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Effluent from the primary treatment of the sewage is passed through large aeration thanks for biological treatment. Explain the complete process that follows till the water is ready to be released into the natural water bodies.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

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The process that follows until the water is ready to be released into the natural water bodies-

1. The primary effluent is passed into large aeration tanks where it is constantly agitated mechanically and air is pumped into it which allows vigorous growth of useful aerobic microbes into flocs (masses of bacteria associated with fungal filaments to form mesh-like structures).

2. While growing, these microbes consume the major part of the organic matter in the effluent which significantly reduces the BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) of the effluent.

3. The effluent is then passed into a settling tank where the bacterial ‘flocs’ are allowed to sediment and this sediment is called activated sludge.

4. A small part of the activated sludge is pumped back into the aeration tank to serve as the inoculum.

5. The remaining major part of the sludge is pumped into large tanks called anaerobic sludge digesters. Here, other kinds of bacteria, which grow anaerobically, digest the bacteria and the fungi in the sludge.

6. During this digestion, bacteria produce a mixture of gases such as methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. These gases form biogas and can be used as a source of energy as it is inflammable.

7. The effluent from the secondary treatment plant is generally released into natural water bodies like rivers and streams.

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Priyanka Kumari

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