BASIC TRAINING COURSE FOR
STP OPERATIONS
by
SMEDD-OPERATIONS
Blowers Chlorinator
SBR TANK
Equalization
Tank 1
Effluent
SBR TANK Holding Tank
2
Large
MF Aerobic
Grease Trap
Chlorine
Chamber Digester
Contact
Tank Chamber
MF
Effluent
MF Re-Use
Tank
Bar Tank
Screen-1 Tertiary
Treatment To Sewer/
Plant Drainage
Influent To SM Utility
EDD-Operations- Environmental Committee
Outline of Presentation
1. Ojective of Sewage Treatment Plant
2. Definition of SBR
3. Function of Each Treatment Facility
4. Role and Work of STP Operators
5. Sampling Procedures
6. STP Operator Introduction Requirements
III.
OBJECTIVE OF STP
TO MEET DENR STANDARDS AT
ALL TIME –
In layman’s term:
To produce effluent water with quality that can
be discharged to our environment without
harming the quality of receiving water such as
rivers, lakes, seas and other streams.
DENR EFFLUENT STANDARDS
Parameters Unit DENR
Standards
Color PCU Less than 150
5-DAY BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN mg/L Less than 50
DEMAND
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND mg/L Less than 100
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS mg/L Less than 70
pH (Hydrogen Potential) 6.5 to 8.5
OIL AND GREASE mg/L Less than 5
Total Coliform MPN Less than 10,000
II.
DEFINITION OF SEQUENCING
BATCH REACTOR
What is an SBR ?
Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) System. The system
is an Activated Sludge Process, which operates as fill
and draw system, wherein a predetermined batch
volume of sewage is fed to the reactor for treatment
prior to discharge. Organic loading removal,
“biomass” separation and effluent withdrawal is
carried out sequentially in one single basin, through a
cyclic operation of the process equipment.
Biochemical Reaction in Sewage/Wastewater Treatment
OXIDATION AND SYNTHESIS
bacteria
COHNS + O2 + nutrients CO2 + NH3 + C5H7NO2 + other end products
ENDOGENOUS RESPIRATION
C5H7NO2 + 5O2 5 CO2 + 2H2O + NH3 + energy
BIOMASS
DO YOU KNOW…
MICRO-ORGANISM:
SOLELY RESPONSIBLE
FOR BIOLOGICAL
WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
MICRO-ORGANISM:
SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR
BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
Desired Bacteria
zoogloea bacteria
filamentous bacteria
Add Substrates
SBR MODE OF
Water Level 25 -100 %
OPERATION Cycle time 25%
Idle SBR TANK
Cycle time 5 %
FILL Reaction
Effluent Decant
Cycle time 35 %
Cycle time 15 %
SBR TANK
SBR TANK
DRAW REACT
SBR TANK
Quiescent Solid/Liquid
SETTLE Separation
Cycle time 20%
AERATION & SETTLING
PROCESS PHENOMENA
AIR COMPRESSOR
FACTORS AFFECTING SBR
TREATMENT PROCESS
1. FOOD SUPPLY
Refers to the Amount of Food which is Measured in Terms of BOD.
2. NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY
Every 100 Kg of BOD Removed Requires Approximately 5 Kg
Nitrogen and 1 Kg Phosphorus.
3. TEMPERATURE
Efficiency of Treatment Decreases with Temperature.
4. pH
Most Microorganism cannot Tolerate pH Below 4 and Above 9.0.
Optimum Microorganism Growth is at pH 6.5-8.5.
5. TOXIC SUBSTANCES
Includes Heavy Metals, Cyanides, Pesticides and Disinfectants
which Destroy or Inhibit Biological Growth.
III.
FUNCTION OF EACH TREATMENT
FACILITY
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
SEQUENCING BATCH REACTOR SYSTEM
Chlorine
Raw Equalization Chlorine
Waste- Contact Treated
Tank 2 SBRs
water Tank Water for
Discharge
to
Drainage
Aerobic
Digester Stabilized Sludge,
Hauled and disposed
Offsite
FUNCTION OF EACH TREATMENT FACILITY
Screening To remove all large objects that goes along with
the wastewater
Oil and Grease To remove all oil and grease floating on top of the
Trap tank
SBR To reduce and remove organics present in the
wastewater
Chlorine To disinfect any pathogenic microorganisms
Contact Tank present in wastewater. There is a need to add
chlorine.
