Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Faculty of Science

THE EVOLUTION OF THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PROCESS IN ROMANIA IN THE LAST 30 YEARS: CASE STUDY RMNICU VLCEA

Botea Liviu
Air and Water Components of the Environment Conference Cluj-Napoca March 2012

Objectives:
Pointing out the main improvements of the sewage treatment process at national level in the last 30 years; Pointing out the manner in which those improvements are reflected by the evolution of the treated water quality indicators.

Introduction
The last three decades are characterized by an increasing concern regarding the sewage treatment process. This period of time can be divided in two intervals separated for guidance purposes by the year 2000. The important upgrades specific to the last decade are a consequence of the implementation of the European legislation in the field of water.

Data and methods

This study compares the processes, equipments and technologies used in two different sewage treatment plants types, representative for the two periods of time considered, the city of Rmnicu Vlcea being used as an example. The positive evolution of the process is indicated by an analysis of the quality of the water treated by both types of sewage plants.

Results and discussion

1. The period before the year 2000

Fig. Bar screen 6. Secondary Fig. Fig. 2.4. Primary Fig. 5.3. Sand aerated basin Surface and grease sedimentation tank removal channel
Fig. 1. Process flow diagram for the sewage treatment plant from Rmnicu Vlcea in the period 1989 2009

2. The period after the year 2000

Fig. 8. Reservoir for Fig. 9. Bar screen Excess water

Fig. 7. Process flow diagram for the primary treatment stage from Rmnicu Vlcea sewage treatment plant starting with the year 2010

Fig. Fig. Fully treated water Fig. 12.11.13. Final 14. Surface aerated Fig. Precipitant sedimentation tank storage tank basin

Fig. 10. Process flow diagram for the secondary and tertiary treatment stage from Rmnicu Vlcea sewage treatment plant starting with the year 2010

3. The efficiency of the treatment process

350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Suspended solids (mg/l) Filtered residue (mg/l) Chlorides (mg/l)

25

COD - Mn (mgO2/l) COD - Cr (mgO2/l) BOD5 (mgO2/l)

20

pH (units)

15

Value

Value

Detergents (mg/l) Ether extract (mg/l) Ammonium (mg/l) Sulphides (mg/l)

10

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Year

Year

Fig. 15. The monitored parameters of the fully treated water (I)

Fig. 16. The monitored parameters of the fully treated water (II)

2011

90.0 80.0 70.0 60.0 Suspended solids (mg/l)

100.0 90.0 80.0 70.0 pH (units)

Efficiency (%)

Efficiency (%)

50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0

COD - Mn (mgO2/l) COD - Cr (mgO2/l) BOD5 (mgO2/l) Filtered residue (mg/l) Chlorides (mg/l)

60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0

Detergents (mg/l) Ether extract (mg/l) Ammonium (mg/l) Sulphides (mg/l)

-10.0

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Year

2011

Year

Fig. 17. The overall efficiency of the treatment process regarding the monitored parameters (I)

Fig. 18. The overall efficiency of the treatment process regarding the monitored parameters (II)

2011

Conclusions
An important consequence of the process of transposing the European directives in the field of water in the Romanian legislation was that new and modern sewage treatment plants were built, while many of the existent ones were substantially improved. This fact led to a diminution of the surface water pollution due to communal administration activities. This fact is determined mainly by the introduction of the tertiary stage of the treatment process.

References
Ianculescu, O., Ionescu, G., Racivieanu, R. (2008), Epurarea apelor uzate. Editura Matrix Rom, Bucureti. *** (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), Analiza managementului privind realizarea condiiilor licenei pentru serviciul public de alimentare cu ap i canalizare, Partea I. S.C. Acvarim S.A., Rmnicu Vlcea. *** (2007), Regulament de funcionare privind ntreinerea i exploatarea Staiei de epurare a Municipiului Rmnicu Vlcea. S.C. Acvarim S.A., Rmnicu Vlcea. *** (2009), Manual de operare i ntreinere al Staiei de epurare a Municipiului Rmnicu Vlcea, Ediia revzut 03. S.C. Acvarim S.A., Rmnicu Vlcea. http://www.acvarim.ro accessed on Januaryr, 13, 2012. http://www.rowater.ro accessed on January, 16, 2012.

Thank you !