Solving this challenge of poor sanitation management is a complex task.

In order to do this, here are

four ways in which cities need to act:

1. Risk management: Better understand, and act to mitigate, risks to environmental damage

across the entire water cycle: from the catchment area right through to water bodies in urban
areas, and wastewater management.

2. Monitoring: Improve monitoring of water quality across the ecosystem – in boreholes, rivers,

coastal areas and discharge points, using technology to better predict and solve hidden risks
before they cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem.

3. Treatment: Improve the treatment of human waste before it goes back into the environment,
particularly from un-sewered toilets but also from treatment plants.

4. Services: Support the development of services which can collect and transport sanitation waste
for safe treatment, and raise awareness of the issue among residents, to stimulate customer
demand.
Why is waste water management so important?

Contaminated waste water is the leading cause of disease worldwide,

cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, dehydration are all results of poor waste water management. Water,
river and ocean pollution is contributing to loss of biodiversity worldwide and turning tourists
away from Bali. Polluted water damages ecosystems and causes degradation of rivers, lakes,
oceans and ground water.

Meanwhile human "waste products' such as urine and feces are actually

important resources, that, when properly managed, can help to rehabilitate soil and "feed" our
environment (and even us as we produce enough nutrients per year to grow the food we need for
that same year!). An average human with a protein rich diet produces 1.2 liters of urine and 0.14
kg of feces per day. Those with vegetarian diets tend to produce 1.03 liters of urine and 0.4 kg of
feces per day. The residents of Taman Petanu combined with create something along the lines of
the following resources:

This page covers some of the simple eco-logical solutions that are being developed for the
neighborhood to:

 Optimize environmentally sound use of

water at the neighborhood
 Optimize practices that work with, rather
than against, natural elements

 Convert ‘human wastes’ into valuable
resources on site
 Increase the natural productivity of the site
 Revegetate and enhance biodiversity on
and around the site
 Create a living model of sound wastewater
treatment practices in Bali / Indonesia

Why is wastewater management is important

The major aim of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended solids as
possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment. As
solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by the plants and animals living in the
water.
Wastewater Management. Wastewater is any water that requires cleaning after it is used. ...
The goal of wastewater management is to clean and protect water. This means that water must
be clean enough so that it can be used by people for drinking and washing, and by industry for
commercial purposes.
ABOUT UN-WATER
 Governance
 Members
 Partners
 Donors
WHAT WE DO
 Inform Policies
 Monitor and Report
 Inspire Action
WATER FACTS
 Climate Change
 Disasters
  Ecosystems
 Financing
 Gender
 Human Rights
 Quality and Wastewater
 Scarcity
 Transboundary Waters
 Urbanization
 Water, Food and Energy
 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
PUBLICATIONS
 SDG 6 Synthesis Report 2018 on Water and Sanitation
 World Water Development Report
 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply|| Sanitation and Hygiene
(JMP)
 GEMI
 UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS)
 Policy and Analytical Briefs
 Integrated Monitoring
NEWS
 UN-Water News
 UN-Water Family News
ARCHIVE
 AIS Portal
 Documentation Centre
 Water for Life Decade
 Sanitation for All – The Drive to 2015
3.2 Kinds of wastewater systems
Domestic wastewater system
This is a wastewater system that processes wastewater from a home, or group of homes. The
system includes the source of wastewater in the home, technologies for treating the wastewater,
and technologies and processes for returning the processed wastewater to the ecosystem. Figure
3.4 is a simplified illustration of this total wastewater system for a single home. It comprises:
 the home itself – how it is built may affect how wastewater is created
 the technologies in the home, such as washing machines and toilets
 'inputs' – such as food (nutrients), household cleaners and water
 the people and their behaviour
 the resulting wastewater
 recycling and treatment – on-site or off-site
 the ecosystem within which the home is embedded.
Figure 3.4 Domestic wastewater system
 

Textual description
Industrial wastewater system
This is a system that processes wastewater from an industrial unit, such as a factory. As with the
home system, the boundaries extend from the wastewater source (the industrial processes)
through to the technologies and processes for returning the processed wastewater to the
ecosystem. Figure 3.5 is a simplified illustration of this. It differs from the home system in terms
of:
 the types of technologies producing the waste
 the way wastewater is managed at the source
  what goes into the processes (eg, chemicals/metals)
 the kind of waste produced.
The system is similar in that it includes people, recycling, the treatment technologies and the
ecosystem within which the industry sits.
Figure 3.5 Industrial wastewater system
 

Textual description
3.3 The parts of a wastewater system: fitting into natural systems
Whatever the kind of system – industrial, domestic or combined – there are four stages or parts
to any wastewater management system:
 managing wastewater at source (including water conservation and recycling)
 collection and treatment
 re-use of treated wastewater and sludge
 re-entry of treated waste into the ecosystem.
Instead of the traditional end-of-pipe approach, a systems approach involves considering the total
physical wastewater system, from the source to eventual return of the wastewater to the
environment. This can offer more economic and sustainable solutions. For example, it may be
more appropriate and more sustainable to reduce the amount of wastewater at the source by
looking at the types of technologies (eg, washing machines, toilet systems) used. Or it may be
cheaper and better in the long term to change the types of household cleaners used in the home to
ones that do not damage your septic tank, rather than pay for complex and expensive treatment.
The scale of wastewater treatment systems
Cutting across these stages is the issue of the scale of the physical technical solutions – whether
the solutions deal with one house, a business, a farm, a group of sites, or a whole community.
There are three general categories of overall technical framework:
 individual: serves separate households, farms or businesses
 cluster: designed so that treatment of wastes serves groups of households or businesses,
but not a whole community
 central: usually designed so the treatment of wastes for an entire community is managed
at once in one place.
Variation is possible within these. For example, a cluster framework can have some on-site pre-
treatment and the final treatment plant can be located off-site, or on-site among the houses. By
'on-site' is meant treatment or re-entry on the site where the wastewater was originally generated;
'off-site' means treatment away from where the waste was treated.
Re-entry of wastes can occur on-site or off-site. A centralised overall technical system can have
some on-site pre-treatment, while individually focused technical solutions will always be on-site.
Cluster and centralised systems tend to be managed by an overall central agency, such as a local
authority. In contrast, technical systems focused on individual households or business can be
managed by their users, or they can be managed and maintained as a group by a central agency.
These management arrangements, as well as more detail on the different systems, are discussed
in Part Three.
Components of Waste Water
Go Back to Wastewater

Did You Know...

Wastewater is over 99.9% water?
Wastewater is 99.9% water and 0.1% waste.  Everything that goes down the drain or the toilet
makes up wastewater.  In order to understand wastewater treatment, it is import ant know the
various components that challenge out wastewater treatment processes.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen that the organic
matter in wastewater (food, body wastes, other biodegradable material) “demands” or requires to
breakdown into simple more stable compounds.  If too much BOD is released directly into the
environment (such as a river, lake, stream or marine water etc.,), the wastewater bacteria will
compete with other organisms such as fish, shellfish and other aquatic life, and rob them of the
oxygen they need to sustain life.  The goal of wastewater treatment is to reduce the BOD in the
treatment process before it reaches area where other organism live. A very typical BOD level in
household wastewater is 200 mg/L.  This means that over five days under specific conditions
(defined by the Standard Method) one liter of the wastewater will consume 200 mg of oxygen in
the process of breaking down.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is the amount of solids that are suspended in wastewater and are
of a specific size.  When released directly into the surface water environment, suspended solids
can be responsible for a variety of problems including smothering habitat, carrying pathogenic
organisms, clogging fish gills, smothering fish eggs and more.  When released from a septic tank
in high quantities, TSS can prematurely clog leachfields. TSS can be either organic (fine particle
of food or feces) or inorganic like silt and clay.  A high TSS value in wastewater is usually
associated with a high BOD and indicates that it is to a great extent organic.
Pathogens
Pathogens are organisms or viruses that are capable of causing disease.  The amount of actual
pathogens in wastewater will depend on its origin.  When we have a bacterial or viral infection or
if we are the host of a certain parasites, we will shed them in our feces and contribute them to the
wastewater.  Since it is very difficult to test directly for the majority of pathogens, public health
officials use surrogate measures of public health risk called indicator organisms.  Indicator
organisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) are always present in human waste and are
commonly used to suggest the possibility that other pathogenic organisms are present.
 Nutrients
Nutrients are compounds that when released into the environment from  wastewater can cause
and imbalance of growth of undesirable organism in the environment.  Many “blooms” of
noxious algae in freshwater for instance are caused by the release of the nutrient phosphorus. 
Some fish kills and habitat modification in marine environments are caused by excessive release
of nitrogen with wastewater being a primary source.
Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)
More recently, a  broad class of compounds comprised of pharmaceutical products, personal care
products, fire retardants, hormones and others are receiving attention due to their ability to
impact aquatic organism at very low (parts per trillion) levels.  Collectively these compounds are
called Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC).  Perhaps the most documented effect of these
compounds is their impact on hormone disruption in fish and other invertebrates.  In some areas
extremely skewed sex ratios have been observed and fish populations have become feminized. 
Another concern has been cytotoxic drugs taken by individuals undergoing in cancer therapies.
Contaminants of Emerging Concern are alternately called Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
Products (PPCPs) or simply micro-contaminants.  Little is known regarding the long term impact
on human health caused by many of these contaminants.
5. Waste water management system
Waste water management involves analysis of elements, their attributes, behavior and parameters
estimation, real time optimization and safety. Optimization provides optimal working conditions,
services, troubleshooting, advanced control and hazard minimization. However, these will
support people decision to prevent abnormal situation, not replace the people.
Waste water treatment operation makes history data base of manipulates entity variables.
Supervision can make different service databases model. A model manager, which shows how
does seek out a new way to create optimal waste water policy and how does model pretreatment
and post treatment waste water network life cycle, and how does make management history was
developed. Management systems will be available to analyze environment requirements and
performed information processing in the aim objective achieving [51]-[58].
There is no safety reason to discontinue operation, when monitoring devices respond at the
boundary between normal operating and admissible error ranges of waste water variables.
Damage minimizing systems come into action when the waste water system is in no specified
operation and when an undesired event occurs.
To use models to support decision making is proliferating in both the public and private sectors
was the aim of this chapter. As powerful decision aids models can be both beneficial and
harmful. At present, few safeguards exist to prevent model builders or users from deliberately
carelessly data, or recklessly manipulating data to further their own ends. Perhaps more
importantly few people understand or appreciate, the harm can be caused when builders or users,
fail to recognize the values and assumptions on which a model is based or fail to take into
account all the groups who would be affected by a model’s results.
5.1. Waste water safety
Waste water from cities, industrial and the others manufactures are transported with various
sewerage systems. Under infrastructured system understand process systems which using for
recieving, collecting, evacuation and waste water treatment. Dependent of that how is collected
and evacuation of waste water system can be general, separation and partical separated type.
At the general system all waste water is transported with one channel. The separation system are
performed transport of all waste water from industry hausholders, and atmosphera separated
channels. The partial separation systems mixing industrial water with hausholderswater or
industrial and atmospheric water. Behinde these systems can made various combination in
different parts of city. The waste water transport systems are consist from more connected
elements. There are collectors, pipelines, valves, pumps which distributed in more streams as
shown in Fig.7.
Maintenance waste water treatment and evacuation are very important. Safety of the waste water
transport system is ecological significant. Because a diagnostic system for risk analysis and
supervision of the waste water system is developed. In the safety analysis and operation the
simulation getting started with data of the process components. For accident detection the
derived model is forecasted the future behavior of the system and risk parameters are
determined. The system is consisted of streams and process units data as well as the basic faults
and symptoms.
This chapter illustrate the waste water transport safety protection system as shown in Fig. 8. In
simulation, both qualitative and quantitative analysis are often applied together. Usually,
qualitative decision efficiently made with symbolic and graphic information, and quantitative
analysis is more conveniently performed by numerical information.
The diagnostic expert systems have important role how in risk analysis and accidents prevention
of the production systems such as in transport systems (Fig.8). A diagnostic systems for
supervision and maintaining process systems were developed [20]-[25].
Figure 7.
Waste water system evacuation.
Maintenance waste water treatment and evacuation are very important. Safety of the waste water
transport system is ecological significant. Because a diagnostic system for risk analysis and
supervision of the waste water system is developed. In the safety analysis and operation the
simulation getting started with data of the process components. For accident detection the
derived model is forecasted the future behavior of the system and risk parameters are
determined.
The system is consisted of streams and process units data as well as the basic faults and
symptoms. The diagnostic expert systems have important role how in risk analysis and accidents
prevention of the production systems such as in transport systems. A diagnostic systems for
supervision and maintaining waste water sewerage systems was developed in literature [1].
Operation makes history database of manipulates and object variables, symptoms and scenarios.
Likely scenarios are typically generated by instantiating parameter values in a parametric model
according to the given situation. Modelling of the risk parameters were involved uncertain
processing.
The level of aggregation is defined by the modular component interconnections which define
propagation paths of attributes within the system. Initial research starting by the phase of the
development of a conceptual framework which will facilitate the modular specification of
models, and second phase the development of a logic framework which will permit object using
attributes and simulation techniques to be linked into executable models. The fault event of a
system are in the first instance generally formulated in an IF-THEN form. This can be
immediately reformulated using the operators AND, OR and NOT in Boolean form, if one can
assume that the primary events have only two states existence and non-existence.
System identification involves identification of variables, element and equipment as well as
material supplies. System variables are defined in three discret states low, medium and high. The
equipment states are defined as blockage and leakage, system state as normal and does not work.
Supply exists or not exists. As system variables consider pressure, flow and level.
The considered system consists of 11 waste water streams, four supply streams and 7 process
units. A diagnostic system as a support decision system was built. The data base has involved
data streams and process units data as well as the basic faults and symptoms which connecting
by semantic network (Fig.8).
Figure 8.
Sucture of the waste water diagnostic system.
The diagnostic system can assist to maintain waste water system safety transport. Waste water
evacuation and treatment system safety is ecological very important problem. Fig.8 presents
safety information support system, for waste water transport system diagnosis. The problem at
hand is a problem of diagnosis, in which a major part of the solution consists of informing
supervisor and action.
Such as systems can be used as a plant maintenance aids.
6. Proactive decision of the waste water management
A decision system on the process system which consists of operation and goal parameters was
built. In the world mostly systems are used for solving structural problems, and they use
retrospective view. These systems are used data from data base and directed to goal, but they
have not view in front of and ability for unstructured problems solving. The process system for
wastewater transport is unstructured. Goals and assumptions and decision support tools are
examined such as events tree.
In recent years the study of systems management has successfully elucidated some basic
techniques for generalizing concrete examples to more abstract descriptions [51]-[58]. These
include heuristics for generalizing particular data types, candidate elimination algorithms,
methods for generating decision trees and rule sets, back propagation of constraints through an
explanation tree, function induction, and synthesis of procedures from execution traces [56],[57].
No coherent methodology has emerged for describing and categorizing management techniques
to make them readily accessible to potential users. In fact there almost as many paradigms for
management as there are systems and the variety of different, evocative, connotation laden words
used to describe simple mechanism is one of the biggest problems in mastering the field. The
apparent richness and variety of these approaches may give a misleading impression of a field
teeming with fruitful techniques, with a selection of well defined methods for tacking and given
problem [2]-[4].
From standpoint of knowledge engineering, concept management systems differ in their
representation of concepts and examples, ways of biasing the search involved in determining a
concept and model. This potential is rarely realized in practice because the field management is
in turmoil and few useful general principles have been articulated. A model for decision making
generates effective procedural, or rule based from a goal based architecture which further
supports the development of secondary goals, as mental models.
From standpoint of knowledge engineering, concept management systems differ in their
representation of concepts and examples, ways of biasing the search involved in determining a
concept and model [58]. This potential is rarely realized in practice because the field
management is in turmoil and few useful general principles have been articulated.
In this paper a model for decision making generates effective procedural, or rule based from a
goal based architecture which further supports the development of secondary goals, as mental
models.
The most important distinction in a knowledge acquisition framework is how systems represent
what they manage. Knowledge representation has always been a central topic in process
management [20],[21]. For both inductive and deductive concept the formalism above suggests
representing concepts in an appropriately powerful form of logic (Fig 9). However, although
formal logic provides a sufficient basis for deduction, as a foundation for induction it is at once
too narrow and too powerful. On the other hand, logic is too powerful because the need to
acquire knowledge automatically from environment and integrate it with what is already knows
means that only the simplest representations are used by programs for system management. Any
one representation will not encompass the broad application of concept management techniques,
procedures or expressions composed of functions. These reflect fundamental formulations of
computing that have been realized in logic, functional and imperative programming styles.
Although equivalent in expressive power, the different representations are more or less
appropriate for particular concept management problems, depending on the nature of the
examples, background knowledge, the way the complexity of concepts are measured, and the
style of interaction with the environment. For example, decision three are naturally represented
as logic expressions, polynomials as functions and tasks as procedures. Functional
representations incorporate the powerful mathematics available for numbers. Procedures embody
the notions of sequencing, side effects and determinism normally required in sequential, real
word tasks. There is an obvious overlap between logical and non-numerical function
representations. For example, the concept of appending lists can equally well be written in
logical and functional styles. The difference is that the logical form expression a pure relation
without distinguishing input and output, while the functional representation acts on the input list
to construct the output. Many management methods apply to examples that can be expressed as
vectors of attributes in a form equivalent to propositional calculus. The values an attribute can
assume may be nominal, linear, or tree structured. A nominal attribute is one whose values form
a set with no further structure for examples the set of primary colors. A linear attribute is one
whose values are totally ordered for example natural numbers. Ranges of values may be
employed in descriptions. A tree structured attribute is one whose values are ordered
hierarchically. Only values associated with leaf nodes are observable in actual examples: concept
descriptions, however, can employ internal node names where necessary. Attribute vectors,
propositional calculus are not powerful enough to describe situations where each example
comprises a scene containing several objects.

