Biological treatment of municipal wastewater with deep tanks and flotation for secondary clarification

Abstract

For municipal wastewater treatment, space-saving 10m deep activated sludge tanks are an interesting alternative to conventional tanks of shallow construction. Results from pilot tests in the Berlin-Ruhleben WWTP have shown that the biological P—elimination, nitrification and denitrification processes can be implemented with the same sucess as in shallow tanks. However, the activated sludge did not settle satisfactorily. Flotation was implemented in the process for secondary clarification and has been shown to be advantageous. Tests run over a period of some years with the pilot plant have proven the feasibility of this process. Energy requirements for both systems were found to be approximately the same. A cost estimate based on a preliminary plan revealed a 10% advantage in favour of the 10m WWTP with flotation.