UNIT I PLANNING FOR

SEWERAGE SYSTEMS
 UNIT III PRIMARY
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE
 UNIT III PRIMARY
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE
 UNIT III PRIMARY TREATMENT
OF SEWAGE
 Objective
 Unit Operation and Processes
 Selection of treatment processes
 Onsite sanitation - Septic tank, Grey water
harvesting
 Primary treatment – Principles, functions
design and drawing of
◦ screen,
◦ grit chambers
◦ primary sedimentation tanks
 Operation and Maintenance aspects.
Objective
 Primary treatment consists solely separating the
floating materials and also the heavy settable organic
and inorganic solids. It also helps in removing the oils
and grease from the sewage.
 This treatment reduces the BOD of the wastewater by
about 15 to 30%.
 The operations used are
 Screening for removing floating papers, rages, cloths,
etc.,
 Grit chambers or detritus tanks for removing grit and
sand
 Skimming tanks for removing oils and grease.
Objective
 Primary settling tank is provided for removal
of residual suspended matter.
 The organic solids, which are separated out
in the sedimentation tanks in primary
treatment, are often stabilized by anaerobic
decomposition in digestion tank or
incinerated.
 After digestion the sludge can be used as
manure after drying on sludge drying beds
or by some other means.
 Unit Operation and Processes

Classification of Treatment Methods

The individual treatment methods are
usually classified as:
 Physical unit operations
 Chemical unit processes
 Biological unit processes.
 Unit Operation and Processes

 Physical Unit Operations:

Treatment methods in which the application of

physical forces predominates are known as physical
unit operations. Most of these methods are based on
physical forces, e.g. screening, mixing, flocculation,
sedimentation, flotation, and filtration.
 Unit Operation and Processes

 Chemical Unit Processes:

Treatment methods in which removal or

conversion of contaminant is brought by addition
of chemicals or by other chemical reaction are
known as chemical unit processes, for example,
precipitation, gas transfer, adsorption, and
disinfection.
Unit Operation and Processes
 Biological Unit Processes: Treatment methods in
which the removal of contaminants is brought about
by biological activity are known as biological unit processes.
 This is primarily used to remove biodegradable organic
substances from the wastewater, either in colloidal or
dissolved form.
 In the biological unit process, organic matter is converted
into gases that can escape to the atmosphere and into
bacterial cells, which can be removed by settling.
 Biological treatment is also used for nitrogen removal and
for phosphorous and sulphate removal from the
wastewater.
Unit Operation and Processes
The main contaminants in domestic sewage, to be removed
are
 Biodegradable organics
 Suspended Solids (SS)
 pathogens,
with first two having been considered as the performance
indicators for various treatment units.
In general the objective of the domestic wastewater
treatment is to bring down
 BOD < 30 mg/L and SS < 30 mg/L for disposal into inland
water bodies.
Elements of plant Analysis and
Design
The important terms used in analysis and design of
treatment plants are (CPHEEO, 1993):

 Flow Sheet: It is the graphical representation of a

particular combination of unit operations and processes
used in treatment.

 Process Loading Criteria (or designed criteria): The

criteria used as the basis for sizing the individual unit
operation or process is known as process loading criteria.
Elements of plant Analysis and
Design
 Solid Balance: It is determined by identifying the
quantities of solids entering and leaving each unit operation
or process.

 Hydraulic profile: This is used to identify the elevation of

free surface of wastewater as it flows through various
treatment units.

 Plant Layout: It is spatial arrangement of the physical

facilities of the treatment plant identified in the flow sheet
 Onsite sanitation
 Rural areas and the outskirts of the urban areas may have
insufficient population and infrastructure to support the
sewer system and central treatment plant. Hence, onsite
sanitation becomes necessary to maintain hygienic living
conditions.