Figure 9.
The goal based information system development.
Objects are characterized by their attributes. Moreover, pair wise relations may exist between
them. This means that variables must be introduced to stand for objects in various relations. Such
relations can be described by predicates which, like attributes, may be normal linear or tree
structured. Objects and concepts are characterized by combinations of predicates.
Functional expressions include many natural laws, as well as relationships between quantities
and parameters. Functional representations are appropriate for nested and recursive numeric or
non-numeric expressions. Any functional relationship f(x) can be represented in logic and this is
no surprise since the two forms are expressively equivalent. But in a framework for induction, it
is preferable to treat functional expressions separately and omit explicit quantifiers. An important
difference is that functional representations of concepts must be single valued, while logical
expressions do not need to be this greatly affects the search space involved.
A more suitable form of representation might be the functional calculus, or some incarnation of it
in pure of it in functional programming languages. Work on programming language semantics,
also partly based on functional calculus and often coupled with function programming languages
may suggest appropriate forms of expressly prohibit aspects that distinguish functional from
procedural representations in the framework, namely side effects and reliance in sequential
execution. Work on programming language semantics, also partly based on functional calculus
and often coupled with function programming languages may suggest appropriate forms of
representation. Existing function induction systems are specially designed for particular domains
with little attention to more general forms.
Typical concepts in procedures category include procedures for assembly welding, and standard
office procedures. The procedural formalism suitable for representing sequential execution
where side effects, such as variable assignment and real world outputs like movements, make it
vital to execute the procedure in the correct order. To describe a procedural language formally, a
binding environment model of execution is needed, instead of the simpler substitution model that
suffices for pure functional representations must be deterministic to be useful procedural
concepts.
Note the generalization of execution traces into a procedure is not reducible to an equivalent
problem involving the generalization of non-sequential input/output pairs as such a reduction
will lose information about sequential changes in state.

Figure 10.
A simple wastewater flow system.
Let consider a simple process system wastewater transport as shown in Fig.10. The system
consists of a two tanks, two mixers and pipes.
This system can be represented by qualitative events model expressed by logic algebra, M, B,
and L are independent logic variables representing the basic events malfunction, blockage and
leakage, respectively.
Figure 11.
Fault tree diagnostic model.
The study of fault detection and supervision control of the flow system is concerned with
designing a system that can assist a human operator in detecting and diagnosing faults as shown
in Fig.11.
The two areas of model development and analysis are addressed through the discussion of
generic simulation environment. The knowledge based simulation environment is an expression
of some control law or cognitive theory. To the extent that the rule base is derived from set of
assumptions about the environment and performance expectations, it is a belief system.
However, in the existing form, the goals are not expressed and the underlying assumptions are
not evident.
any expert systems can only be used alone for a particular purpose inflexibility. There are lack of
coordination of symbolic reasoning and numeric computation, lack of integration of different
expert system, lack of efficient management of intelligent systems and capability of dealing with
conflict facts and events among the various tasks, being difficulty in modifying knowledge bases
by end users other than the original developers.

