Settling basin

Settling pond under construction, Blue Ribbon Mine, Alaska

A settling basin, settling pond or decant pond are devices used to treat turbidity in industrial wastewater. The basins are used to control water pollution in diverse industries such as agriculture,^[1] aquaculture,^[2] and mining.^[3][4]

Wastewater enters the basin and very fine particles in the water are separated by means of gravity. The water must be in the basin long enough for the desired particle size to be removed. Smaller particles require longer periods for removal and thus larger basins. In some basins a flocculant may be added to help smaller particles stick together and form larger particles. Stokes' law can be used to calculate the size of a settling basin needed in order to remove a desired particle size.

See also

• Clarifier
• Detention basin
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Retention basin
• Water purification

References

1. ^ Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District. Sunnyside, WA. "Settling Basins." Accessed 2009-10-02.
2. ^ Western Regional Aquaculture Center, University of Washington. Seattle, WA (2001). "Settling Basin Design." WRAC Publication No. 106.
3. ^ Government of British Columbia. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Products. Victoria, BC (2002). "Settling Pond." Aggregate Operators Best Management Practices Handbook for British Columbia. Chapter 7: Best Management Practices. April 2002.
4. ^ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Seattle, WA (2003). "EPA and Hardrock Mining: A Source Book for Industry in the Northwest and Alaska. Appendix E: Wastewater Treatment." January 2003.