 For environmentally safe onsite sanitation, satisfactory

wastewater management techniques should ensure that:
 water body used for water supplies are not contaminated
 flies and vermin have no access to excreta
 surface water bodies are not polluted by runoff
 nuisance conditions such as odour are minimized.
 Onsite sanitation
Acceptable onsite sanitation systems,
depending on circumstances, include
septic tanks and surface percolation
extended aeration, alone or following a
septic tank; and in some area without
running water the pit privy is still used.
 Onsite sanitation – SEPTIC TANK
 This is basically a sedimentation tank with some degree
of solid destruction due to sedimentation and subsequent
anaerobic digestion.
 Designed for 24 h liquid retention time at average daily
flow.
 Considering the volume required for sludge and scum
accumulation, the septic tank may be designed for
wastewater retention time of 1 to 2 days.
 The flow and characteristics of the wastewater that can be
considered for design of septic tank is presented in the
Table.
 Septic tanks can be made from concrete, masonry or
fiberglass. Prior two are of rectangular shape and later is
generally of circular shape.
Onsite sanitation – SEPTIC TANK
 Onsite sanitation – SEPTIC TANK
 The inlet and outlet are baffled so that the floating matter
and grease will be retained in the tank.
 Heavy solids settle at the bottom of the tank, where the
organic fraction will decompose following anaerobic
pathway. The production of biogas may interfere with the
sedimentation of the solids.
 Every septic tank should be provided with the ventilation
pipe with the top of the pipe covered with suitable
mosquito proof wire mesh.
 The top of the pipe should extend to at least 2 m above
the highest building height present in the vicinity of 20 m
from the septic tank.
Onsite sanitation – SEPTIC TANK

Construction Details of the Septic Tank

 ONSITE SANITATION – SEPTIC TANK

 Post treatment can be achieved by aerobic

treatment or subsurface disposal.
 Diffused air aeration with solids recycling
(extended aeration), sand filter or synthetic
media filter (attached growth process) can
be used for treatment of septic tank effluent.
 Filter bag equipment and hypochlorite
addition will also be suitable for treatment.
However, frequent replacement of filter bag
and hypochlorite addition makes it costly.
 Design Features of Septic Tank

The tank should be large enough to provide

space for

 sedimentation of solids

 digestion of settled sludge

 storage of sludge
 Design Features of Septic Tank
 Sewage flow: The flow of sewage is considered to be
proportional to the number of fixture units discharging
simultaneously. One fixture unit is treated as equivalent to
the flow of 10 L/min. This is equivalent to the discharge
generated from one water closet (WC) when flushed.
 The number of fixtures discharging simultaneously depends
on the population served. For example for the population
of 5 persons, number of fixtures will be one and probable
peak discharge will be 10 L/min.
 Similarly for population of 10, 20, and 30 numbers of
fixtures will be 2, 3, and 4, and probable peak discharge will
be 20 L/min, 30 L/min, and 40 L/min, respectively.
 Design Features of Septic Tank
 Detention time: The detention time of 12 to 36 h
 Sewage flow:
Q = 40 – 70 litres/capita/day (from WC)
Q = 90 – 150 litres/capita/day (from WC+Sullage)
 Sludge withdrawal: The sludge is withdrawn at a
frequency of 6 months to 3 years in large tank. For small
tank it can be 2 to 3 years.
 Length to Width ratio: L = 2 to 3 W
Width >= 0.9m
Depth: 1.2 to 1.8m
 Design Features of Septic Tank
 Free Board: 0.3m
 Rate of sludge accumulation – 30 litres/person/year

 Inlet & Outlet Baffles:

Baffle/Tees should extend upto top level of scum (22cm
above top sewage line) & stop below the bottom of the
covering slab (min 7.5cm)
Inlet – 30cm below the top sewage line
Outlet – penetration 40% of depth of sewage
Outlet invert level – 5 to 7.5cm below inlet invert level
Design Features of Septic Tank
Other details of Septic Tank

1. Septic tanks are provided with water

tight cover, along with ventilation pipe
extending up to 2.0 m above the highest
building in the 20 m radius.
2. Inlet and outlet pipes are located on
opposite walls with baffle to avoid exit
of floating matter.
 Onsite sanitation
Pit Privy
 Pit privies still exist in large number in rural
areas particularly in developing countries
and underdeveloped countries.
 A typical privy consists of a pit of about 1.0
m2 by 1.25 m deep, lined with rough boards
on the sides and covered with a reinforced
concrete slab.
 A concrete riser supports the seat and
ventilator pipe conveys odours through the
roof. The slab rests on the concrete curb to
 Onsite sanitation
Pit Privy

 For average family size such privy will serve for about 10
years.
 Cleaning is not practical and new privy should be dug once
the old is full.
 The house, slab, and the curb can be moved to the new
location.
 Pit privies with heavy use are often lines with concrete and
have an access door at the rear of the unit.This permits
the contents to be removed and hauled to a municipal
treatment plant or suitable disposal site.
 Onsite sanitation
Aqua privy