Figure 12.
Decision support system building.
A knowledge based decision support system building is consisting from the following steps:
1. Wastewater system and treatment method identification
2. Goals and subgoals definition
3. Rules networking
4. Decision mechanism definition.
5. Monitoring system support
It can be indicated two possible approaches to complex contains modelling. The first, identified
with structural knowledge, follows a deductive reasoning approach in which one tries to deduce
from an existing theory model relationships for a given problem. The second, identified with a
posterior empirical knowledge, follows an inductive approach in which one tries to develop a
model from the sampled data. Ideally, these two approaches act as complementary stages of the
modelling process.
One follows all six steps with model calibration and model validation serving as an empirical test
bed for a prior model as a learning tool. Yet, in some situations characterized by difficulties in
obtaining empirical data due to a budget and time constraints or peliminary scope of the analysis,
the model specification may be reduced to the a priori stage.
In the traditional view of modelling the behavior of natural system these six steps, although
logically connected, comprise separate tasks. Therefore, the development of an operational
structure model is a rather lenghty and expensive undertaking. There is a strong need for a more
integrated framework for modelling of system in general that would better link the steps leading
to model development and implementation.
The best way to solve complicated problem by management systems is to distribute knowledge
and to separate domain expertise. At this, several expert systems may be used together. Each
expert system should be developed for solving a subdomain problem and it is faced the problem
of knowledge integration and management.
The coordination of symbolic reasoning and numerical computation is required heavily for
simulation with expert systems. A few developers tried to develop expert systems with
conventional languages. Other suggested to field expert systems in conventional languages, in
order to achieve integration. Another disadvantages is that the procedural language environment
cannot provide many good features that the symbolic language provides, such as easy debugging
allowance for interruption by human experts.
Many integrated intelligent systems are a large knowledge environment, which consists of
several symbolic reasoning systems and numerical computation packages. They are under the
control of a supervising intelligent system, namely, meta-system. The meta system manages the
selection, operation and communication of these programs.
For example, decision support building for wastewater treatment management can outlines in
four stages:
1. The physical control of information by computer, which became more complex as the
volume of information increased, due to system growth, diversification and government
regulation.
2. The management of automated technologies, where the introduction of data processing
etc., led to fragmentation and uncoordinated activities.
3. Process system resources management, where data processing, office automation etc.,
converged along with central and personal computing resources.
 4. Technology management, where the physical and technical management of information
is integrated with decision making, planning and operations.
Waste water plant operation management support system aimed at helping engineers and
managers optimize all phases of process plant design, operations, optimization and process
safety. Decision support system is useful for supervision of process plant operations, real - time
optimization, advanced interactive control and process hazard analysis. Some techniques are
very important for implementing and evaluating decision support systems which expand such
diverse areas as computer supported cooperative work, data base management, decision theory,
economics, mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence, user interface management system and
others [25].
Decision support system principles, concepts, theories and frameworks develops methods, tools,
and techniques for developing the underlying functional aspects of a process plant management
support systems, solver/model management in plant operation support systems, rule management
and artificial intelligence in process plant system coordinating a plant management systems
functionality within its user interface.
Decision of wastewater treatment process design and operation support system interfaces
develops methods, tools, and techniques for developing the overt user interface, user knowledge,
help of a facilities, coordinating interface event, with its functionality events.
Wastewater plant operation decision support system impacts shows economics, system
measurements, decision support system impacts on individual users, multi participants users,
evaluating and justifying.
A process plant management system was considered in papers [47]-[57]. Plant management
decision support systems was studied in the paper [58]. Process plant information system and
process safety management support system were investigated in the paper [5], [4],[17],[18].
The computer supported cooperative work with data base management and mathematical
modeling and simulation of process plant provide intelligent plant management support. The
model plant operation manager workflow is shown in Fig. 12. The plant manager workflow can
be used for the new product quality improvement, the model operation network optimization and
generating new data and specified tools. Real-time software need to build intelligent process
management applications.
Figure 13.
Management activities optimization.
Automatically create process operation models requires a windows based software tool for
system identification which claimed to enable users to automatically create high fidelity models
of physical systems, processes and plant.
System identification is technique that creates model of a plant operation process from input and
output data, eliminating the need for detailed knowledge of the system physics. The new
software automated the process, enabling engineers to perform modelling and simulation studies
without having to create the underlying mathematical models from first principles.
Advanced commercial simulation systems also come, with in intelligent graphical user
interfaces, which speed the development of error-free simulation problems and provide some
help with thermodynamics and modelling.
Model operation manager shows how do you seek out a new way to create process operation,
how do you model the plant life cycle and how do you make plant operation history in the
process waste water treatment. A model plant manager is given by eq.(12).
MM=∑inMiT,P,A,F,E,Q(T),Q(P),Q(A)Q(F),Q(E)MM=∑inMiT,P,A,F,E,Q(T),Q(P),Q(A)Q(F),Q
(E)
E12
where T – set of elements, P-set of syntax rules, A –set of expression, F- set of
semantic rules, E - set stochastic events, Q(J),J=T,P,A,B,E changeable functionality, Mi-
operation model and MM-management model.
In the process operation and control safety models “What if ” help to build intelligent process
management applications. They shoot stochastic events a day to day. It is improves plant
operation reliability.
Process waste water operation involves sensitivity analysis of manipulate and object variables,
parameters estimation, noises identification, dynamic simulation, detect process disturbance
before they cause significant disruption (Fig.14).
Waste water treatment optimization provides optimal process condition, equipment services life,
troubleshooting, advanced process control and minimization.
Superior customer support requests model evaluation. This future model is called “asses and
control” as shown in Fig. 15. Where asses means:
 uncertainties not currently amenable to mathematical solution,
 people involvement, and
 advanced technologies support people
and control means:
 must work automatically,
 uncertainties can be handled rigorously,
 people eliminating, and advanced technologies support automatic operation.
Inherent softness exists in product pieces and forecast demands. In this frame it will throw lots of
technology at these uncertainties or soft areas expert systems, neural networks, data
reconciliation etc.. However, these will support people decision to prevent abnormal situation
management, not replace the people.
Also, user can make a new overview this spreadsheet and printout. User can make input data
tables, tables of consumption's and tables of flow rates.
6.2. Database management
User can make different waste water plant database models. From the result summary user can
extract and flow rates, conditions and consumption. If user whishes to see input and output
streams results between stages should to mark on the appropriate block. When block menu
appeared, select stream results for retrieval material and energy balances.
Figure 14.
The wastewater operation model manager.
Databases protocol manages all databases, reports and tables. These tables could be distributed
and extracted by multimedia databases. User can build hierarchical and relational process plant
data bases for the plant management in concurrent operations (Fig.14).
The networks optimization requests maximum product capacity, minimum costs, concern the
assignment problem, the matching and the minimum spanning trees, computer implementations
and heuristics.
Process hazard analysis creates a resource allocation model by linking risk with cost and
database of the values of basic events. In order to predict complete life cycle of the plant the
plant life cycle reliability and the life cycle of the cost should be included.
Policy modeling emphasizes formal modeling techniques serving the purposes of decision
making. These systems Computer aided process engineering-CAPE, Computer aided control-
CAC, Computer integrated manufacturing-CIM, Computer aided safety-CAS make distributed
computing.
The use of mathematical models to support decision making is proliferating in both the public
and private sectors. Advances in computer technology and greater opportunities to learn the
appropriate techniques are extending modeling capabilities to more and more people.
Figure 15.
Asses, control and reliability.
As powerful decision aids process operation models can be both beneficial and harmful. At
present, few safeguards exist to prevent model builders or users from deliberately carelessly, or
recklessly manipulating data to further their own ends. Perhaps more importantly few people
understand or appreciate, the harm can be caused when builders or users, fail to recognize the
values and assumptions on which a model is based or fail to take into account all the groups who
would be affected by a model's results.
Simulation manager models provide a setting for dialog and show the need to continue and
define a vocabulary for exploring process operation. It will become increasingly important for
model builders and users to have a clear and strong code to guide process plant operation.
The computer supported cooperative work provides explanation based process learning systems.
As a cooperate function training is a subsystem within the plant’s large organizational system.
When training strategies ensure acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes which results in
improved performance or safety on the plant operation, the training subsystem makes a positive
contribution to organizational goal and effectiveness. Process performance, then, is the criterion
of success in training.
Wastewater Operator Certification Training Module 1: Introduction to Wastewater Treatment
Revised 2016 This course includes content developed by the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (Pa. DEP) in cooperation with the following contractors,
subcontractors, or grantees: The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
(PSATS) Gannett Fleming, Inc. Dering Consulting Group Penn State Harrisburg Environmental
Training Center MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT Topical
Outline Unit 1 – Roles of the Treatment Plant Operator I. Duties and Responsibilities of the
Treatment Plant Operator A. Planning, Design, and Construction of New Facilities B.
Administration C. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations and Maintenance D. Public Relations
E. Safety F. Continuing Education Unit 2 – Characteristics of Wastewater I. Wastewater
Characteristics A. Pure Water B. Contaminants Typically Found in Untreated Wastewater II.
Solids in Water A. Types of Solids III. Effects of Wastewater Discharges A. Oxygen Depletion
and Odor Production B. Human Health C. Sludge and Scum Accumulation D. Other Effects IV.
Natural Cycles in the Receiving Waters A. Impact of Discharge on Natural Cycles B. Nutrient
Cycles Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training i MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO WASTEWATER
TREATMENT Unit 3 – Basic Wastewater Treatment Processes I. Collection and Conveyance of
Wastewater A. General Information B. Types of Collection Systems C. Wastewater Conveyance
Systems II. Wastewater Treatment Processes and their Functions A. Preliminary Treatment B.
Primary Treatment (Sedimentation) C. Secondary Treatment (Biological) D. Waste Treatment
Ponds E. Advanced Treatment Processes F. Disinfection G. Solids Handling and Disposal III.
Effluent Disposal A. Stream Discharge B. Land Disposal Unit 4 – State and Federal Regulations
I. Pennsylvania Operator Certification A. Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Operators’
Certification Program B. Training and Continuing Education C. Certified Operator’s Duties and
Responsibilities Under the Regulations II. NPDES Regulations A. EPA Regulations B.
Pennsylvania State Regulations III. Industrial Pretreatment Regulations A. EPA Regulations
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection Wastewater Treatment
Plant Operator Training ii MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT
IV. Biosolids and Residuals Management Regulations A. EPA Regulations B. Pennsylvania
State Regulations V. Wastewater Planning and Management A. Overview of Act 537 B. 25 PA
Code Chapter 94 VI. Water Quality Regulations A. 25 PA Code Chapter 93 – Pennsylvania
Water Quality Standards B. 25 PA Code Chapter 16 – Water Quality Toxics Management
Strategy Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training iii Unit 1 – Role of the Treatment Plant Operator Learning
Objectives • List the roles of the Treatment Plant Operator and describe the responsibilities of
each. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 1- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 1 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR Planning, Design, and Construction of New Facilities The
Treatment Plant Operator can be an important member of the design team for the construction of
new facilities. • Planning and Design Phase • Offer input about the design and how the plant
should be operated efficiently. • In a plant expansion project, offer important information
regarding the limitations of the current facility. • Offer input on issues such as maintainability,
security, operability, and safety. • Construction Phase • During construction, the Treatment Plant
Operator should become familiar with the plant, including equipment and machinery and their
operation. Administration • Supervision • Even small facilities must have a chief operator
responsible for overall operation of a plant. • Treatment Plant Operator will be responsible for
scheduling and supervision activities of other operators, mechanics, and laborers. • Record
Keeping • Treatment Plant Operator is ultimately responsible for maintaining accurate records. •
Accurate records establish history of compliance with NPDES discharge permit and verify plant
performance. • Financial Administration • Treatment Plant Operator must identify and manage
plant needs, including equipment and personnel. • Treatment Plant Operator must be able to
create and manage an operating budget. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 1- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 2 DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR Wastewater Treatment
Plant Operations and Maintenance • Process Control o A certified operator must make all the
process control decisions for the system.  Available: Must be on-site or be available to be
contacted if there is a need to make a process control decision.  An available operator must
hold the correct certification class and subclass to operate their system (see Unit 4).  “Process
control” decisions: A process control decision is any action to maintain or change the quality or
