SEWAGE TREATMENT – FULL ADVANCED & EXPANDED NOTES (DETAILED & EASY
LANGUAGE)
INTRODUCTION
Sewage treatment is the complete process of removing physical, chemical, and biological impurities
from wastewater so that it becomes safe for disposal or reuse. Sewage mainly comes from
households, industries, hospitals, commercial areas, and stormwater. It contains organic matter,
pathogens, chemicals, heavy metals, toxic compounds, oils, detergents, nutrients (N & P), and
suspended solids.
AIM OF SEWAGE TREATMENT
• Reduce BOD, COD and suspended solids
• Remove pathogens
• Remove nutrients (Nitrogen & Phosphorus)
• Reduce toxic chemicals
• Prevent waterborne diseases
• Protect rivers, lakes and groundwater
• Recover resources (biogas, manure, water reuse)
COMPLETE STAGES OF SEWAGE TREATMENT
Sewage treatment has 3 major stages:
1) Primary Treatment (Physical)
2) Secondary Treatment (Biological)
3) Tertiary or Advanced Treatment (Chemical + Physical)
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PRIMARY TREATMENT (MECHANICAL/PHYSICAL TREATMENT)
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Primary treatment removes large and settleable solids.
1. Screening: Metal screens remove plastics, rags, sticks, sanitary items.
2. Grit Chamber: Removes sand, gravel, stones using sedimentation.
3. Primary Sedimentation Tank:
• Flow becomes slow → heavy particles settle
• Light materials float (oil, grease)
• Sludge formed at bottom = primary sludge
Primary treatment removes:
• 50–60% suspended solids
• 25–35% BOD
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SECONDARY TREATMENT (BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT)
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Microorganisms degrade organic pollutants. Can be aerobic or anaerobic.
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A) AEROBIC TREATMENT
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Aerobic microbes require oxygen.
(A1) ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS (ASP)
Main components:
• Aeration tank
• Air diffusers/blowers
• Secondary clarifier
• Return activated sludge (RAS)
• Waste activated sludge (WAS)
Working:
1. Sewage enters aeration tank.
2. Continuous air supply provides oxygen.
3. Aerobic microbes grow as flocs.
4. Microbes oxidize organic matter → CO2 + water + new biomass.
5. Treated water goes to clarifier.
6. Sludge settles.
7. Some sludge returned (RAS), excess removed (WAS).
Efficiency:
• Removes 90–95% BOD
• Provides excellent pathogen reduction
(A2) TRICKLING FILTER
• Circular tank filled with stones/plastic media.
• Rotary arm sprays sewage over media.
• Biofilm grows on media.
• As sewage trickles, microbes degrade waste.
Advantages: Low energy, natural aeration.
Disadvantages: Large land required.
(A3) ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTOR (RBC)
• Series of rotating discs partially submerged in sewage.
• Biofilm grows on discs.
• Discs rotate → air exposure → oxygen supply.
Advantages: Very energy efficient, low sludge.
(A4) OXIDATION PONDS / LAGOONS
• Large shallow ponds.
• Algae produce oxygen by photosynthesis.
• Bacteria degrade organic matter using this oxygen.
Types:
• Facultative ponds
• Aerobic ponds
• Maturation ponds
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B) ANAEROBIC TREATMENT
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Anaerobic microbes degrade organic matter without oxygen.
(B1) SEPTIC TANK
• Used for small-scale households.
• Settles solids.
• Anaerobic digestion reduces organic matter.
• Effluent still needs secondary treatment.
(B2) ANAEROBIC SLUDGE DIGESTER
Used for treating sewage sludge.
Steps:
1. Sludge thickening
2. Sludge heated to 35–40°C
3. Anaerobic digestion → biogas
4. Stabilized sludge used as manure
Products:
• Biogas (CH4 + CO2)
• Digested sludge
(B3) UASB REACTOR (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket)
• Sewage flows upward through anaerobic granular sludge.
• Microbes degrade waste.
• Biogas bubbles mix the reactor.
• Clean water exits from top.
Advantages:
• No need for aeration
• Produces biogas
• Very low operational cost
• Ideal for India
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TERTIARY / ADVANCED SEWAGE TREATMENT
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Used when extremely pure water is needed.
(C1) FILTRATION
• Rapid sand filter
• Slow sand filter
• Activated carbon filter
• Membrane filtration (UF, MF, NF)
(C2) NUTRIENT REMOVAL
Nitrogen Removal:
• Ammonification → Nitrification → Denitrification
• Converts N compounds to Nitrogen gas
Phosphorus Removal:
• Chemical precipitation using alum, ferric chloride
• Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) using PAOs
(C3) DISINFECTION
Removes pathogens.
Methods:
• Chlorination (most common)
• UV irradiation
• Ozone treatment
(C4) ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESSES (AOPs)
Removes toxic organic pollutants.
Techniques:
• Ozone + UV
• Hydrogen peroxide + UV
• Fenton reaction
• O3 + H2O2
(C5) MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR (MBR)
• Combines ASP + ultrafiltration membrane
• Removes solids, pathogens, viruses
• Produces very high-quality water
(C6) REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO)
• Removes salts, minerals, heavy metals, microplastics
• Used for high-purity reuse water
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SLUDGE MANAGEMENT (AFTER TREATMENT)
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Sludge from primary and secondary stages must be treated.
Steps:
1. Thickening
2. Anaerobic digestion
3. Dewatering (centrifuge, filter press)
4. Drying beds
5. Incineration or composting
6. Final disposal
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COMPLETE FLOW OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
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1. Preliminary: Screening, Grit removal
2. Primary: Sedimentation
3. Secondary: Aerobic/Anaerobic treatment
4. Tertiary: Filtration, nutrient removal, disinfection
5. Sludge treatment
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MODERN CONCEPTS IN SEWAGE TREATMENT
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1. Zero-liquid discharge (ZLD)
• No discharge to environment
• All water recycled through RO + evaporation systems
2. Resource Recovery from Sewage
• Biogas energy from sludge
• Biosolids used as fertilizer
• Treated water used for irrigation, cooling, industry
3. Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS)
• Small community-level treatment
• Uses anaerobic + constructed wetlands
4. Constructed Wetlands
• Plants + microbes remove pollutants
• Eco-friendly, low-cost system
5. Bio-electrochemical systems (Microbial Fuel Cells)
• Sewage used to generate electricity
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CONCLUSION
Sewage treatment transforms dirty wastewater into safe, reusable water using physical, biological,
and chemical methods. Advanced technologies help recover energy, nutrients, and clean water,
making modern sewage treatment sustainable and eco-friendly.