Reuse Tank To store filtered water that will be reused.
Digester To stabilize excess sludge that is being wasted
from the SBR.
LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE CHEMICALS AND
SUBSTANCES ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE
MICROORGANISM IN THE REACTOR
CHEMICALS
MURIATIC ACID
CAUSTIC SODA
CHLORINE
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
OTHER SUBSTANCES
EXCESSIVE FATS, OIL and GREASE (FOG)
CHEMICALS from SALONS
PAINTS
CHEMICALS from PHOTO SHOPS
SOLID WASTES like MEAT PRODUCTS
HOT HOT ITEM IN STP
The STP is not designed to treat oil and grease, because it
quote biomass in the reactor. Thus
OIL AND GREASE
Enemy no. 1
IV.
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF STP
OPERATOR
The operator in-charge of the STP shall conduct the following
monitoring activities on a regular basis;
Sludge Level Monitoring / Settleability Test
The Sludge Level monitoring is a very essential tool for STP operators.
The activity will guide operators on the treatment efficiency of the
system as well as on proper process operation changes.
The monitoring is usually done at least twice a week or as often as desired.
This is done during react period 15 minutes prior to settling phase.
Using a 1000 ml graduated cylinder, take sample of mixed liquor at the SBR
tank and
fill the 1000 ml graduated cylinder up to 1000 ml mark. Allow to settle for 1
hr. Record sludge level after 30 minutes and after 1 hr. Maintain sludge level
at 200 ml to 300 ml.
1000 ml 1000 ml 1000 ml
@30 min.
@ 60 MINS
Sludge Wasting
Sludge wasting activity is one of the important steps in SBR
system operation.
The frequency and amount of sludge wasting is determined
by performance requirements ( Sludge level, effluent
quality).
Sludge wasting is usually done automatically or manually.
A 10 minutes wasting time is recommended per day until
desired sludge level is achieved.
FUNCTION & WORK OF STP OPERATORS
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
Lift Station Lift Pumps • Inspect lift station daily.
• Check the pH of water.
Influent Tank • Remove all solid materials that have
Contact Tank accumulated daily.
• Inspect and clean float and level sensors at
least once a month or when it does not
detect automatically.
• Check for any trip or failure in the control
panel.
• Conduct quarterly cleaning of the lift
station to prevent equipment from
clogging.
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
Bar Screen • Inspect bar screen daily.
• Remove all screening materials
that have accumulated daily.
• Place all screenings inside waste
plastic bag.
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
Grease Trap • Inspect grease trap daily.
• Remove all floating FOG, plastic,
etc. that have accumulated daily.
• Place all FOG inside plastic bags
and disposed offsite.
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
SBR Air Blowers • Check for any abnormal sound of the blower
daily.
• Check V-belt tension weekly. Replace belt
once a year.
• Add lubricants at least once every 6 month or
when needed.
SBR Reactor • Color of SBR must be light brown to dark
brown indicating good biomass growth.
• Check for any foaming inside the SBR and
remove the scum on top of it daily.
• Check the Sludge Volume Index (SVI)/sludge
level of the SBR.
• Check the D.O. of water.
• Maintain the settleable sludge volume
between 200 to 300 ml / L.
• Report to ESTI when SBR changes from brown
to black, possibly SBR has upset.
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
SBR Decanter Clean solenoid valve at least once a week
(Take extra precaution in dismantling the
solenoid valve).
SBR WAS pump • Operate WAS pump when settleable solids
exceed 300 ml/L. Operate it 10 mins per day
of pumping only.
• Check settleable solids using the graduated
cylinder daily, if possible.
• Check and remove dirt/solids for any clogging
in the WAS pump.
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
Contact Tank Dosing Pump • Inspect the day tank if there is chlorine
solution available.
• Do not operate dosing pump when there is
no liquid content inside the day tank.