quantity of water being treated. • Laboratory Procedures • Sample collection • Data obtained
from sample analysis establishes proof of treatment process performance. • Process control
depends on reliable laboratory data. • Mechanical Principles • Treatment Plant Operator should
have a general knowledge of pumps, hydraulics, electric motors, and circuitry. Public Relations
Role is to explain the plant purpose and provide operational information to various groups. •
Plant Tours • Appearance is important. A clean, well-maintained plant adds credibility to your
operation. • Annual “open house” provides opportunity for public to learn about the plant and
how it operates. Coordinate any plant visits or tours with your security personnel. • Downstream
User Interests • Treatment plants protect water for downstream users, so establish role as
protector, not polluter. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection
1- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 3 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THE TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR Safety • Safety Program Planning • Treatment plants
should be a safe place to work and visit. • Ensure safety by planning programs and training the
operators. What are some typical safety issues in a plant?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Continuing Education Treatment Plant Operators are required to complete continuing education.
Training Courses and Seminars Courses and conferences are available through: • [Link] •
Private Training Providers Complete catalog is available here:
[Link]/edu Reference Materials • Pa. DEP Reference • Website:
[Link]/operatorcenter • Contains on-line guidance documents that can be
downloaded, and other operational aids that the Treatment Plant Operator will find useful.
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 1- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 4 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR • EPA Reference • Website:
[Link] • At the preceding website, guidance
documents on a variety of subjects related to the operation of wastewater treatment plants and
collection systems can be found. Some of the guidance must be ordered and some are available
on-line. • Water Environment Federation • MOP-11, Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants •
Other References • California State University, Sacramento, and EPA, Operation of Wastewater
Treatment Plants, Volumes I and II • California State University, Sacramento, and EPA,
Advanced Wastewater Treatment Key Points Treatment plant operators have many
responsibilities ranging from: • Administration • Planning and Design • Operations and
Maintenance • Public relations • Supervision • Laboratory procedures • Continuing Education
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 1- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 5 UNIT 1 EXERCISE Unit 1 Exercise 1. True or False:
Treatment plant operators are required to complete continuing education. 2. A process control
decision is any action to maintain or change the ______________ or _______________ of water
being treated. 3. Which one of the following is a treatment plant operator NOT responsible for: a.
Plant tours b. Process control decisions c. Upgrading the electrical service panel d. Collecting
samples Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 1- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 6 Unit 2 – Characteristics of Wastewater Learning Objectives
• Describe the typical composition of raw wastewater. • Explain the effects of wastewater
discharges on the receiving stream. • Identify how treatment plant discharge impacts natural
cycles. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 1 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS Wastewater
contains many substances that are considered impurities. Impurities are any substances that are
not found in “pure” water. Pure Water Pure water is 2 parts hydrogen, 1 part oxygen. In nature,
water contains many dissolved impurities. In fact, water is referred to as “the universal solvent”
due to its ability to dissolve many substances. • Even distilled water and rainfall are not
“completely” pure because they usually contain very low levels of dissolved substances such as
ammonia, which are considered impurities. • There are dissolved substances found in surface and
ground water. • As rain falls, nitrogen and other gasses are absorbed. • Water, as it travels
through the ground, can dissolve substances from the earth such as sodium, calcium, iron,
phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfate. Contaminants Typically Found in Untreated Wastewater
Fresh domestic untreated or raw wastewater has a musty odor, a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0 and is
grayishbrown in color. A summary of the types of contaminants typically found in untreated
wastewater and the importance of each is presented in Table 2.1. These contaminants can be
broadly lumped into four basic classes: • Organic contaminants; • Inorganic contaminants; •
Pathogens; and • Other contaminants. Typical concentrations of many of these contaminants are
listed in Table 2.2. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2-
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 2 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS Table
2.1 Typical contaminants found in untreated wastewater.1 Contaminants Reason for importance
Suspended solids Suspended solids can lead to the development of sludge deposits and anaerobic
conditions when untreated wastewater is discharged in the aquatic environment. Biodegradable
organics Composed principally of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, biodegradable organics are
measured most common in terms of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and COD (chemical
oxygen demand). If discharged untreated to the environment, their biological stabilization can
lead to the depletion of natural oxygen resources and to the development of septic conditions.
Pathogens Communicable diseases can be transmitted by the pathogenic organisms in
wastewater. Nutrients Both nitrogen and phosphorus, along with carbon, are essential nutrients
for growth. When discharged to the aquatic environment, these nutrients can lead to the growth
of undesirable aquatic life. When discharged in excessive amounts on land, they can also lead to
the pollution of groundwater. Priority pollutants Organic and inorganic compounds selected on
the basis of their unknown or suspected carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or high acute toxicity.
The presence of these compounds in wastewater must be minimized for public health reasons
and to protect the biological treatment processes. Refractory organics These organics tend to
resist conventional methods of wastewater treatment. Typical examples include surfactants,
phenols, and agricultural pesticides. Some of these may be toxic to the biological treatment
processes. Heavy metals Heavy metals are usually added to wastewater from commercial and
industrial activities and may have to be removed if the wastewater is discharged to a stream used
as a potable water source. The presence of heavy metals may also impact the recycling of
biosolids (stabilized waste sludge) on farmland. Dissolved inorganics Inorganic constituents such
as calcium, sodium, and sulfate are added to the original domestic water supply as a result of
water use and may have to be removed if the wastewater is discharged to a stream used as a
potable water source. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection
2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 3 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS
Table 2.2 Typical composition of untreated domestic wastewater.2 Concentration Contaminants
Unit Weak Medium Strong Solids, total (TS) mg/L 350 720 1200 Dissolved, total (TDS) mg/L
250 500 850 Fixed mg/L 145 300 525 Volatile mg/L 105 200 325 Suspended solids (SS) mg/L
100 220 350 Fixed mg/L 20 55 75 Volatile mg/L 80 165 275 Settleable solids ml/L 5 10 20
Biochemical oxygen demand, mg/L: 5-day, 20ºC (BOD5, 20ºC) mg/L 110 220 400 Total organic
carbon (TOC) mg/L 80 160 290 Chemical oxygen demand (COD) mg/L 250 500 1000 Nitrogen
(total as N) mg/L 20 40 85 Organic mg/L 8 15 35 Free ammonia mg/L 12 25 50 Nitrites mg/L 0
0 0 Nitrates mg/L 0 0 0 Phosphorus (total as P) mg/L 4 8 15 Organic mg/L 1 3 5 Inorganic mg/L
3 5 10 Chlorides mg/L 30 50 100 Sulfate mg/L 20 30 50 Alkalinity (as CaCO3) mg/L 50 100
200 Grease mg/L 50 100 150 Total coliform no/100 mL 106-107 107-108 107-109 Volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) µg/L 400 • Contaminant concentrations are often used to describe
the “strength” of the wastewater. The strength, or concentration, will vary depending on the
volume of diluting water and the types of users discharging to the plant. For example, a sewer
system containing significant amounts of infiltration/inflow (clean water entering the sewer
system from rain storms, groundwater etc…) will tend to have contaminants of relatively low
concentrations, whereas a system with high-strength industrial dischargers will contain some
contaminants with higher concentrations. While the concentrations shown in Table 2.2 are
typical of domestic strength wastewater, your system may be different depending on the types of
users present. It is your job as the Plant Operator to characterize the wastewater entering your
plant. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 4 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS Organic
Contaminants Organic contaminants are derived from animals and plants, or may be
manufactured chemical compounds. However, all organics contain carbon. Organic contaminants
can be biodegradable, which means that the contaminants can be consumed by bacteria and other
microorganisms. In the process of being consumed, these organics will exert an oxygen demand
which can be measured as the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of the wastewater. Some
organic contaminants (refractory organics) are resistant to biodegradation.  In a typical
domestic wastewater treatment plant, the BOD of the influent raw wastewater ranges around 200
to 250 mg/L (Table 2.2 has the full range). Sudden or drastic increases in BOD loadings at a
wastewater plant are examples of organic shock loadings and may lead to treatment plant upsets.
When shock loads are suspected, plant representatives should begin looking for potential sources
of elevated organic loads. Higher soluble BOD levels are result of organic sources in the
influent, such as: • Domestic contributors • Household waste • Industrial contributors • Food
processing facilities including packing/processing of fruit, vegetable, meat, poultry, dairy. •
Paper manufacturers Some organic solvents were historically found in wastewater, such as
trichloroethylene (TCE) from dry cleaning facilities. TCE has not been used in dry cleaning
since the 1950s. What are some examples of organic impurities from industrial contributors?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 5 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS Inorganic
Contaminants Inorganic contaminants are not biodegradable, but may be nutrients necessary for
microorganisms to live. These are typically chemical compounds (priority pollutants) or metals
that are either present in the wastewater as suspended solids or as dissolved inorganics. •
Examples of inorganic contaminants include: • The sodium chloride byproduct from the water
softening process adds to the total dissolved solid content in water. • Nutrients such as
phosphorus and ammonia-nitrogen. Both of these nutrients are typically found in domestic
sewage, internal recycle flows (belt press filtrate or anaerobic digester supernate), and trucked in
wastes. • The filter backwash from drinking water facilities is often high in suspended solids and
low in organic loading. • Street cleaning or sidewalk washing introduces soil, sand, or grit. •
Copper (a heavy metal) dissolved from household plumbing. • Other toxic metals from industrial
processes. Pathogens Pathogens are disease-causing organisms including bacteria and viruses
that can be deposited in the wastewater through human or animal wastes, or from improperly
handled hospitals wastes. Proper hygiene is extremely important when working around
wastewater. Because the potential disease is so great, it is important that wastewater be treated
and disinfected to inactivate the pathogens prior to discharge to the receiving stream. It is
particularly important if the receiving stream is used for recreational purposes (e.g., boating,
swimming and fishing) or as a drinking water source. Examples of diseases caused by pathogens
that may be found in wastewater include: • Typhoid • Cholera • Dysentery • Polio • Hepatitis
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 6 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS Other Impurities •
Thermal Wastes • Industrial waste discharges can cause a sudden increase in influent
temperature and flow. A typical source of thermal waste is non-contact cooling water (heated
water where the temperature exceeds stream temperature). Depending on the use of the stream,
limits on the temperature of the wastewater may be established to prevent elevating the
temperature of the stream and impacting use. A stream used for trout stocking is one example of
a thermal sensitive stream where the stream temperature needs to be regulated. Can anyone think
of any other reasons to regulate the temperature of discharges to the receiving stream?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
• Radioactive Wastes • Could come from nuclear power plants, hospitals, or laboratories.
Generally, it is good practice not to allow the discharge of radioactive wastes into a sewer
system. EPA lists this as a suggested prohibited waste in their general pretreatment program
guidelines. More information regarding the USEPA National Pretreatment Program may be
found at [Link] . Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 7
SOLIDS IN WATER Types of Solids DISSOLVED SOLIDS 500 mg/L COLLOIDAL SOLIDS
70 mg/L 220 mg/L SETTLEABLE SOLIDS 150 mg/L SOLIDS TOTAL SOLIDS 720 mg/L
SUSPENDED Figure 2.1 Typical solids concentrations in raw wastewater. Total Solids • Total
dissolved and suspended organic and inorganic residue left after evaporation, expressed in mg/L.
• Total solids include both dissolved and suspended materials. • Suspended solids include both
nonsettleable (shown in Figure 2.1 above as colloidal solids) and settleable materials. • Total
solids concentration in Figure 2.1 is 720mg/L. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 8 SOLIDS IN
WATER Dissolved Solids • Solids which will pass through a standard glass fiber filter. •
Dissolved solids weight is the difference in weight between total solids and suspended solids. •
When a sample is filtered through fine mesh filter (example - 0.45 micron membrane filter), the
suspended solids are captured on the filter pad and the dissolved solids will remain in the water
passing through the filter. • To determine the weight of dissolved solids, sample the water that
passed through the filter. Evaporate the sample and weigh residue to determine weight of
dissolved solids. • Dissolved solids concentration in Figure 2.1 is 500mg/L. Suspended Solids •
Suspended solids are the solids that are captured on the filter pad, or the difference between the
total and dissolved solids content of the sample. • Includes solids which will settle or float in a
clarifier and the lighter nonsettleable (colloidal) solids. • The type of suspended solids is
determined by size, shape, and weight. • Suspended solids concentration in Figure 2.1 is 220
mg/L. Settleable Solids • A portion of the Suspended Solids • Large size particles settle more
rapidly. • Settleable solids are estimated before designing settling basins, sludge pumps and
sludge handling facilities. • Measuring settleable solids enables calculation of basin efficiency of
removal of solids. • Imhoff cone measures solids in ml/L. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 9
SOLIDS IN WATER Nonsettleable (Colloidal) Solids • A portion of Suspended Solids • The
colloidal solids will not settle but will remain in suspension after the settleable solids have
precipitated out. The removal of colloidal solids usually requires the addition of a chemical
flocculating agent or filtration. • Calculated by subtracting the weight of settleable solids from
the weight of suspended solids. • Nonsettleable solids concentration in Figure 2.1 is 70 mg/L
Floatable Solids • Floatable solids are typically nonsettleable solids that make their way to the