 In an aqua privy, urine and faeces are dropped into a water-

tight tank which stores and decomposes the excreta in the
absence of oxygen (i.e. anaerobically) as in a septic tank.
 It differs from the septic tank as regards the method of
entry of the contents, and from the pit latrine in that the
sludge is easier to remove.
 The aqua privy may be located above ground level or partly
above and partly below.
Onsite sanitation
Aqua privy
 Onsite sanitation
Aqua privy
 The contents of the tank have no contact with the ground.
 Unlike the septic tank, the aquaprivy does not require much
water; but each day a quantity equivalent to that of the
added cleansing water has to be evacuated from it, and
therefore provision must be made for a means of draining
off effluent.
 This effluent should not be allowed to run into open fields
or gardens.
 Aqua privies may be recommended whenever the supply of
water is limited, although they do not always work
satisfactorily. Mosquitoes have been known to breed in the
vicinity of this type of latrine.
 Onsite sanitation
Bore Hole Latrine

 A bored-hole latrine is a hole drilled in the ground to

receive and store the excreta.
 It is similar to a basic pit latrine, but pit is a hole bored in a
soil auger, either manually or mechanically.
 It is suitable for stable, permeable soil, free of stones, and
where the groundwater is deep beneath the surface.
 However, bore-hole latrines do present sanitary and health
hazards, and expert advice should be sought before they
are constructed.
Onsite sanitation
Bore Hole Latrine
 Onsite sanitation
Bore Hole Latrine

 It consists of a hole covered by a one seat latrine box.

 Borehole latrines have an augured hole instead of a dug pit
and may be sunk to a depth of 10 m or more, although a
depth of 4 - 6 m is usual.
 Augured holes, 300-500 mm in diameter, may be dug
quickly by hand or machine in areas where the soil is firm,
stable and free from rocks or large stones.
 While a small diameter is easier to bore, the life of the pit
is very short. For example a 300-mm diameter hole with 5
m deep will serve a family of five people for about two
years.
 Onsite sanitation
Bore Hole Latrine
 The small diameter of the hole increases the likelihood of
blockage, and the depth of augured hole increases the
danger of groundwater contamination. Even if the hole
does not become blocked, the sides of the hole become
soiled near the top, making fly infestation probable.
 However, borehole latrines are convenient for emergency
or short-term use, because they can be prepared rapidly in
great numbers, and light portable slabs may be used.
 The holes should be lined for at least the top 0.5 m or so
with an impervious material such as concrete or baked clay.
Improved type of bore hole latrine will also avoid fly
nuisance and odour.
 Dug well Latrine

 It is similar to that of bored-hole

latrine but only difference is in
the diameter of the whole.
 In dug well privy 75 cm x 75 cm
x 360 cm pit is excavated, which
is lined with honey comb brick
work or stone work, to absorb
the liquid waste.
 In conservancy system the
human excreta from unsewered
area are collected in dug well
type latrine.
 screen

PRIMARY TREATMENT – PRINCIPLES,

FUNCTIONS DESIGN AND DRAWING
OF SCREEN
 Functions of screen
 The function of the bar screen is to prevent entry of solid
particles/ articles above a certain size; such as plastic cups,
paper dishes, polythene bags, condoms and sanitary napkins
into the STP. (If these items are allowed to enter the STP,
they clog and damage the STP pumps, and cause stoppage
of the plant.)

 The screening is achieved by placing a screen made out of

vertical bars, placed across the sewage flow.
drawing of screen
 screen

 Larger STPs may have two screens: A coarse bar screen

with larger gaps between bars, followed by a fine bar screen
with smaller gaps between bars.
 In smaller STPs, a single fine bar screen may be adequate.
 If this unit is left unattended for long periods of time, it will
generate a significant amount of odor: it will also result in
backing of sewage in the incoming pipelines and chambers
 Design of screen
 The gaps between the bars may vary between 25 and 50
mm
 The screen chamber must have sufficient cross-sectional
opening area to allow passage of sewage at peak flow rate
(2.5 to 3 times the average hourly flow rate) at a velocity of
0.8 to 1.0 m/s,
 (The cross-sectional area occupied by the bars of the
screen itself is not to be counted in this calculation.)
 The screen must extend from the floor of the chamber to
a minimum of 0.3 m above the maximum design level of
sewage in the chamber under peak flow conditions.
 Design of screen
 Bar screen is a set of inclined parallel bars, fixed at a certain
distance apart in a channel.
 These are used for removing larger particles of floating and
suspended matter.
 The wastewater entering the screening channel should have
a minimum self-clearing velocity 0.375 m/sec.
 Also the velocity should not rise to such extent as to
dislodge the screenings from the bars.
 Design of screen
 The slope of the hand-cleaned screens should be between
300 and 450 with the horizontal and that of mechanically
cleaned screens may be between 450 and 800.

