DESCRIPTION

This module provides specific information about aerobic treatment units as a means of providing rapid oxidation of carbonaceous and nitrogenous compounds found in domestic wastewater. While the module is directed toward engineering students, it is fully anticipated that most science-based undergraduate students will be able to understand and apply the concepts contained within the module.

Overall, the objectives of this module are to provide a review of the biochemical oxidation of soluble and colloidal organic compounds using aerobic microbial digestion, provide descriptions of various engineered systems that maintain high- rate digestion, and provide an understanding of the operation and maintenance required to keep these system functional. This module is divided into two sections: (1) the aerobic treatment process and (2) aerobic treatment units. The design of biological treatment units can be roughly divided into two categories: suspended-growth and attached- growth. The bio-processes used to convert organic carbon into inorganic carbon is the same in both categories. Citations are provided in the module to direct the reader to textbooks that can provide a more rigorous explanation about processes involved in biological wastewater treatment.

Onsite and decentralized wastewater management systems can take advantage of technologies developed for centralized municipal treatment systems. Aerobic treatment units can be an option when insufficient soil is available for the proper installation of a traditional septic tank and soil absorption area. Increasingly, homes and small commercial establishments are being constructed in rural areas with no central sewer and on sites with marginal soils. In these situations, wastewater must receive a high- level of pretreatment before being discharged into the soil environment. Depending on local regulations, the use of an aerobic treatment unit may allow for reductions in the required infiltration area and/or reduction in depth to a limiting soil layer. This ability to produce a high-quality effluent may open sites for development that were previously unsuitable because of soil.

The instructor is encouraged to tailor the material in this module to best fit the objectives of the class. This module is part of an overall curriculum developed for teaching the concepts of decentralized wastewater management and treatment. While this module is intended as a standalone source of information about aerobic treatment units, for a more complete understanding of the engineered-processes references are available to direct the students to more rigorous text.

MATERIALS

A. Instructors Guide

Module Perspective (Adobe Acrobat, 80 Kb) (Mar, 2004) Suggested Course Materials (Adobe Acrobat, 200 Kb) (Mar, 2005)

B. Text

Aerobic Treatment Unit Module Text (Adobe Acrobat, 355 Kb) (Mar, 2005)

C. Powerpoint Files

Aerobic Treatment of Wasterwater Part 1 - PowerPoint (Adobe Acrobat, 700 Kb) (Mar, 2005) Aerobic Treatment of Wasterwater Part 2 - PowerPoint (Adobe Acrobat, 2.5 MB) (Mar, 2005)

COMMENTS

If you have comments regarding these materials, please send them to Nancy Deal.

Writing Team:

Review Team:

Robert Seabloom John Buchanan

Bill Cagle John Higgins Jim Kreissl Adrian Hanson Steven P. Dix Tom Konsler James C. Converse Bruce Lesikar