Emadeldin Abdalla
SC4730 Environmental Science
24 April 2014
Unit#6 Lab#1

Virtual Field Trip: Sewage Treatment Plant

Questions 1-15; Page 78-79: 1. How does the plant work? How does it remove solids, reduce organic matter, and restore oxygen to the water? a. It utilizes the bacteria to emulate and accelerate the natural process of human waste degradation. The wastewater flows by gravity and bar screens let water pass but not most of the trash. Two primary settling basins allow smaller particles to settle. The primary wastewater flows out to the next step. The scrapers collect the solid matter that remains. A surface skimmer collects scum or grease floating on top of the basins.

2. What training do the operators and technicians have? b. Other than a high school diploma most are trained on site and may depend on which plant they are operating in.

3. What types of parameters or conditions are monitored by the plant operators while the wastewater is being processed? c. Operating and maintaining of the plant is covered in many NPDES permit requirements and limitations. Overseeing a pretreatment program to prevent industrial discharges interference or pass through, sludge contamination, or the plant to violate its permits. Sampling and analyzing wastewater and sludge prior to discharge or disposal to meet NPDES monitoring requirements.

4. Where does the plant’s treatment sludge (bio solids) go? Who monitors the management of sludge to ensure that it meets health and environmental standards? What are some of the standards? What happens if the sludge fails to meet standards? d. Sludge disposal is transferred to New Haven incinerator and landfills. If it does not meet standards they are redone.

5. How can sludge become a useful byproduct of the wastewater treatment system? e. The sludge can be used as a