Suspended particulate matter dynamics act as a driving force for single pond sewage stabilization system

Abstract

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) in aquatic system often causes negative impact on water quality and hence its removal is the prerequisite in sewage stabilization process to avoid the consequences of pollution. The conventional wastewater treatment technology based on highly optimized physical, chemical and microbial processes is cost effective where ecologically sustainable technology would be the best alternative. Present study is an endeavor to give a new insight into the beneficiary roles of SPM during its mass movement in single pond sewage stabilization system. The SPM undergo a dynamic movement in different layers of water column in wetland's single pond (East Kolkata Wetland) during wastewater purification process. Compositional analysis of SPM reveals that inorganic fraction was abundant (80%) at initial stage, was removed (70–82%) under gravity (0–3 days) in association with Fecal coliform (FC) bacteria and permitted sunlight to ingress resulting in increased temperature (p<0.05). This condition initiated algal production increasing SPM burden in the system and developed stratification (p<0.05) of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) for 3–5 days. Thereafter, de-stratification occurred due to mass movement of these components (p>0.05) throughout the water column. This phenomenon favored the activity of aerobic microbial population contributing a lot for oxidation of organic matter (7–10 days). SPM in stabilization pond thus shows pioneering role through its dynamics which ingress other subsidiary natural processes may serve for designing, optimizing or improving treatment technology.