surface of a tank or stream. • There is no standard for measuring and evaluating floatable solids. •
Typically made up of fat or grease particle and make up the scum. Scum is most easily removed
by surface skimming equipment on the primary or secondary clarifiers. This equipment will be
discussed further in the section on treatment processes. • They are undesirable and unsightly, and
can cause odors. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2-
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 10 EFFECTS OF WASTEWATER
DISCHARGES EFFECTS OF WASTEWATER DISCHARGES A discharge is the release of
treated or untreated wastewater into a receiving stream. A discharge may occur from a treatment
plant or from an overflow in the collection system. Untreated wastewater discharge can create
several undesirable conditions. These include: • Oxygen depletion and odor production in the
stream. • Negative effects on human health. • Sludge and scum accumulations. Oxygen
Depletion and Odor Production Oxygen Levels for Aquatic Life • The dissolved oxygen (DO)
content of a stream will depend on the temperature and the flow characteristics. • Cold water can
retain higher dissolved oxygen content than warm water. As water temperatures increase,
dissolved oxygen levels will decrease. • Turbulent flow will add more dissolved oxygen to the
stream than non-turbulent flow. • The desired oxygen level to sustain living creatures (including
aquatic life) is 5 mg/L. Effects of Organic Waste Discharge Aerobic bacteria are bacteria that use
dissolved oxygen to live and reproduce. Anaerobic bacteria are bacteria that live and reproduce
in an environment containing no dissolved oxygen. The bacteria obtain oxygen by breaking
down chemical compounds, which contain oxygen (examples- sulfate and nitrate). • Organic
waste is discharged to the receiving stream; bacteria numbers increase (as does oxygen use). •
When oxygen is used faster than it is replenished, aquatic life can die from insufficient oxygen. •
Anaerobic bacteria remove oxygen from sulfate; the sulfate is reduced to sulfide, which can
combine with hydrogen in water to produce hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor). Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 11 EFFECTS OF WASTEWATER DISCHARGES • The following diagram
illustrates oxygen utilization and the impact on aquatic life. Organic wastes discharged to
receiving stream. Aerobic microorganisms use up oxygen to metabolize organic wastes.
Biological activity creates oxygen deficit in stream. Aquatic organisms requiring oxygen to
survive die off or migrate downstream. In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic microorganisms
dominate. Anaerobic activity causes putrification and odors. Organic wastes discharged to
receiving stream. Aerobic microorganisms use up oxygen to metabolize organic wastes.
Biological activity creates oxygen deficit in stream. Aquatic organisms requiring oxygen to
survive die off or migrate downstream. In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic microorganisms
dominate. Anaerobic activity causes putrification and odors. Figure 2.2 Oxygen utilization by
aerobic microorganisms and odor production by anaerobic microorganisms. Treatment
Objective––Stabilization The objective is to prevent oxygen-demanding material from entering
water. Stabilization is the process of converting a waste to a form that resists change. Stabilized
material usually does not give off bad odors. • Organic material is stabilized when bacteria
convert the material to new growth, carbon dioxide, and water. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 12
EFFECTS OF WASTEWATER DISCHARGES Human Health Disease-Causing Bacteria •
Pathogenic organisms • Introduced into water by human disease carriers. • Generally these
organisms do not thrive in wastewater or receiving waters and many die off in normal treatment
process. Communicable means easily transmitted. What are some communicable diseases that
could be transmitted via untreated wastewater?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Treatment Objective––Disinfection • Can be accomplished by addition of a disinfectant such as
chlorine to the water or through ultraviolet radiation. • Works best if wastewater is treated to
remove solids and other contaminants prior to disinfection. Scum and Sludge Accumulation
Scum and sludge can accumulate in the receiving water banks or beds or can float on the water
surface. Effects of Accumulations of Scum and Sludge • Oxygen depletion occurs from
metabolism of the organic matter contained in the sludge. • Odors occur from continued
biological activity after oxygen is depleted. Treatment Objective • Remove sludge and scum
before it can reach receiving waters. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 13 EFFECTS OF
WASTEWATER DISCHARGES Other Effects • Clarity and color determine if water is
desirable for recreation. • Changes in pH (acidic or alkaline water) can disrupt aquatic life. •
Toxic discharges (heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and chromium) or cyanide also impact
aquatic life and domestic use. • Bad taste and odor are undesirable for drinking water sources. •
Nutrients • Support living plants and organisms (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, etc.). • Encourage
algae and plant growth, which interferes with domestic, industrial, and recreational uses. • Can
lead to oxygen depletion in the receiving stream. • Eutrophication-An extreme result of excessive
nutrient availability • A condition in a lake or pond characterized by an abundance of nutrients
and organics. • Characterized by overgrowth of aquatic weeds and algae. • A natural aging
process that can be accelerated through the discharge of untreated/under treated wastewater. •
Often leads to oxygen deficits, compounded by large day-night swings in available dissolved
oxygen brought on by photosynthesis and respiration. • Can be detrimental to aquatic life.
Photosynthesis is the process whereby green plants containing chlorophyll convert carbon
dioxide and other nutrients to new growth and oxygen, in the presence of sunlight. Respiration is
the process whereby oxygen is used as an energy source by an organism during metabolism of
food (organic matter). Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection
2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 14 NATURAL CYCLES IN THE
RECEIVING WATERS Impact of Discharge on Natural Cycles The impact on cycles in the
receiving water varies based on the following factors. • Degree and type of treatment •
Wastewater receiving only Primary Treatment will have a greater negative impact on the
receiving stream than wastewater receiving Primary and Secondary Treatment. • Discharge flow
rate • A greater volume of flow will carry a greater mass of pollutants to the receiving stream. •
Discharge characteristics • The more pollutants that are removed during treatment, the lesser the
impact on the receiving stream. • Dilution in receiving stream • Relates to discharge flow rate––
generally, the greater the dilution with the receiving stream, the lesser the impact of the
discharge. • Ambient quality of receiving stream • Characteristics of the stream before discharge
is introduced will impact on the amount of additional pollutants the stream can receive and still
regenerate itself. • Amount of mixing of discharge with receiving stream • Mixing affects
dilution of the discharge. Generally, better mixing of the discharge with the receiving stream will
prevent localized impacts from a concentrated discharge. • Use of receiving stream • Some uses
(e.g., recreation or drinking water source) will require that the wastewater meet stricter discharge
limits, requiring a higher degree of treatment. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 15 NATURAL
CYCLES IN THE RECEIVING WATERS Nutrient Cycles • A Nutrient Cycle is a natural cycle
that occurs continuously in both receiving stream and the wastewater treatment plant. • Important
nutrients include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Each having their
own cycle, yet impact one another. Nitrate discharged in wastewater. Algae uptake nitrate. Fish
consume algae producing urea, amino acids and organic nitrogen. Fish die; organic nitrogen
converted to ammonia. Microorganisms convert ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. Cycle
repeats. Nitrate discharged in wastewater. Algae uptake nitrate. Fish consume algae producing
urea, amino acids and organic nitrogen. Fish die; organic nitrogen converted to ammonia.
Microorganisms convert ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. Cycle repeats. Figure 2.3
Simplified nitrogen cycle Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 16 KEY POINTS AND
REFERENCES Key Points • Wastewater typically contains organic and inorganic contaminants,
pathogens and other contaminants. • Wastewater treatment plants typically measure total solids,
settleable solids and suspended solids. • It is desirable to remove most of the solids from
wastewater before discharge due to the impact (oxygen depletion) on receiving streams. • The
filter backwash from drinking water facilities is often high in suspended solids and low in
organic loading. • Suspended solids include both nonsettleable (shown in Figure 2.1 as colloidal
solids) and settleable materials. • It is desirable to reduce the nutrient content of wastewater
before discharge due to the impact (excessive algae growth and eventual oxygen depletion) on
the receiving stream. • It is desirable to reduce the pathogen content in wastewater due to the
effect on human health. References 1 Wastewater Engineering, 3rd Edition, Metcalf & Eddy,
(1991). 2 Wastewater Engineering. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 17 UNIT 2
EXERCISE Unit 2 Exercise 1. Contaminants found in untreated wastewater may include: (Circle
all that apply): a. Pathogens b. Ozone c. Organic contaminants d. Inorganic contaminants 2. A
type of contaminant that always contains carbon and is derived from animals, plants or may be a
manufactured chemical compound is an: a. Inorganic contaminant b. Salt contaminant c. Organic
contaminant d. Pathogen 3. Organic contaminants exert an oxygen demand, which is measured
as ______________________. 4. Typical influent (untreated) BOD to a wastewater plant is
approximately: a. 20 to 30 mg/L b. 100 to 125 mg/L c. 200 to 250 mg/L d. 500 to 600 mg/L 5.
Typical influent (untreated) total nitrogen concentration is approximately: a. 0 to 5 mg/L b. 30 to
50 mg/L c. 100 to 125 mg/L d. 300 to 350 mg/L 6. True or False: Total solids consist of
dissolved solids and suspended solids. 7. Influent wastewater flow and temperature can increase
suddenly due to which of the following (circle the correct answer) a. Infiltration b. Increased
return activated sludge c. Industrial waste discharges d. Increased solids removal 8. Untreated
wastewater discharge can create which of the following? a. High chlorine levels in the receiving
stream b. Oxygen depletion in the receiving stream c. Sludge and scum accumulations d. Low
odor production in the stream Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 18 UNIT 2 EXERCISE 9.
Eutrophication can be defined as: a. Lack of nutrients in a receiving stream due to chemical
discharges b. Excessive nutrient availability that results in overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae
c. Excessive growth of fish d. Pleasing taste and odor in drinking water 10.
______________________ is the process of converting a waste to a form that resists change. 11.
True or False: An increase in wastewater temperature results in a decreased ability to retain
dissolved oxygen. 12. Important nutrients have natural “Nutrient Cycles” in the receiving stream
and within the wastewater treatment plant. Name at least 3 of these nutrients:
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________ Bureau of Safe Drinking
Water, Department of Environmental Protection 2- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Training 19 Unit 3 – Basic Wastewater Treatment Processes Learning Objectives • Describe how
wastewater is collected and transported to a treatment plant. • Indicate the function of each
treatment process. • Describe two methods of effluent disposal. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 1
COLLECTION AND CONVEYANCE OF WASTEWATER Three major components of a
Wastewater System: 1. Collection/Conveyance 2. Treatment 3. Disposal General Information
Collection and Conveyance Factors that affect the operation of the collection system and
ultimately impact treatment plant performance include: • Seasonal flow and loading variations by
industrial users. • Short-term overloads • Changes in process loadings • Knowledge of location,
amount, and types of wastes from major water-using industries enables operator to locate sources
of problems in the influent. • Long travel times can result in septicity and hydrogen sulfide
generation. • Rotten-egg odor • Concrete degeneration Septicity is a condition brought on by the
action of anaerobic bacteria in a wastewater devoid of dissolved oxygen. Septic wastewater has a
characteristic black color. Influent is wastewater or other liquid that is raw (untreated) or
partially treated that flows into a treatment process or treatment plant. Bureau of Safe Drinking
Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Training 2 COLLECTION AND CONVEYANCE OF WASTEWATER Types of Collection
Systems • Sanitary Sewer • Collects commercial and household wastes (sometimes industrial). •
A sanitary sewer does not include any storm water. • Storm Sewer • Collects runoff from streets,
land, and roofs. • Historically discharge has been discharged to the stream without treatment. •
Combined Sewer • Collects sanitary and storm water. • During storms, high flows can create
short-term overloading conditions at treatment plant, impacting treatment efficiencies. •
Separating combined sewers is costly. Why should the operator be familiar with the wastewater
collection and conveyance network?1
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 3 COLLECTION AND CONVEYANCE OF
WASTEWATER Wastewater Conveyance Systems • Gravity Sewer • Used when slope is
sufficient to produce velocity of 2 feet/second. • Pumping Stations and Force Mains • Lift
wastewater to higher point so it will again flow with gravity. • Pumped under pressure directly to
plant. Manhole Pumping Station Gravity Sewer Gravity Sewer Force Main Collection System
Components Figure 3.1 Typical wastewater collection and conveyance system Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 4 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Three major components of a Wastewater System: 1. Collection/Conveyance 2. Treatment 3.
Disposal After the wastewater has been collected and transported to the plant, it is time for the
treatment to begin. Table 3.1 Wastewater treatment process TREATMENT PROCESS
PROCESS DESCRIPTION Preliminary Treatment Screening Removes rags, sticks, and other
debris; protects pumping equipment Degritting Removes settleable inorganic grit Pre-Aeration
Adds oxygen to the wastewater to reduce odors Flow Metering and Sampling Measures and
records flows; sample wastewater for analyses of components Primary Treatment Sedimentation
and Flotation Removes settleable organic and inorganic particles and floating debris such as fats,
oils, and greases Secondary Treatment Biological Treatment Removes dissolved and remaining
colloidal (also known as nonsettleable) organic matter; can convert ammonia-nitrogen to nitrate-
nitrogen Sedimentation Separates biomass and chemical precipitates from treated wastewater
Tertiary (Advanced) Treatment Chemical Phosphorus Removal Adds chemical to form
precipitate with phosphorus for removal in the secondary clarifiers Biological Nutrient Removal
Removes nitrogen and phosphorus using specialized microorganisms Multimedia Filtration
Removes additional suspended solids (beyond that obtained by simple settling) using gravity or
pressure filters Disinfection Disinfection Kills pathogenic organisms Solids Treatment Digestion
Stabilizes remaining organic matter; reduces pathogen levels; results in overall net reduction in
solids Disposal Moves stabilized solids from plant to farmland for recycling or to landfill Bureau
of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 5 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Preliminary Treatment Preliminary Treatment includes several processes. Screening and
Comminution (Shredding) Purpose • Screening removes roots, rags, cans, and other large debris.
• A comminuter grinds up rags and debris but does not physically remove debris from the
wastewater. Process Description • Debris is captured on screens consisting of parallel bars placed