 The submerged area of the surface of the screen, including

bars and opening should be about 200% of the c/s area of
the extract sewer for separate sewers and 300% for
combined sewers
 Design of screen
 Clear spacing of bars for
hand cleaned bar screens - 25 to 50 mm mechanically
cleaned bars - 15 mm to 75 mm.

 The width of the bars facing the flow may be 8 mm to 15

mm and

 depth may vary from 25 mm to 75 mm, but sizes less than

8 x 25 mm are normally not used.
 Design of screen - Example 1
Design a bar screen chamber for average sewage
flow 20 MLD, minimum sewage flow of 12 MLD
and maximum flow of 30 MLD.

Solution:
Average flow = 20 MLD
= 0.231 m3/Sec
Maximum Flow = 30 MLD
= 0.347 m3/Sec
Minimum flow = 12 MLD
= 0.139 m3/Sec
 Design of screen - Example 1
Assume:
1) manual cleaning and angle of inclination
of bars with horizontal as 30o.
2) size of bars 9 mm x 50 mm, 9 mm facing
the flow.
3) A clear spacing of 30 mm between the
bars is provided.
4) velocity of flow normal to screen as 0.3
m/sec at average flow.
 Design of screen - Example 1
Net submerged area of the screen opening
required
= (0.231 m3/Sec) / 0.3 m/sec
= 0.77 m2
Assume velocity of flow normal to the screen as
0.75m/sec at maximum flow, hence
Net submerged area of screen opening
=(0.347 m3/Sec ) / 0.75 m/sec
= 0.46 m2
Provide net submerged area = 0.77 m2
 Design of screen - Example 1
Net submerged area of the screen opening
required
= (0.231 m3/Sec) / 0.3 m/sec
= 0.77 m2
Assume velocity of flow normal to the
screen as 0.75m/sec at maximum flow,
hence
Net submerged area of screen opening
=(0.347 m3/Sec ) / 0.75 m/sec
= 0.46 m2
 Design of screen - Example 1
Gross submerged area of the screen
When ‘n’ numbers of bars are used the ratio of
opening to the gross width will be
[(n+1)30] / [(n+1)30 + 9 x n] ≈ 0.77 (for 20 to 30
number of bars)
Gross submerged area of the screen = 0.77 / 0.77 = 1
m2
Submerged vertical cross sectional area of the
screen = 1.0 x Sin 30 = 0.5 m2 = c/s area of screen
chamber,
 Design of screen - Example 1
Velocity of flow in screen chamber = 0.231 / 0.5
=0.462 m/sec
This velocity is greater than the self cleansing velocity of
0.42 m/sec
Provide 30 numbers of bars.
Gross width of the screen
chamber = 30 x 0.009 + 31 x 0.03 = 1.2 m
Liquid depth at average flow = 0.5 / 1.2 = 0.416 m
Provide free board of 0.3 m
Hence, total depth of the screen = 0.416 + 0.3 = 0.716
m, say 0.75 m
 Design of screen - Example 1
The size of the channel = 1.2 m (width) x 0.75 m (depth)
Calculation for bed slope:
R = A/P = (0.416 x 1.2) / (2 x 0.416 + 1.2)
= 0.246 m
V = (1/n) R2/3 S1/2
S1/2 = V.n / R2/3
= 0.462 x 0.013 / (0.246)2/3
S1/2 = 0.0153
S = 0.000234
Bed slope is nearly 1 in 4272 m
 Design of screen - Example 1
Head loss through the screen, h, when screen is
not clogged.
h = β (W/b)4/3 hv Sin θ
= 2.42 (9/30)4/3 [(0.462)2/(2 x 9.81)] Sin 30
= 2.65 x 10-3 m = 0.00265 m = 2.65 mm
For half clogged screen, the head loss can be
worked out using opening width as half
Thus, b = 30/2 = 15 mm
And h = 6.67 x 10-3 m = 6.67 mm < 15 mm
 Design of screen - Example 1
However, provide 15 mm drop of after
screen.
If this head loss is very excessive, this can
be reduced by providing bars with
rounded edges at upstream, or by reducing
width of bars to 6 to 8 mm, or by slight
reduction in velocity.
Except for the change in shape of bars in
other cases the channel dimensions will
change.
Operation and Maintenance aspects
OF SCREEN
 Check and clean trap at frequent intervals

 Remove both settled solids (at bottom) and the

floating grease

 Do not allow solids to get washed out of the trap

 Do not allow oil and grease to escape the trap

 Redesign the trap if solids and grease escape on a

regular basis, despite good cleaning practices
 grit chamber

PRIMARY TREATMENT – PRINCIPLES, FUNCTIONS DESIGN AND

DRAWING OF GRIT CHAMBER

 grit chamber
 Grit chamber is the second unit operation used in primary
treatment of wastewater and it is intended to remove
suspended inorganic particles such as sandy and gritty
matter from the wastewater.

