Overview
Sewage (also known as domestic sewage, domestic wastewater, or municipal wastewater) is a type of wastewater produced by a group of people. It is usually carried through a sewer system. Greywater (from sinks, bathtubs, showers, dishwashers, and clothes washers) and blackwater are two types of sewage. Soaps and detergents are also found in sewage. Sewage contains both macro- and micro-pollutants, and it may also contain municipal solid waste and pollutants from industrial wastewater.
What is the Phosphorus Parameter of Sewage?
Phosphorus is one of the sewage parameters (P). Phosphorus, along with Nitrogen, is an essential mineral in the growth of algae and other biological organisms, which is why it is frequently a focus in wastewater effluent.
Releasing high levels of phosphorus into a water course can cause an algae bloom and the growth of other noxious organisms, which can lead to significant oxygen depletion and thus a fish kill and the death of other organisms. Phosphate levels in waste water are typically specified in terms of Total Phosphate/Phosphorus or Orthophosphate.
Orthophosphates are the most polluting form of phosphorus because they are immediately available for biological metabolism without further breakdown.
Typical Total Phosphorus values in wastewater range from 4 to 15 mg/l, with final effluent Total Phosphorus values in the range of 0.5 to 5 mg/l increasingly being specified.
The simplest way to reduce “P” in sewage effluent is to determine whether a specific cause of high “P” levels can be identified. Switching to a low “P” detergent, for example, can significantly reduce “P” levels in the influent and thus effluent in a hotel that still washes its own laundry.
In the Primary settlement area of a package sewage treatment plant, some “P” reduction will occur naturally. Because some of it is adsorbed onto Suspended Solids (SS), settling out SS results in a small reduction in “P” in the effluent.
Biological process, such as, de-nitrification can reduce phosphorus. The most common method used in package sewage treatment, however, is to dosing the system with Aluminum/Ferric Sulphate (FeSO4). In sewage, FeSO4 reacts with P to form a flocculent, which settles out into the sewage sludge. All else being equal, the level of P reduction is a function of the amount of FeSO4 introduced into the sewage treatment system.
Unfortunately, FeSO4 is a hazardous chemical, so adequate health and safety precautions must be taken when servicing or operating a system. FeSO4 is a hazardous and corrosive chemical, overdosing a biological system can result in bacterial death and impaired system performance. There may be a significant time lag between the system fully recovering and FeSO4 overdosing being detected and stopped.
The other major disadvantage of FeSO4 dosing is that it increases sludge bulk by 20-25 percent. This means that if adequate allowance is not made, the time between de-sludging can be significantly reduced.
Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.