at an angle. • Screenings collected on bars must be raked off (manually or mechanically). •
Screenings are typically disposed of in sanitary landfills. • Debris ground-up by a comminuter
typically becomes part of the waste sludge. Figure 3.2 Screening Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 6
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Figure 3.3
Comminuter Grit Removal Grit is heavy inorganic material in wastewater, such as sand, coffee
grounds, eggshells, gravel, and cinders. Grit is abrasive on pumps and other equipment, and it is
best if removed early in treatment. Purpose • Grit is removed from wastewater to minimize
abrasion to pumps and equipment, and to prevent the accumulation of grit in treatment units,
particularly sludge treatment and storage units, which would reduce the capacity of those units.
Process Description • Velocity of wastewater flow is controlled so that material (coffee grounds,
sand, eggshells, etc.) will settle out. • Grit is typically disposed of in sanitary landfills; however,
other options include incineration and land application. • Grit Channels: o Hand-cleaned or
mechanically cleaned horizontal channel. Flow of wastewater is reduced to around 1 foot per
second to allow grit to settle. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 7 WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS o Cleaning the grit form the channel is important to
maintain grit removal efficiency. Cleaning the channel helps to keep the flow velocity of
wastewater low. As more grit builds up, the velocity of wastewater increases and removal
efficiency decreases. • Other grit removal technologies: • Aerated grit chambers • Centrifugal grit
separators Figure 3.4 Aerated grit chamber Pre-aeration Purpose • Adds oxygen to “freshen”
wastewater. Process Description • Air is added into pre-aeration chambers to provide oxygen to
the wastewater, thereby maintaining aerobic conditions and preventing septicity. Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 8 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Flow Metering Purpose • Flow rates must be known to calculate mass loading rates for process
control, to determine chlorination rates and aeration rates, as well as other chemical addition
processes in the plant. Process Description Open Channel Flow – Flow in any channel where
liquid flows with a free surface. Examples are partially filled pipes, streams and rivers.  Open
channel flow measurement––wastewater flows through a flow control device that allows the flow
rate to be determined by the depth of flow in the channel. In wastewater plants, there are many
options for measuring open channel flow including: • Parshall Flume • Weir • Kennison Nozzle
Figure 3.5 Flow metering3 • Depth of flow is measured by a float or ultrasonic level sensing
device; flow rate is calculated based on the depth of flow and the geometry of the channel.
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 9 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND
THEIR FUNCTIONS Why is the parshall flume widely used for measuring wastewater flow?
Why is the weir not used very frequently to measure influent?4
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Closed Conduit (Pipe Flow) • Closed conduit flow measurement––flow in a force main can be
measured by a device placed in the piping or strapped to the outside of the pipe. Flow is
calculated based on the velocity (speed) of flow in the pipe and the size of the pipe. (Pipe must
be flowing full.) • Mag Meter is placed in the force main so that the wastewater flows through
the unit. Flow velocity is measured based on the amount of induced current produced by the flow
passing through a magnetic field set up by the meter. • Doppler or Transit-time meter is strapped
to the outside of the force main. It sends a sonic pulse through the pipe wall into the flow stream
and measures the time it takes for the signal to bounce back. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 10
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Primary Treatment
(Sedimentation) Primary Treatment is a physical (non-biological) treatment process that takes
place in a tank and allows substances to settle or float, and be separated from the water being
treated. Purpose • Remove settleable and floating solids prior to secondary treatment. Process
Description • Flow controlled (reduced) so that settleable solids fall to bottom of tank and lighter
materials rise to water surface. • Primary Sedimentation tanks are also called primary clarifiers. •
The layer of solids that settle out is sometimes referred to as the sludge blanket. • Solids that
settle out in the primary clarifier must be removed (wasted) periodically to digestion. • Floating
material is removed by a surface skimmer and conveyed to the digestion process. • If sludge
removed is watery and not substantial, the removal rate may be too high. Sludge is settleable
solids separated from liquids during processing, or deposits of foreign materials on the bottoms
of streams or other bodies of water.5 Figure 3.6 Primary clarifier.6 Bureau of Safe Drinking
Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Training 11 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Secondary Treatment (Biological) Secondary Treatment is a biological treatment process used to
remove dissolved and suspended organic materials from the water being treated. Purpose •
Eliminate the dissolved and nonsettleable (also known as colloidal) organic material remaining
in the waste after primary treatment. Impacts • A biological treatment process is a living process
and is susceptible to many outside influences, including: o Temperature effects which could
result from industrial sources, wet weather events or seasonal effects. o Drastic increases in
organic loadings (shock loads) which often originate with industrial sources. Fixed Film Process
Descriptions A Fixed Film Process is a biological treatment process where the microorganisms
attach themselves to structures known as media. The biodegradable organics are removed from
the wastewater as it flows past and over the media containing the attached microorganisms.
Media is the material in a trickling filter on which slime accumulates and organisms grow.
Trickling Filter (TF) • Water trickles downward over media made of stone or plastic. • Plastic
media comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. • Media offers a place for aerobic bacteria to
attach, multiply, and feed on the passing wastewater. Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) •
Rotating Biological Contractors have a rotating shaft surrounded by plastic disks (media) that
allows microorganisms to grow. • Media is rotated in and out of the wastewater to provide
oxygen for organisms, which feed on the wastewater. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 12
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Figure 3.7 Fixed
film biological treatment process Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 13 WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Suspended Growth Process
Description A Suspended Growth Process is a biological treatment process in which the
microorganisms are suspended in the wastewater rather than physically attached to media.
Oxygen is usually added to the suspended growth process to keep the biomass in suspension and
to maintain aerobic conditions. Activated Sludge • The activated sludge process is a biological
process into which oxygen is introduced that allows aerobic bacteria and other organisms to
thrive and multiply. • Biological treatment takes place in the aeration tanks where oxygen and
wastewater is added to the biomass. • Biodegradable organic matter is used by bacteria as a food
source for producing new cells. • Aeration tank contents, referred to as the Mixed Liquor
Suspended Solids (MLSS), flows to secondary clarifier to separate the MLSS from the treated
effluent. • A portion of the settled MLSS containing microorganisms is returned to the aeration
tank to continue the treatment process (Returned Activated Sludge). • Left uncontrolled, the
organisms become too great in number, so some must be periodically removed (Waste Activated
Sludge). Figure 3.8 Suspended growth process schematic Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 14
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Secondary
Clarifiers • Used with both fixed film and suspended growth technologies. • Sludge containing
live microorganisms is separated from liquid and settles to bottom of tank. • A density current
baffle may be installed to ensure currents are minimized (Figures 3.9 and 3.10) enhancing the
performance of the clarifier. The baffle eliminates the effect created by density currents flowing
up the clarifier wall. Density currents will prevent solids from settling properly and may allow
solids to flow directly into the effluent trough. • The baffle is mounted on the wall of the clarifier
below the effluent launder and scum baffle. • The baffle is designed to slope downward at an
angle and extend towards the center of the tank beyond the scum baffle. • Flow is redirected
inward and down toward the center of the tank improving settleability and preventing solids loss
to the effluent trough. Figure 3.9 Current density baffle installations9 Bureau of Safe Drinking
Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Training 15 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Figure
3.10 Density current baffle • In an activated sludge process, a portion of the settled sludge is
returned to the aeration tank as seed to maintain the biological treatment process, (Return
Activated Sludge). • Excess sludge is conveyed to the sludge handling processes for further
treatment and ultimate disposal. • The clarified effluent goes on to the disinfection process prior
to discharge to the stream. Why is a secondary clarifier needed after a trickling filter, rotating
biological contractor, or aeration tank?7
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 16 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND
THEIR FUNCTIONS Waste Treatment Ponds Purpose • Achieve secondary (biological)
treatment without all of the mechanical equipment and treatment units associated with the
activated sludge process. Types of Ponds • Aerobic – shallow pond designed to treat wastewater
under aerobic conditions. Oxygen is supplied by absorption at the water/air interface and through
photosynthesis. • Anaerobic – shallow pond designed to operate in the absence of dissolved
oxygen. Anaerobic activity can generate odors, and is therefore not a popular choice for
treatment in populated areas. • Facultative – Combines aerobic and anaerobic treatment. Aerobic
treatment occurs in the upper portion of the pond where oxygen is available from photosynthesis
and absorption at the water/air interface. Solids which settle to the bottom of the pond are
decomposed anaerobically. • Aerated Pond – Similar to Facultative pond, except deeper, ranging
in depth to 20 feet. Aerobic treatment occurs in upper portions of pond. Extended depth provided
to allow for long-term storage of settled solids. Requires mechanical aeration to maintain aerobic
conditions in upper portions of pond. Process Description Facultative Pond • Similar to the
conventional activated sludge process, but without aeration equipment, return and waste sludge
pumping, digestion tanks, and secondary clarifiers. • Land intensive––placement and use
determined by design engineer based on economics and degree of treatment necessary. •
Settleable solids fall to bottom, begin to decompose aerobically. When dissolved oxygen is
depleted, anaerobic bacteria continue decomposition on settled solids. Eventually, the remaining
accumulated solids must be dredged from the pond. • Methane and carbon dioxide rise to
surface, some of which is used by algae that convert to oxygen through photosynthesis. • Aerobic
bacteria, algae and other microorganisms feed on dissolved solids in upper layer of pond and
algae produce oxygen for other organisms to use. • Performance varies seasonally as temperature
and daylight hours vary. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 17 WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Aerated Pond • More suited for
application in Pennsylvania. • Generally has greater treatment capacity than traditional aerobic or
facultative pond. • As in other ponds, solids settle to bottom of pond where anaerobic
decomposition occurs. • Depth allows for long-term storage of solids. Designed typically for 10
years storage capacity. Solids decompose anaerobically over time. Greater volatile solids
reductions are typical because of extended storage time. • Aeration typically provided by floating
mechanical surface aerators or by diffused aeration systems. • Process can be enhanced by
providing final clarifiers and return sludge capabilities, similar to the extended aeration activated
sludge process. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3-
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 18 WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Advanced/Tertiary Treatment Processes Purpose •
Reduce the nutrient content of wastewater to prevent uncontrolled algae growth in lakes,
reservoirs, or streams. Processes for Nutrient Removal Biological Phosphorus Removal • Uses
specific populations of microorganisms capable of using and storing phosphorus under anaerobic
(no dissolved or bound oxygen present) conditions. • Can be incorporated into the activated
sludge process through the addition of an anaerobic zone ahead of the aeration zones. • Increases
phosphorus content in the waste sludge. Figure 3.9 Biological phosphorus removal process
schematic Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3-
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 19 WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Chemical Precipitation of Phosphorus • Chemical
addition process using aluminum or iron added to the aeration tank effluent ahead of the
secondary clarifier to chemically bond to phosphorus. • Metal-phosphorus compound settles out
in secondary clarifier. • Easy process to add on to existing activated sludge process. Does not
require anaerobic zone. Figure 3.10 Chemical precipitation process schematic Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 20 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR
FUNCTIONS Nitrogen Removal (Denitrification) • Uses specific populations of organisms
capable of using oxygen bound to other elements such as nitrate under anoxic conditions (no
dissolved oxygen present). • Requires another specific group of organisms to first convert
ammonia present in the wastewater to nitrate in the aeration system before denitrification can
take place. • Denitrification can be incorporated into the activated sludge process units, or can be
constructed as a stand-alone denitrification filters following secondary treatment. • Can use
carbon available in wastewater when incorporated into the activated sludge process. •
Denitrification filters following secondary treatment may require addition of a supplemental
carbon source (methanol). Figure 3.11 Denitrification process schematic. Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 21 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR
FUNCTIONS Disinfection Purpose • Kill or inactivate pathogenic organisms in the treated
effluent prior to discharge to the receiving stream. Process Descriptions Chlorination • Chlorine
solution can be generated from mixing chlorine gas with treated effluent or purchased
commercially as sodium hypochlorite solution. • Chlorine solution is added to clarified effluent
from secondary clarifiers. • Good initial mixing of chlorine solution and clarifier effluent is
important to process efficiency. • Effluent after addition of chlorine solution passes through
“chlorine contact tank”. Tank provides detention time needed to insure contact of the disinfectant
with the organisms. • Contact tanks sized for a minimum of 30 minutes of hydraulic detention
time at design annual average daily flow. Detention time is the time required to fill a tank at a
given flow or the theoretical time for a certain amount of wastewater to pass through a tank.8
Ultraviolet Light Radiation • Effluent flows through banks of UV bulbs where UV radiation
deactivates microorganisms. • Does not require contact tank with 30 minutes detention time. •
Bulbs must be replaced periodically and cleaned regularly to maintain sufficient UV radiation. •
Does not have any residual disinfecting capabilities. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department
of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 22
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Solids Handling and