 The grit chamber is used to remove grit, consisting of sand,

gravel, cinder, or other heavy solid materials (inorganic -
that have specific gravity much higher than those of the
organic solids in wastewater) by the process of
sedimentation due to gravitational forces and to pass
forward the lighter organic material.
 Principle of grit chamber
 Based on the process of sedimentation in which the
organic matter present in sewage which is having specific
gravity greater than that of water (ie 1.0) is made to settle.

 In still sewage these particles will tend to settle down by

gravity whereas in flowing sewage they are kept in
suspension because of turbulence in water. Hence as soon
as turbulence is retarded by offering storage to sewage
these impurities tend to settle down at the bottom of the
tank offering such storage.
 Principle of grit chamber
 Settling of discrete particles (Type I sedimentation or
settling).

 Discrete or granular particles are those which donot

change their size, shape and weight.

 Flocculated particles are those which change their size,

shape and weight and thus lose their identity.
 Functions of grit chambers
 Grit chambers are provided

 to protect moving mechanical equipment from abrasion

and abnormal wear

 avoid deposition in pipelines, channels, and conduits

 reduce frequency of digester cleaning.

 Functions of grit chambers
 Separate removal of suspended inorganic solids in grit
chamber and suspended organic solids in primary
sedimentation tank is necessary due to different nature and
mode of disposal of these solids.
 Grit can be disposed off after washing, to remove higher size
organic matter settled along with grit particles
 whereas, the suspended solids settled in primary
sedimentation tank, being organic matter, requires further
treatment before disposal.
 Horizontal Velocity in Flow Though Grit Chamber
 The settling of grit particles in the chamber is assumed as
particles settling as individual entities and referred as Type –
I settling. The grit chamber is divided in four compartments
as inlet zone, outlet zone, settling zone and sludge zone

 L – Length of the settling zone, H – Depth of the settling

zone,
 v – Horizontal velocity of wastewater
 Vo – Settling velocity of the smallest particle intended to be
removed in grit chamber.
Horizontal Velocity in Flow Though Grit Chamber

Compartments of grit chamber

 Zone – I: Inlet zone: This zone distributes the incoming
wastewater uniformly to entire cross section of the grit
chamber.
 Zone – II: Outlet zone: This zone collects the wastewater
after grit removal.
 Zone – III: Settling zone: In this zone settling of grit material
occurs.
 Zone – IV: Sludge zone: This is a zone where settled grit
accumulates.
 Design of grit chambers
 Now, if Vs is the settling velocity of any particle, then
 For Vs >= Vo these particles will be totally removed,
 For Vs < Vo, these particles will be partially removed,
 Where, Vo is settling velocity of the smallest particle intended
to be removed.
 The smallest particle expected to be removed in the grit
chamber has size 0.2 mm and sometimes in practice even size
of the smallest particle is considered as 0.15 mm. The terminal
velocity with which this smallest particle will settle is
considered as Vo. This velocity can be expressed as flow or
discharge per unit surface area of the tank, and is usually
called as ‘surface overflow rate’ or ‘surface settling velocity’
 Design of grit chambers
 Now for 100 percent removal of the particles with settling
velocity Vs >= Vo, we have

Detention time = L/v = H/Vo

Or L/H = v/Vo …………(1)

 To prevent scouring of already deposited particles the

magnitude of ‘v’ should not exceed critical horizontal velocity
Vc, and the above equation becomes

L / H = Vc / Vo
 Design of grit chambers
 The critical velocity,Vc, can be given by the following equation

β= constant, = 0.04 for unigranular sand

= 0.06 for non-uniform sticky material
f = Darcy –Weisbach friction factor = 0.03 for gritty matter
g = Gravitational acceleration,
S = Specific gravity of the particle to be removed (2.65 for sand),
and
D = Diameter of the particle, m
 Design of grit chambers
 The grit chambers are designed to remove
the smallest particle of size 0.2 mm with
specific gravity around 2.65. For these
particles, using above expression the critical
velocity comes out to be Vc = 0.228 m/sec.
 Settling Velocity of the Particles
 Settling velocity of any discrete particle depends on its
individual characteristics and also on the characteristics of
the fluid. Assuming particles to be spherical, the settling
velocity of any particle, Vs, can be given by the following
formula:

R = Reynold’s Number = Vs.D/ν

ν = Kinematic viscosity of the fluid
 drawing of grit chambers

HORIZONTAL FLOW GRIT CHAMBER

 Horizontal Flow Rectangular Grit Chamber

 A long narrow channel is used in this type of grit chamber.