STP OPERATION & MAINTENANCE WORK (7)
Name of Name of Operation and Maintenance Work
Treatment Equipment
Facility
STP Control • Remove dust particles from control panel
daily.
Panel • Retighten loose terminals at least once a
month.
• Check for any trip or failure lights and
check the respective equipment.
• Conduct Megger testing at least once a
year to determine all circuit breakers are
in good operation.
V.
TROUBLESHOOTING
GUIDELINES
MLSS Settleability Test
Tests for Settleable Solids
Microscopic Analysis
Filaments
Light brown foaming
Troubleshooting guide:
Observation Probable Cause Necessary Check Remedies
1. Low DO and/or A. Under aeration 1. Check DO; should 1. Increase aeration
septic odor in mixed be in range of 1.5 to to maintain DO in
liquor 4.0 mg/l proper range
throughout the tank
2. Check for 1. Maintain 3
adequate mixing in scfm/lin foot of air
the aeration tank flow rate per unit
length of diffuser
header pipe
3. Check return 1. Adjust return
rates and sludge rate to maintain
blanket depth sludge blanket of 1
to 3 ft in clarifier
Troubleshooting guide:
Observation Probable Cause Necessary Check Remedies
1. Low DO and/or B. MLSS may be too 1. Check MLSS 1. Adjust MLSS for
septic odor in mixed high proper F/M. If F/M
liquor is within designed
range, additional
aeration tanks may
be required
Troubleshooting guide:
Observation Probable Cause Necessary Check Remedies
2. Stiff, white A. Young sludge in 1. Check aeration 1. If F/M is high
billowing or sudsy an overloaded tank BOD loading, and lb MLVSS
foam on aeration aeration tank (low BOD/day and lb inventory is low, do
tank surface MLSS). MLVSS in aeration not waste or
Note: This usually tank. Include loads maintain minimum
happens during from in-plant wasting.
process start-up. If recycling. Calculate
starting up, do not F/M.
be alarmed with it.
2. Check secondary 1. Maintain
clarifier effluent for sufficient return
solids carry over. rates to minimize
solids carry over.
3. Check DO levels 1. Try to maintain
in aeration tank. DO = 1.5 to 4 mg/l
4. Consider hauling 4. Seed the process
in good activated with healthy
sludge from activated sludge
another plant
Troubleshooting guide:
Observation Probable Cause Necessary Check Remedies
3. Shiny, dark A. Aeration tank 1. Check and monitor 1. Increase
brown foam on approaching trends for: wasting rate by
aeration tank under loaded a. Increasing MLSS & not more than
surface (low F/M) MCRT 10% per day
condition due to until process
b. Decreasing F/M
insufficient approaches
sludge wasting normal control
from the process parameter
values.
2. Check and monitor 2. Equalize
secondary influent and influent and
return rates to each return rates to
aeration tank each aeration
tank
4. Dark-brown, A. Anaerobic 1. Check DO 1. Do same with
almost blackish conditions low DO scenario
foam occurring in
aeration tank
5. Modest amount Not a problem.
of fresh light tan Usually a good
foam sign of well-
operated plant
Final Guides
Determine probable cause
Select one or more corrective measures
but take ONE corrective action at a time
Thorough knowledge of the particular
biological treatment system is required
Familiarity with wastewater characteristics,
plant flow rates, process control and
operating conditions
Other Functions of STP Operators
To report the supervisor any problem
(mechanical, electrical or process) that had
occurred in the plant
To log all necessary information in the
logbook such as pH, D.O., decant time,
flowrate and others that may be called for by
the office or Client
Inform Client immediately of any abnormal
or emergency situation
V. Sampling Procedure
Prepare 1-gal Plastic Bottle and 1 wide
mouth bottle
Wear gloves, goggles
Take sample from effluent wet well
Place in the sampling bottles
Store in Ice Chest
Bring to the Laboratory
When Operators are asked to introduce
themselves in front of SM
State your name, age, educational level and
number of years as STP operator
Name all plants that you were assigned as
plant operator
Mention the type of plant (mall, industry,
etc.) and plants’ capacity ( m3/day)
THANK YOU !