Disposal Purpose • Remove and stabilize excess solids generated during the primary and
secondary wastewater treatment processes. • Reduce pathogens (Note: Pathogens are reduced,
but not necessarily eliminated) Stabilization Process Descriptions Digestion • Continued
biological treatment of the sludge wasted from the primary and secondary treatment processes to
reduce volatile solids (organic) content. • Aerobic Digestion • Digestion carried out by aerobic
bacteria in an aerated tank. • Capable of up to 50% reduction in volatile solids content. • Volatile
Solid Reduction efficiency depends on temperature and on length of time sludge remains in the
digester. • Does not generate a usable gas end-product such as the methane gas produced by
anaerobic digestion process. • Anaerobic Digestion • Digestion carried out by anaerobic bacteria
in a heated, unaerated tank. • Capable of up to 50% reduction in volatile solids content,
depending on temperature and length of time sludge remains in digestion. • For best efficiency,
sludge in tank should be heated to 95°F. • Methane gas is generated by biological action of the
bacteria. Acid forming bacteria consume the volatile organic solids creating organic acids.
Methane-forming bacteria then convert the organic acids to methane gas. Incineration • Sludge
can be burned when it does not pose an air pollution problem. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 23
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS Wet Oxidation •
Method of treating sludge prior to water being removed. • Air is introduced into liquid sludge
and then heated and fed into pressure vessel where organic material is stabilized; the organic and
inorganic material is then separated from vessel effluent by dewatering. Lime Stabilization •
Lime slurry is added to untreated liquid sludge to raise the pH to 12.0 or higher. • High pH
prohibits additional biological activity in the sludge, thereby rendering it stable. Post-Lime
Stabilization • Used to enhance or stabilize sludge after dewatering. • Quicklime, calcium oxide
(CaO), is blended with the dewatered sludge cake in a blending unit typically located at the
discharge end of the dewatering equipment. • Quicklime reacts with moisture remaining in the
dewatered sludge cake to form calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2. This reaction generates heat. • The
resulting calcium hydroxide raises the pH of the dewatered sludge to 12 or higher, depending on
the lime dosage. • High pH and elevated temperatures (140 to 150º F) inactivate pathogens and
viruses, and render the dewatered sludge cake stabile from further decomposition. Bureau of
Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 24 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES AND THEIR
FUNCTIONS Dewatering Technologies • Typically follows digestion, and is necessary prior to
incineration. • Purpose is to remove water from the sludge to reduce overall volume. • Solids
content increases from 1 to 4% Total Solids to 15 to 20% Total Solids. • Technologies • Belt
filter press – mechanical, low energy required • Centrifuge – mechanical, high energy input
required • Sludge drying beds – non-mechanical, no energy input; depends on gravity and
evaporation Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3-
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 25 EFFLUENT DISPOSAL Three major
components of a Wastewater System: 1. Collection/Conveyance 2. Treatment 3. Disposal Stream
Discharge Most effluents are discharged to surface water. • Treated effluent is a valuable source
of additional water. • Increased demand for water requires high degree of treatment of effluent.
Land Disposal • Spray irrigation after treatment to remove the bulk of the BOD, suspended
solids, and pathogens. • Evaporation ponds are not practical in Pennsylvania climate Bureau of
Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 26 UNIT 3 EXERCISE Unit 3 Exercise 1. What are the three major
components of a Wastewater System? 1.
_______________________________________________________________________ 2.
_______________________________________________________________________ 3.
_______________________________________________________________________ 2.
Name the three types of collection systems and briefly describe. 1.
_______________________________________________________________________ 2.
_______________________________________________________________________ 3.
_______________________________________________________________________ 3.
Match the Treatment Processes with the correct description. Treatment Process Description ___
1. Preliminary Treatment A. Sludge stabilization, pathogen reduction, and land application ___
2. Primary Treatment B. Biological treatment that produces acceptable effluent ___ 3. Secondary
Treatment C. Remove large debris by screening and degritting ___ 4. Solids Handling &
Disposal D. Eliminate dissolved and nonsettleable/colloidal organic material ___ 5. Waste
Treatment Ponds E. Inactivate pathogenic organisms ___ 6. Advanced/Tertiary Treatment F.
Remove settleable solids ___ 7. Disinfection G. Reduce nutrient content to prevent algae growth
4. Gravity sewer systems are used when the slope is sufficient to produce __________ . a. 1
ft/sec b. 2 ft/sec c. 3 ft/sec d. 4 ft/sec 5. ________________________wastewater has a
characteristic black color and is brought on by the action of anaerobic bacteria. 6. True or False:
In preliminary treatment, grit channel cleaning results in a flow velocity decrease through the
channel and an increase in removal efficiency. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 27 UNIT 3
EXERCISE 7. Which of following are flow control devices: a. Weir b. Serial Rod c. Parshall
Flume d. Kennison Nozzle 8. In a clarifier, the sludge that forms at the bottom may be referred to
as the: a. Sludge cover b. Sludge level c. Sludge blanket d. Waste sludge 9. What type of settling
tank typically follows the biological treatment step a. Primary clarifier b. Secondary clarifier c.
Trickling filter d. Equalization tank 10. True or False: During clarification, large amounts of
sludge rising to the surface may indicate that not enough sludge is being “wasted”. 11. Advanced
(tertiary treatment) is primarily intended remove which two inorganic contaminants: a.
____________________________ b. ____________________________ 12. Describe two
methods of effluent disposal. 1.
_______________________________________________________________________ 2.
_______________________________________________________________________ Bureau
of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 28 KEY POINTS AND REFERENCES Key Points • The three major
components of a Wastewater System are: Collection, Treatment and Disposal. • Treatment
processes include: Preliminary Treatment, Primary Treatment, Secondary Treatment, Tertiary
(Advanced) Treatment, Disinfection and Solids Treatment. • Two types of Secondary Treatment
include: Fixed Film and Suspended Growth. • Waste Treatment Ponds are alternatives that can
achieve secondary treatment results when operated under the appropriate conditions. • Tertiary
(Advanced) Treatment reduces nutrients that can cause excess algae growth, low dissolved
oxygen and in severe cases eutrophication in the receiving stream. • Disinfection inactivates
pathogenic organisms prior to discharge. • Digestion of solids (sludge) is a process that renders
solids “stable”. References 1 John Brady and William Crooks, “Chapter 3: Wastewater
Treatment Facilities,” in Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Vol. 1, (Sacramento, CA:
California State University, Sacramento Foundation, 1998), p. 32. 2 Brady, p. 40. 3 Brady, p. 41.
4 Brady, p. 41. 5 Brady, p. 30. 6 Brady, p. 43. 7 Brady, p. 47. 8 Brady, p. 29. 9 Wet Weather
Operating Practices for POTWs with Combined Sewers, Technology Transfer Document, NY
State Department of Environmental Conservation, Stearns & Wheler, LLC 11-07. Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 3- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 29 Unit 4 – State and Federal Regulations Learning Objectives • List the
purpose of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Operators’ Certification Program •
Identify the classifications and sub-classifications for wastewater operator licenses under the
Water/Wastewater Certification Act (Act 11 of 2002) and Chapter 302 • List the responsibilities
of a licensed operator under Chapter 302 • Identify and locate state and federal regulations that
govern wastewater treatment Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 1 PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Operators’ Certification Program
The purpose of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Operators’ Certification Program is
to protect public health, safety, and the environment and promote the long-term sustainability of
the Commonwealth's drinking water and wastewater treatment systems. • Act 11 of 2002 signed
into law by Governor Mark Schweiker on Feb 21, 2002. • Chapter 302 published as final in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin on Sept. 18, 2010. There are a few things that changed as a result of the
new regulations. These include: • creation of a laboratory supervisor subclassification •
requirement that a general work plan and/or a system specific management plan be developed for
circuit rider systems • successful completion of Securing Drinking Water and Wastewater
Treatment Facilities security training course by every certified operator • accelerated certification
• new fees to cover the costs for program implementation The Drinking Water and Wastewater
Systems Operator Certification Program Handbook was developed to assist operators and system
owners in understanding program elements. Inside this handbook you will find the following: •
Introduction and background information on the Operator Certification Program • Requirements
and activities associated with becoming a certified operator • The process for applying for a
certificate • Certificate renewal and continuing education requirements • Grandparenting
provisions for operators • System classes and subclassifications • System operation and process
control • Using DEP's Operator Information Center website The appendices also contain helpful
information and templates, including the need-to-know criteria for examinations, definitions of
classes and subclasses, a template for an operator report to the system owner, example templates
for Standard Operating Procedures, an example process control plan template, and circuit rider
work plans and management plan templates. Examination Requirements No experience or
training is required to sit for the certification examinations. Therefore, anyone (laborer,
maintenance worker, working operator) can apply, pay the fee and sit for the certification
examination. Be aware that if the applicant passes the examinations he/she is still not officially
certified in that they must obtain the necessary minimum experience requirements. Final
approval will be granted after a thorough review of the applicant’s information and official
approval by the Board. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection
4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 2 PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION • Exam given in two parts except for Class E, subclass 4: • Part I – General
information covering basic knowledge of wastewater system operations. • Part II – Specific
knowledge areas related to wastewater treatment technology. • Stand-alone Class E (Collections)
– Collection system examination only. Examinees are NOT required to take the Part 1 – general
exam. Classifications and Sub-classifications Wastewater Classifications • A – greater than 5
million gallons per day (mgd) • B – less than 5 mgd, but greater than 1 mgd • C – less than 1
mgd, but greater than 0.1 mgd • D – less than 0.1 mgd • E – Satellite wastewater collection
systems with pumping stations Wastewater Sub-classifications • 1 – Activated Sludge/Extended
Aeration and Sequencing Batch Reactors • 2 – Treatment Ponds/Lagoons • 3 – Trickling Filters
and Rotating Biological Contactors • 4 – Single Entity Wastewater Collection Systems Figure
4.2 Experience requirements for certification. CP: A DEP-approved Certification Program in
Wastewater Treatment ASP: An Associate Degree in a Wastewater Treatment Program approved
by DEP AS: Associate Degree in environmental or physical sciences, engineering or engineering
technology NOT approved by DEP BS/BA: A bachelor’s or graduate degree in Biology,
Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Physical Sciences, Sanitary or Environmental Engineering
or Engineering Technology from a nationally accredited college or university Classification High
School Diploma or GED CP ASP AS BS/BA A 4 years 2 years 1 year 3.5 years 2 years B 3
years 1 year 6 months 2.5 years 1 year C 2 years 6 months 6 Months 1.5 years 6 Months D 1 year
6 months 6 Months 6 Months 6 Months E 1 year 6 months 6 months 6 months 6 months Bureau
of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 3 PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR CERTIFICATION Education/Experience
Substitution (for High School Diploma or GED ONLY) Education/Experience Total Experience
Allowed Successful completion of every 10 hours of post high school or post GED water or
wastewater related training (as applicable) approved by DEP and determined by the State Board
for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators (Board) to be applicable to the
certification sought. 1 month experience per 10 hours of training. Successful completion of a
college course approved by DEP as being specifically applicable to the water or wastewater
disciplines (Each college credit is equivalent to 15 hours.) 1.5 months experience for each
college credit. Criminal Record Check All applications for certification or recertification must be
accompanied by a criminal history record. • Apply to the PA State Police using form SP4-164
(Download the Criminal History Request Form - SP4-164) • $10.00 fee, as certified check or
money order (cash or personal check not acceptable). • Allow 4 weeks for processing request. •
This report may also be obtained electronically through the Pennsylvania State Police Website at
[Link] (requires a credit card). • This report must be dated within 90
days of the date the application is received by the State Board for Certification of Water and
Wastewater Systems Operators. • Decisions for revoking a license based on the Criminal History
record are handled by the State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater System
Operators. Tips for completing form SP4-164 • DO NOT select block to review your entire
criminal history. This will include arrests and convictions––only need to report convictions.
Selecting block could delay receipt of report. • In “Reason for Request” area, select “Other” and
specify “wastewater operator certification requirement.” Bureau of Safe Drinking Water,
Department of Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 4
PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR CERTIFICATION Training and Continuing Education
Required Hours per Renewal Cycle (see Figure 4.1) • Credit hours must be earned within the 3-
year renewal period. • Cannot carry-over “extra” credit hours earned from one renewal period
into the next period. • Credit hours can only be earned from DEP approved courses. Operator
Class Contact Hours First 3-Yr Cycle Contact Hours Subsequent 3-Yr Cycles A 15 30 B 15 30 C
15 30 D 8 15 E (Collection) 8 15 Grandparented 8 15 Figure 4.1 Continuing education
requirements for certified wastewater operators. Certified Operator’s Duties and Responsibilities
under the Regulations Meet the Requirements for Recertification • Complete continuing
education requirements • Submit proper forms and fees Report to the System Owner Any Known
Violations or Conditions that May Cause Violations • System owner must provide operator with
copy of permit. • Operator must be familiar with permit requirements as well as regulations
impacting system operation. What are examples of conditions that cause violations?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 5 PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR CERTIFICATION
Develop and Implement Operations and Maintenance Planning • Preventive maintenance
program • Emergency planning • Process control strategies • Process monitoring strategies
Report to the System Owner Actions Necessary to Prevent or Eliminate Violation of Regulations
or Permit • Provide written reports to owner outlining actions taken or recommended to mitigate
or prevent violations. • Keep copies of all reports. Make Process Control Decisions, or Direct