The wastewater moves through this channel in more or
less plug flow condition with minimal mixing to support
settling of the particles.

 Higher length to width ratio of the channel is used to

minimize mixing. For this purpose a minimum allowance of
approximately twice the maximum depth or 20 to 50% of
the theoretical length of the channel should be given for
inlet and outlet zones.
 Horizontal Flow Rectangular Grit Chamber

 The width of this channel is kept between 1 and 1.5 m and

the depth of flow is normally kept shallow. A free board of
minimum 0.3 m and grit space of about 0.25 m is provided.

 For large sewage treatment plant, two or more number of

grit chambers are generally provided in parallel. The
detention time of 30 to 60 seconds is recommended for
the grit chamber.
 Control of Velocity Through the
Grit Chamber
 With variation in sewage flow received at
treatment plant, it is important that velocity
of the wastewater in the grit chamber
should be maintained nearly constant.

 Otherwise when flow is lower, deposition of

not only inorganic solids but also organic
solids will occur in grit chamber due to
lowering of velocity.
 Control of Velocity Through the
Grit Chamber
 Hence for proper functioning, the velocity should not be
allowed to change in spite of change in flow in the grit
chamber.

 This can be achieved by provision of proportional weir or

Parshall flume at the outlet end of grit chamber.

 The shape of the opening between the plates of a

proportional weir is made in such a way that the discharge
is directly proportional to liquid depth in grit chamber. As a
result the velocity of water in the chamber will remain
constant for all flow conditions.
Proportional Weir Parshall flume
 Disposal of Grit
 Considerable quantities of grit will be collected at the
sewage treatment plant, about 0.004 to 0.2 m3/ML.
Quantity of grit will be more particularly for combined
system. Necessary arrangement should be made at the
treatment plant for collection, storage and disposal of this
grit matter. The grit collected can be disposed in the
following manner:
 In large treatment plant, grit is incinerated with sludge
 In the past, grits along with screening was dumped into sea.
 Generally, grit should be washed before disposal to remove
organic matter.
 Land disposal after washing is most common.

 Design of Grit Chamber
Design a grit chamber for population 50000 with water
consumption of 135 LPCD.
Solution
Average quantity of sewage, considering sewage generation
80% of water supply, is
= 135 x 50000 x 0.8 = 5400 m3/day = 0.0625 m3/sec

Maximum flow = 2.5 x average flow

= 0.0625 x 2.5 = 0.156 m3/sec
Keeping the horizontal velocity as 0.2 m/sec (<0.228 m/sec)
and detention time period as one minute.
 Design of Grit Chamber
Length of the grit chamber
= velocity x detention time = 0.2 x 60 = 12.0 m
Volume of the grit chamber
= Discharge x detention time
= 0.156 x 60 = 9.36 m3
Cross section area of flow ‘A’
= Volume / Length = 9.36/12 = 0.777 m2
Provide width of the chamber = 1.0 m,
hence depth = 0.777 m
Provide 25% additional length to accommodate inlet and
outlet zones.
 Design of Grit Chamber
The length of the grit chamber
= 12 x 1.25 = 15.0 m
Provide 0.3 m free board and 0.25 m grit accumulation
zone depth, hence total depth
= 0.777 + 0.3 + 0.25 = 1.33 m
and width = 1.0 m

