What is the Flow Equalization in Sewage Treatment?

Sewage treatment is defined as the process of cleaning the wastewater that comes from the houses and workplaces before it is released back into the environment. This treatment is necessary because untreated sewage can be dangerous to people and the environment. Flow equalization is one of the important processes involved in the sewage treatment process despite the fact that its name sounds complex it is in fact a very essential process that is very crucial in providing clean and safe water.

What is Flow Equalization?

In wastewater treatment, flow equalization is a procedure used to balance variations in the flow rate of incoming sewage or wastewater. Flow equalization ensures that downstream treatment operations can run more smoothly by storing wastewater in a storage tank or basin during times of high flow and releasing it at a more steady pace thereafter. This procedure lowers the chance of system failures, enhances the quality of treated water and keeps treatment systems from being overloaded.

How does the flow in a sewage system differ?

The flow of sewage also varies during the day and at night. During the morning when people are either going to their workplaces or schools, several amounts of water is used for showering, washing teeth and flushing toilets. Such leads to high influx of sewage to the treatment plant. Indeed, the rate may be higher during a particular time of the day as people are found at home than during the day when everybody is occupied. At night, when people get home from work, it may increase again. Such fluctuation in the amount of sewage may put pressure on treatment plants because they cannot perform optimally.

Why is Flow Equalization Needed?

Protecting the Treatment Process

Flow equalization is a way of moderating these fluctuations and keeping them under check. In case the flow of raw sewage is constant the efficiency of the treatment plant enhances.

Preventing Overload

Lack of flow equalization means that the treatment plant could possibly receive an overload of water at any one time. An overloaded plant can malfunction and fail to treat the sewage adequately and this polluted sewage can be discharged directly into rivers, lakes or the sea. This then leads to cases of water pollution and effects on water organisms, as well as the possibly contributory to effects on human health.

Saving Energy and Costs

Another advantage of flow equalization is energy conservation and costcutting. In general, when there is a continuous, steady flow of sewage the machines and equipment in the treatment plant use up only as much energy as is required. That means they consume less power, and therefore, this entail a lot of money will be saved. It also translates into the equipment endurance which can certainly curtail the need for expensive repair or replacement.

How does flow equalization work?

The Equalization Tank

Flow equalization is usually achieved using a tank known as “equalization tank”. This tank is usually charged with extra sewage during periods of high flow and releases this during low flow. It appears like a holding tank where it collects the remaining sewage and relays the sewage to the treatment plant slowly and gradually.

Monitoring and Control

The flow of the sewage is kept always balanced through use of sensors and meters. These tools quantify the flow of the sewages to the plant and the equalization tank. When the flow increase becomes high, the control sensors give a signal to divert some of the sewage to the equalization tank. When flow is low the retained sewage is discharged gradually within the tank so as to maintain a steady flow.

Mixing and Aeration

There is also usually some agitation of the sewage in an equalization tank to prevent the formation of layers and consequent stagnation of the contents. Sometimes aeration is applied which indicates that air is introduced into the tank to fresh the sewage and promote decomposition of the organic material. It also assists in the reduction of smell and the formation of dangerous bacteria in the house.

Benefits of Flow Equalization

Better Treatment Efficiency

With flow equalization, the sewage treatment plant can operate more efficiently. When the flow of sewage is even, the different treatment processes, like filtering and adding chemicals, work better. This results in cleaner water being released back into the environment.

Environmental Protection

Flow equalization ensures that treated sewage fulfills safety requirements before to release, protecting the environment in the process. To keep rivers, lakes, and seas healthy, clean water is necessary. In addition to ensuring that people have access to clean water for drinking, fishing, and relaxation, it also supports aquatic life.

Enhanced Safety and Health

Since flow equalization prevents the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated sewage, it also contributes to the preservation of public health. Those who come into contact with untreated sewage can become ill from the pathogenic bacteria and viruses present in the seepage. It might also include poisons and chemicals that are dangerous for local wildlife and plants, as well as for human health.  Flow equalization can minimize these risks because it ensures that the process of sewage treatment functions well.

Energy and Cost Savings

In addition to the fact that flow equalization is useful for maintaining continuity of the treatment process, energy can also be conserved. When the treatment plant works in an efficient manner, then it utilizes little energy and other raw materials. This does not only minimize the cost but also the cost of the environmental impact of the treatment process. Furthermore, it also has the effect of driving down costs related to maintenance and replacement when equipment lasts longer owing to balanced operation.

Conclusion

Many sewage treatment processes may just consider flow equalisation to be a minor component of the overall process but, in fact, it is a highly significant factor. Flow equalization is important in the protection of the environment, the health of the people, and in the conservation of energy as well as costs through controlling the instances of sewage flow into treatment plants.

For a country like India where the problem of treating sewage is becoming a major issue especially because of increasing population, urbanization and industrialization, it’s always beneficial to adopt flow equalization. It also helps to make sure that water that has been used is treated before it is released to the rivers, lakes or even the seas to prevent pollution.

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