- Stabilization pond
Stabilization pond technology - sometimes also called facultative pond technology - is a natural method for
wastewater treatment .Technology
Stabilization ponds consist of shallow man-made basins comprising a single or several series of anaerobic, facultative or maturation ponds. The primary treatment takes place in the "anaerobic pond", which is mainly designed for removing
suspended solids , and some of the soluble element of organic matter (BOD). During the secondary stage in the "facultative pond" most of the remaining BOD is removed through the coordinated activity of algae andheterotrophic bacteria. The main function of the tertiary treatment in the "maturation pond" is the removal of pathogens and nutrients (especially nitrogen).Application and suitability
Stabilization ponds are particularly well suited for tropical and subtropical countries because the intensity of the sunlight and temperature are key factors for the efficiency of the removal processes. [ [http://www.irc.nl/page/8237 IRC Waste stabilization ponds for wastewater treatment, May 2004, prepared by Cinara, Colombia] ] It is also recommended by the WHO for the treatment of wastewater for reuse in agriculture and aquaculture, especially because of its effectiveness in removing
nematodes (worms) andhelminth eggs. [ [http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wastewater/gsuww/en/index.html WHO: Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater] ]Stabilization ponds, as described here, use no aerators. High-performance lagoon technology with aerators has much more in common with that of
activated sludge . Suchaerated lagoon s are common in small towns in the United States, among other places. [ [http://www.lagoonsonline.com/technotes.htm Lagoons online] ]Cost considerations
According to the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, stabilization pond technology is the most cost-effective wastewater treatment technology for the removal of pathogenic micro-organisms. [ [http://www.irc.nl/page/8237 IRC Waste stabilization ponds for wastewater treatment, May 2004, prepared by Cinara, Colombia] ] A World Bank study carried out in Sana’a, Yemen, in 1983 makes a detailed economic comparison of waste stabilization ponds,
aerated lagoon s,oxidation ditch es andtrickling filter s. According to this study, stabilization pond technology is a cheaper option up to a land cost of US$ 7.8/m2. Above this cost, oxidation ditches become the cheapest option. [ Arthur, J.P. (1983). Notes on the design and operation of waste stabilization ponds in warm climates of developing countries. Technical paper No 7. Washington D.C ] However, often the main constraint against selecting this technology is not land cost but land availability. If land is available, stabilization ponds have the advantage of very low operating costs since they use no energy compared to other wastewater treatment technologies. This makes them particularly suitable to developing countries where many “conventional” wastewater treatment plants (usually usingactivated sludge technology) have had to be shut down because water and sewer utilities did not generate sufficient revenue to pay the electricity bill for the plant.Use of stabilization pondsUse
Stabilization ponds are used for municipal waste water treatment in many countries with ample sunshine, including Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Nicaragua, Tunisia and Uganda. [ [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=783370 OAKLEY S. M.; POCASANGRE A.; FLORES C.; MONGE J.; ESTRADA M.: Waste stabilization pond use in Central America : The experiences of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua] , Water science and technology 2000, vol. 42, no 10-11, pp. 51-58 ] They are typically used in smaller towns where land availability and cost is less of a constraint. In some cities larger stabilization ponds have been replaced in the early 2000s by
activated sludge waste water treatment plants, such as in Amman (Jordan) and in Adelaide (Australia) in 2004. [ [http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/WhatsNew/MajorProjects/PtAdel_Plant_Disposal.htm South Australia Water] ]External Links
* [http://www.epa.gov/OWM/mtb/faclagon.pdf EPA Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet: Facultative Lagoons]
References
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