Size of the Grit Chamber

15m x 1m x (1.03m+0.3m) Freeboard
 Design of Aerated Grit
Chamber
Design aerated grit chamber for treatment of sewage with
average flow of 60 MLD. Consider the peak factor of 2.
Solution:
1.Average flow = 60 MLD = 0.694 m3 /sec, and
Peak flow = 0.694 x 2.0 = 1.389 m3/sec
2.Volume of grit chamber
Provide two chambers to facilitate periodic cleaning and
maintenance
Provide detention time = 3.0 min
Volume of each tank = 1.389 x 3 x 60 /2 = 125.01 m3
 Design of Aerated Grit
3. Dimensions ofChamber
aeration basin:
Provide depth to width ratio of 1: 1.2
Provide depth = 3.0 m
hence width = 1.2 x 3.0 = 3.6 m
Length = 125.01 / (3 x 3.6) = 11.575 m
Increase length by 20% to account for inlet and outlet
conditions.
Total length = 11.575 x 1.2 = 13.89 m.
4. Determine the air-supply requirement
Consider 0.3 m3 /min.m of length air supply
Air Requirement = 13.89 x 0.3 = 4.17 m3 /min
Provide air swing arrangement at 0.5 m from floor
 Design of Aerated Grit
Chamber
5. Quantity of grit :
Consider grit collection 0.015 m3/103 m3
Volume of grit = 1.389 x 60 x 60 x 24 x 0.015 x 10-3
= 1.8 m3/d
6. Check for surface overflow rate (SOR)
Settling velocity of the smallest particle = 2.4 cm/sec, Actual
SOR in the grit chamber
= 1.389 / (2 x 3.6 x 11.575)
= 0.0167 m/s
= 1.67 cm/sec, which is less than the settling velocity of the
smallest particle hence design is safe.
 Principle of sedimentation tanks

 Based on the process of sedimentation in which the

suspended organic solid matter present in sewage which is
too light to be removed by grit chamber is removed.
 In still sewage these particles will tend to settle down by
gravity whereas in flowing sewage they are kept in
suspension because of turbulence in water. Hence as soon
as turbulence is retarded by offering storage to sewage
these impurities tend to settle down at the bottom of the
tank offering such storage.
 Principle of sedimentation tanks
 Settling of Flocculated particles

 Flocculated particles are those which change their size,

shape and weight and thus lose their identity.

 Due to involvement of many unknown parameters under

settling of light weight, sticky, and non regular shaped
particles, the classical laws of sedimentation as applicable in
grit removal are not valid and this settling is called as
flocculant settling.
 function of primary sedimentation tanks
The purpose and function of the clarifier is threefold:
 Allow settling of light organic suspended solids coming out
of the Grit chamber to the bottom of the clarifier
 To thicken the solids, in order to produce a thick underflow
 To produce clear supernatant water, in the overflow from
the clarifier
 The clarifier tank is only a passive device: All the above
actions occur due to gravity.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 The primary sedimentation tank generally removes 30 to
40% of the total BOD and 50 to 70% of suspended solids
from the raw sewage.
 The flow through velocity of 1 cm/sec at average flow is
used for design with detention period in the range of 90 to
150 minutes.
 This horizontal velocity will be generally effective for
removal of organic suspended solids of size above 0.1 mm.
 Effluent weirs are provided at the effluent end of the
rectangular tanks, and around the periphery in the circular
tanks.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 Weir loading less than 185 m3/m.d is used for designing
effluent weir length (125 to 500 m3/m.d). Where primary
treatment follows secondary treatment, higher weir loading
rates can be used.
 The sludge collection hopper is provided near the centre in
circular tank and near the influent end in rectangular tanks.
 A baffle is provided ahead of the effluent weir for removal
of floating matter. This scum formed on the surface is
periodically removed from the tank mechanically or
manually.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 Primary sedimentation tanks can be circular or rectangular
tanks (Figure 16.2) designed using average dry weather flow
and checked for peak flow condition.
 The numbers of tanks are determined by limitation of tank
size. Two tanks in parallel are normally used to facilitate
maintenance of any tank.
 The diameter of circular tank may range from 3 to 60 m
(up to 45 m typical) and it is governed by structural
requirements of the trusses which supports scrapper in
case of mechanically cleaned tank.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 Rectangular tank with length 90 m are in use, but usually
length more than 40 m is not preferred.
 Width of the tank is governed by the size of the scrappers
available for mechanically cleaned tank.
 The depth of mechanically cleaned tank should be as
shallow as possible, with minimum 2.15 m.
 The average depth of the tank used in practice is about 3.5
m. In addition, 0.25 m for sludge zone and 0.3 to 0.5 m free
board is provided.
 The floor of the tank is provided with slope 6 to 16 % (8 to
12 % typical)for circular tank and 2 to 8% for rectangular
tanks.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 The scrappers are attached to rotating arms in
case of circular tanks and to endless chain in case
of rectangular tanks.
 These scrappers collect the solids in a central
sump and the solids are withdrawn regularly in
circular tanks.
 In rectangular tanks, the solids are collected in the
sludge hoppers at the influent end, and are
withdrawn at fixed time intervals.
 The scrapper velocity of 0.6 to 1.2 m/min (0.9
m/min typical) is used in rectangular tank and flight
speed of 0.02 to 0.05 rpm (0.03 typical) is used in
circular tank.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 Inlets for both rectangular and circular tanks are to be
designed to distribute the flow equally across the cross
section.
 Scum removal arrangement is provided ahead of the
effluent weir in all the PST.
 The surface overflow rate of 40 m3/m2.d (in the range 35
to 50 m3/m2.d) is used for design at average flow.
 At peak flow the surface overflow rate of 80 to 120
m3/m2.d could be used when this PST is followed by
secondary treatment.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 Lower surface settling rates are used when waste activated
sludge is also settled in the PST along with primary solids.
In this case the surface overflow rate of 24 to 32 m3/m2.d
and 48 to 60 m3/m2.d are used for average and peak flow
conditions, respectively.