Actions Related to Process Control Process Control Decision is a decision that maintains or
changes water quality or quantity of a water or wastewater system in a manner that may effect
public health or the environment. • Only certified licensed operator can make process control
decisions. • Examples of Process Control Decisions: • Adjusting chemical feed rates • Starting or
stopping recycle flows • Adjusting flow through process units • Placing a treatment unit in
service or taking a unit out of service • Non-certified operators can follow standard operating
procedures (SOPs) for carrying out specific actions related to plant operation and process
control. • Standard operating procedures are good for tasks that do not require data interpretation
or judgment such as: • Mixing a chemical batch (i.e. polymer) that is always mixed to the same
solution strength. • Routine equipment or process unit maintenance procedures. • Standard
operating procedures must be written and approved by the certified operator for the system. The
certified operator must still be available for process control decisions. What are some other
examples of tasks that would be good candidates for a Standard Operating Procedure?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 6 PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR CERTIFICATION
Penalties and Enforcement Violations • Making process control decisions without first obtaining
a valid operator’s certification. • Failing to comply with any of the responsibilities and duties of a
certified operator contained in Section 13 of the Act. • Failure to comply with a DEP order
issued under Section 4(b)(1.1) of the Act. Penalties • Summary offense––fine of not less than
$50 nor more than $500 • Civil Penalty • Whether or not the violation was willful or as a result
of negligence on the part of the operator. • Penalty amount to be commensurate with the type,
severity, and frequency of the violation and its measurable impact on the environment or on
public health up to a maximum of $1000 per day for each violation. • Payment due within 30
days, unless an official written appeal is filed with the Environmental Hearing Board within the
30 day period after the notification of the penalty. • Failure to file an appeal within the 30 days of
the assessment will result in a waiver of all legal rights to contest the violation or the amount of
the penalty. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 4-
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 7 PENNSYLVANIA OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION Role of the State Board for Certification • Board consists of the Secretary of
DEP, or designated representative, and six (6) additional members appointed by the Governor. •
Duties include: • Review and act on all applications for certification, recertification, and
renewals, including a review of the state police criminal history report for all applicants. •
Administer examinations for certification and recertification. • Revoke, suspend, modify, or
reinstate certificates upon petition of DEP. • Receive and act upon complaints. • Review, provide
written comments, and make recommendations to DEP on rules and regulations prior to
submission of those rules and regulations to the Environmental Quality Board. • Issue written
orders. • Adopt bylaws. • Collect fees for examinations and applications for certification,
recertification, and renewals. • Approve or disapprove DEP decisions regarding training for
certification and continuing education. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 8 NPDES
REGULATIONS NPDES Program A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit is required for any point source discharge to waters of the Commonwealth. The
Regional Clean Water Programs of DEP issue the majority of NPDES permits for sewage.
Permits regulate discharges with the goals of 1) protecting public health and aquatic life, and 2)
assuring that every facility treats wastewater. To achieve these ends, permits include the
following terms and conditions:  Monitoring and reporting requirements, including site-specific
discharge (or effluent) limits;  Standard and site-specific management, compliance monitoring
and reporting requirements; and  When and if regulated facilities fail to comply with the
provisions of their permits, they may be subject to enforcement actions. DEP and EPA use a
variety of techniques to monitor permittees' compliance status, including on-site inspections and
review of data submitted by permittees. Discharge Monitoring Reports Discharge Monitoring
Reports (DMRs) are reports that contain self-monitoring results for wastewater required by
NPDES permits and some Water Quality Management (WQM) permits. These reports are
completed and submitted periodically to DEP and other agencies (typically monthly, quarterly,
semiannually or annually). DMRs may be submitted on paper to DEP regional offices or
electronically through DEP’s eDMR system. DMRs must be submitted by any facility that has
been issued an NPDES permit that requires sampling and monitoring (typically sewage treatment
plants and industrial facilities with a wastewater or storm water discharge to surface waters).
DMRs may also be required for WQM permits with land application of effluent. DMRs include
all test results and if there are violations, an explanation of the issue and corrective actions taken.
EPA Regulations 40 CFR 122 – EPA Administrative Regulations for the NPDES Permit
Program • Authorized under Sections 318, 402, and 405 of the federal Clean Water Act. •
Requires that no discharge may occur without a NPDES permit (122.4). • Requirements for
continuation of an expiring permit (122.6). • Criteria for confidentiality of information (122.7).
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator Training 9 NPDES REGULATIONS • Requirements for applications
for new permits and renewals (122.21). 40 CFR 125 – Criteria and Standards for NPDES Permits
• Authorized under Sections 301 and 402 of the federal Clean Water Act. • Establishes
technology-based treatment requirements for NPDES permits (125.3). • Regulations for attaining
and maintaining water quality, assuring protection of public water supplies, wildlife propagation,
and allowing recreational activities (125.62). • Regulations regarding urban area pretreatment
programs (125.65). • Requirements for Toxics control programs (125.66). 40 CFR 133 –
Secondary Treatment Regulations • Defines secondary treatment (133.101). • Establishes level of
treatment attainable through secondary treatment (133.102). • Establishes regulations regarding
required sampling and test procedures (133.104). • Establishes criteria for treatment equivalent to
secondary treatment (133.105). 40 CFR 136 – Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the
Analysis of Pollutants • Lists the approved analytical procedures for wastewater analyses. • Lists
the approved sample holding times and preservation techniques. • All testing performed in
accordance with the monitoring requirements for the NPDES permit must be done in accordance
with the procedures listed in 40 CFR 136. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 10 NPDES
REGULATIONS Pennsylvania State Regulations Title 25 Chapter 92a – NPDES Regulations •
Authorized under section 5 and 402 of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law (35 P.S. § §
691.5(b)(1) and 691.402). • Establishes NPDES General Program Requirements for PA (92a.2 –
92a.12). • Establishes Discharge Permit Application Procedures and Special NPDES Program
Requirements (92a.21 – 92a.36). • Defines Permits and Permit Conditions (92a.41 – 92a.55). •
Establishes Monitoring and Annual Fee Requirements (92a.61 and 92a.62). • Regulates Transfer,
Modification, Revocation and Reissuance, Termination of Permits, Reissuance of Expiring
Permits and Cessation of Discharge (92a.71 - 92a.76). • Identifies Civil Penalties for Violations
of NPDES Permits (92a.101-.92a.104). Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 11 INDUSTRIAL
PRETREATMENT REGULATIONS Industrial Pre-Treatment EPA Regulations 40 CFR 401 –
The Federal Pretreatment Program • Authorized by sections 301, 304, 306, and 501 of the federal
Clean Water Act. • Sets forth legal authority and general definitions which apply to all
regulations issued concerning specific classes and categories of point sources under parts 402
through 699. • Law authorizing establishment of effluent limitations guidelines for existing
sources, standards of performance for new sources, and pretreatment standards of new and
existing sources (401.12). • Test procedures for measurement (401.13). • Toxic pollutants
(401.15). • Conventional pollutants (401.16). • pH limitations under continuous monitoring
(401.17). 40 CFR 403 – General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources •
Authorized by sections 204, 208, 301, 304, 307, 308, 309, 402, 405, and 501 of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977. • National
Pretreatment Standards: Prohibited discharges (403.5). • National Pretreatment Standards:
Categorical Standards (403.6). • Revision of categorical pretreatment standards to reflect POTW
removal of pollutants (403.7). • POTW pretreatment programs: development by POTW (403.8).
• Approval procedures for POTW pretreatment programs (403.11). • Reporting requirements for
POTWs and industrial users (403.12). Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 12 BIOSOLIDS
AND RESIDUALS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS Biosolids EPA Regulations 40 CFR 503
– Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge • Establishes general requirements,
pollutant limits, management practices, and operational standards for the recycling or disposal of
sewage sludge. • Applies to sludges that are applied to farmland or used for land reclamation,
placed in a surface disposal site, or fired in an incinerator. • Includes monitoring and reporting
requirements. • Includes vector attraction and pathogen reduction requirement. • Information
available on EPA website at [Link] Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 13 BIOSOLIDS
AND RESIDUALS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS Biosolids Pennsylvania State
Regulations 25 Pa Code Section 271 – Subchapter J – Beneficial Use of Sewage Sludge by Land
Application (January, 1997) • Established expiration dates for individual site-specific permits
created under Section 275. • Revised the permitting process from individual site-specific permits
to general permit. • Established levels of General Permits for land application of sewage sludge. •
PAG-07 Exceptional Quality biosolids (Class A biosolids under 40 CFR 503) • PAG-08 Non-
exceptional Quality biosolids (Class B Biosolids under 40 CFR 503) • PAG-09 Residential
Septage • Established operating requirements for land application of biosolids. • General
Requirements (271.913) • Pollutant Limits (271.914) • Management Practices (271.915) •
Operational Standards for pathogen and vector attraction reduction (271.916) • Monitoring
requirements (271.917) • Recordkeeping requirements (271.918) • Reporting requirements
(271.919) • Inspection by DEP (271.920) • Sewage sludge quality enhancement plan (271.921)––
requires sewage sludge generator to evaluate ways to improve biosolids quality • Defines
methods to achieve satisfactory pathogen and vector attraction reduction (271.931 – 933). •
Information and guidance for biosolids accessible through the DEP website at
[Link] • There are also links to the biosolids web page from the DEP
wastewater operators’ page. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 14 WASTEWATER PLANNING
AND MANAGEMENT Overview of Act 537 • Enacted in 1966; serves as the basis for
wastewater planning in PA. • Requires that all municipalities develop and maintain an up-to-date
sewage facilities plan. • Controls manner in which wastewater is handled in the community. •
Planning consists of: • Identifying areas where on-lot systems are capable of supporting
wastewater disposal. • Identifying areas where on-lot systems are malfunctioning and require
renovation. • Identifying areas where public collection and treatment systems are required to
protect public health and the environment––“Needs Areas.” • Identifying the most cost effective
technologies for accommodating the planning needs of the community. • Identifying financing
and the impact on user fees for the construction of new sewage handling facilities. • Scheduling
the phasing and construction of new facilities. • Adopting legal authority for managing
existing/remaining on-lot systems areas. • Planning costs are 50% reimbursable upon approval of
the final plan by DEP. 25 PA Code Chapter 94 • Authorized by Section 5 of the Clean Streams
Law. • Defines hydraulic and organic capacity. • Defines hydraulic and organic overloading
conditions. • Establishes corrective action to be taken when overloading conditions exist or are
projected to occur. • Requires a report annually that examines current hydraulic and organic
loadings and identifies existing or projected overloading conditions in the collection and
conveyance systems as well as treatment facilities. • Serves as basis for planning modules. •
Tracks industrial pretreatment programs. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of
Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 15 WATER
QUALITY REGULATIONS 25 Pa Code Chapter 93 – Pennsylvania Water Quality Standards •
Authorized under section 5 and 402 of the Pa Clean Streams Law. • Used by DEP in setting
effluent limits. • Protected Water Uses (93.3). • Statewide Water Uses and Anti-degradation
criteria (93.4, 93.4a – 93.4d). • General Water Quality Criteria (93.6). • Specific Water Quality
Criteria (93.7). • Site Specific Water Quality Criteria Development (93.8). • Toxic Substances
(93.8a). • Designated water uses and water quality criteria, per Drainage List (93.9 a – 93.9z). 25
Pa Code Chapter 16 – Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy • Guidelines for development
of aquatic life criteria (16.21 – 16.24). • Acute and chronic toxicity criteria • Metals criteria •
Guidelines for development of human health based criteria (16.31 – 16.33). • Threshold level
toxic effects • Non-threshold effects (cancer) • Water quality criteria for toxic substances (16.51
– 16.52). • Human health and aquatic life criteria • Whole effluent toxicity testing Bureau of Safe
Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operator Training 16 KEY POINTS Key Points • Act 11, the Operator Certification Act, directly
affects operators by setting license classifications and sub-classifications, establishing continuing
education requirements and setting examination requirements • Chapter 302, Administration of
the Water and Wastewater Systems Operators’ Certification Program was published as final in
the Pennsylvania Bulletin on Sept. 18, 2010. • NPDES regulations are governed by EPA and
Pennsylvania • Act 503 governs the handling of Biosolids • Act 537 deals primarily with on-site
systems, but established the management of sewer systems, particularly in the area of capacity
and the needs of the community. Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental
Protection 4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 17 UNIT 4 EXERCISE Unit 4
Exercise 1. Which of the following are requirements to become a certified operator? a. At least a
high school education b. Recent doctor physical c. Pass the appropriate exams d. Meet the
experience requirement 2. True/False: A non-certified operator can complete process control
decisions in accordance with an approved standard operating procedure. 3. Which of the
following are examples of process control decisions: a. Decision to allow overtime to run the
plant manually on the weekend b. Diverting flow to another treatment train c. Increasing waste
activated sludge (WAS) rate d. Decision by a non-certified operator to increase the chlorine
dosage by following an approved standard operating procedure (SOP). 4. Wastewater facilities
require a ___________________ permit to discharge to the waters of the Commonwealth. 5.
NPDES permits contain information on which of the following: a. Site-specific discharge limits
b. Compliance monitoring and reporting requirements c. Maintenance requirements d. Standard
operating procedures 6. True/False: Discharge Monitoring Reports are only submitted to DEP if
there is an effluent violation. 7. Which one of the following has the power to revoke an
operator’s license: a. System manager b. System supervisor c. DEP Certification Section d. State
Board for Certification Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Department of Environmental Protection
4- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training 18