Pilot modified settling techniques as a novel route for treating water influent from Lake-Marriott

Abstract

Increased population and industrialization have resulted in adverse environmental problems, which have put great stress on existing water bodies in most developing countries. Settling techniques have some potential ability to remove pollutants from Lake water. To assess its performance potential, pilot modified settling techniques (PMSTs) were built and monitored seasonally in triplicate to estimate changes in physicochemical properties and microbial community for influent water from Marriott Lake in Egypt. The experimental design included units with different operating conditions of settling techniques, namely, Control, (combination tank), (Air + gravel), (No air + gravel), and (Air). Each unit represents one operational condition. The PMSTs were operated under seasonal variation and hydraulic retention time (HRT 1–9 days). The concentration variations and removal rates of different pollutants including; Turbidity, DO, BOD5, NH4-N, NO3−N, NO2, TN, and TP were measured in different settling units. To obtain optimum operating conditions of PMSTs, the average removal percent of the studied pollutants in different settling units was measured. The maximum performance was achieved by (No air + Gravel) unit. PMSTs have significant potential and could be widely used as a pre-treatment step for other water treatment techniques or directly for other purposes.