USING BIOREACTOR MEDIA IN DEVELOPING WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS

Abstract

Waste stabilization pond technology is considered the most economic wastewater treatment technology for the removal of pathogenic micro-organisms. The treatment is achieved through natural disinfection mechanisms depending on Sun, algae and temperature. The study was conducted in the existing Waqued Waste stabilization pond in Behira governorate. The pond was monitored for five weeks. Then bioreactor media was applied to the inlet of both facultative and maturation pond, the system performance was monitored and evaluated on a weekly basis for six months. The study revealed that although the pond overloading and constant area for existing case, effluents are within desirable range, indicating over estimation of pond dimensions. By applying different on the existing case it was found they do not suit Egyptian conditions. The proposed modification of bioreactor media application at inlet of facultative and maturation enhanced the pond performance by raising removal efficiencies of TSS by 2.6 % (to be 92.55%), BOD by 8.56% (to be 92.05%) in facultative pond . Also in maturation pond TSS was raised by 34.46 %,(to be 84.46%) and BOD by20.17 % (to be 64.67%).In the same time the applied media reduced a part of the pond equivalent to 2.14 % of facultative pond area and 3.19 % of maturation pond area. The treated effluent TSS, BOD and fecal coliform were found to be in permissible range according to regulations and standards therefore can be disposed in natural streams or used for irrigation purposes.