 The weir loading rate less than 185 m3/m.d is used for
designing effluent weir length (in the range 125 to 500
m3/m.d). Weir loading rate up to 300 m3/m.d is acceptable
under peak flow condition.
 design of primary sedimentation tanks
 Higher weir loading can be acceptable when primary
treatment is followed by secondary treatment.

 As such the weir loading rate has very less impact on the
overall performance of sewage treatment plant when
secondary treatment is provided after primary treatment.

 The detention time in PST could be as low as 1 h to

maximum of 2.5 h. Providing detention time of 1.5 to 2.5 h
at average flow is a common practice.
drawing of rectangular sedimentation tank
drawing of circular sedimentation tank
drawing of circular sedimentation tank
drawing of circular sedimentation tank
The figure shows only some part of the
tank floor (1). A bucket-shaped sludge
collection pit
(2) collects the sludge that is swept by
the squeegees.
The collected sludge is pumped out
through the outlet port
(3) and outlet pipe
(4) In the center of the pit, an RCC pillar
(5) is provided. A bush housing (6) is
mounted on this pillar. The housing
contains a bush, which provides a
frictionless support to the rotating rake
(7).
 Design of primary sedimentation
tank
Design the primary sedimentation tank to treat wastewater
with average flow rate of 10 MLD and peak flow of 22.5
MLD.
Solution
Assume surface settling rate = 40 m3/m2.d
Therefore, the surface area of the tank
= 10 x 106 / 40 x 103
= 250 m2
Check for peak flow condition: The SOR at peak flow =
22.5 x 103 /250 = 90 m3/m2.d < recommended value at
peak flow.
 Design of primary sedimentation
Assume width = 6.0 m
tank
Therefore theoretical length = 250/6 = 41.66 > 40 m
Hence, provide two tanks in parallel
Total length of each tank = 41.66/2 + 2 (inlet) + 2 (outlet)
= 24.83 say 24.85 m
Flow rate x detention time = depth x surface area =
volume of tank
or Flow / Surface area = depth / detention time = Surface
settling rate
Provide detention time of 1.5 h
Liquid depth required = 40 x 1.5 / 24 = 2.5 m
Design of primary sedimentation tank
Flow through velocity = (0.116 m3/sec) / (2 x 2.5 x 6)
= 0.0039 m/sec < 1 cm/sec hence O.K.
At peak flow, the flow through velocity
= 22.5 x 103/(2 x 6 x 2.5) = 750 m/d = 0.0087 m/sec.
(Horizontal velocity should be checked for non-scouring
velocity i.e. less than 0.06 m/sec.)
Provide total depth
= 2.5 + 0.5 (free board) + 0.25 (space for sludge)
= 3.25 m
Weir loading rate
= 10 x 103 / 12 = 833.33 m3/m.day > 185 m3 /m.day
Design of primary sedimentation tank
Length of weir required = 10 x 103 / 185 =
54.05 m

Hence, provide about 27.1 m of weir length

for each tank.
This can be provided by two effluent
collection channels across the width at
outlet end offering total 24.0 m and side
weir of total 1.55 m on each side.
Operation and Maintenance aspects.

 If properly designed, engineered and constructed, clarifiers

call for very little attention in terms of operation and
maintenance.
 Indeed, the unmechanized (hopper-bottom) settling tanks
may be said to be zero- maintenance units.
 Some parts of the mechanical rake (such as the motor,
gearbox etc.) call for only routine maintenance.
 The sacrificial rubber squeegees sweeping the floor of the
clarifier need to be checked and replaced, possibly once in
two years.