindrical
 Screening (for replacing a torn window screen)
 Something to use for a stand, such as two cinder blocks standing on their end
By using six tanks, we are able to use plenty of material to ensure that the bio-filter
will work effectively. This will also ensure that the filter will work for a long time,
rather than becoming clogged up with garbage quickly. Basically, the bigger the filter,
the longer it can filter effectively and the better a job it can do of filtering.
therefore, in view of its low operating cost, high water recovery and a potentially
efficient simultaneous multiple contaminant removal, a better understanding and
control of particular bio filtration processes would be necessary for a more
widespread acceptance and use of engineered bio filtration steps in the production of
drinking water. The amount of water that will be approximately be produced will be
65 000 litres per/min.

Slow Sand Filtration (SSF): this greatly improve the biological quality of water,
hence it has to be taken into account when designing and installing. This process
involves the filtration of water at rates that determine the accumulation of organic
matter at the surface of the filter media. This layer is able to support the colonization
and maintenance of microorganisms that in turn become the predominant filtering
mechanism of the system. This biologically active layer is called the “schmutzdecke”
and works as the primary bio filtration component to remove potential contaminants
present in the incoming water.

Slow sand filters are used without the addition of coagulant. The lower velocities
used mean more particles are retained which in turn encourages biological activity.
Within days the layer of organic material on the surface, becomes capable of
removing colour and turbidity and large numbers of bacteria. Principal mechanisms
are straining and entrapment but digestion of dissolved organics also takes place by
a variety of organisms, such as protozoa, algae, and bacteria.. Slow sand filters are
cleaned by removing the surface layer of sand
. Bio filtration processes offer the following advantages:

 Because microorganisms are retained within the biofilm, bio filtration allows the
development of microorganisms with relatively low specific growth rates;
 Bio filters are less subject to variable or intermittent loading and to hydraulic
shock
 Operational costs are usually lower than for activated sludge;
 Final treatment result is less influenced by biomass separation since the biomass
concentration at the effluent is much lower than for suspended biomass
processes;
 Attached biomass becomes more specialized (higher concentration of relevant
organisms) at a given point in the process train because there is no biomass
return.

Factors to take into consideration concerning deep bed

biological filtration

When designing biological filter, certain factors should be taken into account to avoid
poor work. For instance, if severe shortage of water were to occur like in this case of
EThekwini municipality (Durban),The bio filter station should be built correctly and be
maintained correctly because if not can cause injury and damage. If is poorly
maintained, it can pose a reliability threat because the bio filter may not meet the
current structural safety and hydraulic requirements. Therefore such things can
result in a probability of failing if they are not taken into consideration

Commission

The first step in water treatment should be filtration. Some suggest that there should
be an initial sterilization stage, but oxidizable water consumes a lot of disinfection
agents, and the large quantities needed lead to a high content of disinfection by-
products remaining in the treated water. It is necessary to initially oxidize metals
such as iron using an oxidation unit and remove them before the water is disinfected.
Some types of raw water also need a flocculation stage.

The removal of particles by packed-bed filters is the oldest technology in water

treatment but still one of the most widely used. This robust and simple technology
uses gravel of different sizes. The smaller the gravel size the better is the removal of
particles, but also the pressure drop in the packed bed increases for smaller gravel
size.
Apart from sand filters, multilayer filters consisting of different grades of sand, gravel,
and anthracite are used. Anthracite is a coal-based material suitable for depth
filtration. This means that particles are not only removed at the surface but also
within the bed. This makes the removal capacity higher, and this type of filter is
capable of dealing with higher concentrations of particles.

At intervals, the removed particles are rinsed out from the packed

Installation
We are going to align the pair of tanks up, with each of them taking on one part of
the filtration process. To make this possible, it would require a path for the water to
pass from one tank to the next. So, using the electric drill and the 1″hole saw, drill a
hole in the bottom (outlet) of six of the tank. Then change over to the 2″ hole saw
and drill a hole in the top (inlet) of the tanks.

The activated charcoal needs to be crushed, if it isn’t already. You don’t need it to be
powder, but you do need it to be small pieces, a couple of millimetres across. Start
by rinsing all three m filter Medias (gravel, sand and activated charcoal). The sand
and gravel will have dust and dirt in them and the activated charcoal will have
charcoal dust in it. This needs to be rinsed out
Table of content

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Design of biological filtration……………………………………………………………………………………………………….2

Building biological filtration………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

Slow sand filtration……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4-5

Factors to take into consideration concerning deep bed biological filtration……………………………..5

Commission……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5

Installation…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7

References……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
References
1. Rich m – off the grid news, how to build a bio filter

2. Water Research Foundation in July 2009 by HJ smith

3. Deep bed filtration: mathematical models and observation by v jagatheesan

4. Water management consultants-water maxim, Biological filtration secondary

treatment system

5. Joseph S. DeVenny, Marc A. Deshusses and Todd S. Webster (1999). Biofiltration for Air
Pollution Control. Lewis Publishers. ISBN 1-56670-289-5

6. D.S. Chaudhary, S. Vigneswara, H.-H. Ngo, W.G. Shim and H. Moon (2003). Biofilter in
water and wastewater treatment (PDF). The Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.20
No.6

7. M.G. Healy; M. Rodgers & J. Mulqueen (2007). Treatment of dairy wastewater using
constructed wetlands and intermittent sand filters. Bioresource Technology.
Conclusion
In conclusion the first filters for municipality of ethekwini drinking water treatment
were slow sand filters where water was passed through a bed of fine sand at slow
speed.Through the new design and installation of the deep bed biological filtration
water that would be produced by the new biological filters will process to treat
approximately 2 million litres per day of water

The rate of filtration would be 65 000 litres per/min this would increase the water in
the municipality and the quality, the amount of water treated. This method biological
filtration reduces microbial, bacterial and other organisms.