FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Derrick Campus

BEC 710
Water Resource Engineering

Field Trip Report

SEMESTER I, 2015
YEAR 4

Student

: Deepak R Prasad

ID #

: 2006001699

Abstract
This paper will explore the process of water and sewerage treatment for Suva City, Fiji Islands.
Firstly, an evaluation of the treatment plant visited will be discussed. Furthermore, future expansion
and vision of the Plant will be discussed. Finally, this report will conclude that conventional
treatment is very effective form of treatment.

Introduction
The total amount of water in the world has been estimated in categories of fresh, land-locked saline,
ice caps and glaciers and the oceans. From these categories, scientist estimate that 97.3 % of the
planet's water is in the oceans. Of the remaining 2.7 %, 77.2 % are trapped in the polar ice caps and
glaciers and land locked seas. While, another 0.3 % comprises of saline lakes. This leaves
approximately 22.5 % of the freshwater potentially available for use as water supply.
To produce drinking water, water is extracted from the underground, so called groundwater, or from
rivers or lakes, the surface water. This source water is not drinkable and must be treated. The
treatment plant consists of different processes depending on the quality of the source and the
requirements for drinking water. Afterwards, the water is transported to the city and distributed via
a piped network to households, commercial buildings, public entities and small industries. After
usage the water is collected in a sewer system and transported to a wastewater treatment plant
where the water quality is improved for discharge into the receiving water bodies. These surface
waters can then, again, be used as a source for drinking water production.
For the purpose of this report, investigation will be carried out to ascertain the nature and form of
Sewer & Water treatment done for Suva City. Furthermore, other modern options of treatment will
be discussed.

Methodology
In order to learn more about water and sewerage treatment, several research methods were
employed.

Observation
A site visit was carried out to observe the general layout of the treatment plant and acknowledge
the process adapted.

Interviews
The following people were interviewed for their perspective.

WAF Staff Mr. Vilitati

WAF Staff Mr. Masi

Limitations
The time frame was short. It is believed that the questions asked provided sufficient information.

Results
The findings for the two sites visited are as follows.

CASE 1 Waila Treatment Plant (WTP)

The plant is operated by Water Authority of Fiji (WAF). It is located a bit further away from Nausori
Town, at an elevated Reduced Level for gravity supply to Nausori residence. Built in the 1980s, the
plant follows typical conventional water treatment process with raw water sourced from nearby
Rewa River. Plant Capacity is 97ML. The processes adopted at WTP are as follows;
1. Screening
This is done at the intake. Screens are used to remove coarse and floating objects.
2. Coagulation
Is the addition of chemicals (Alum & soda Ash) into the water to artificially increase the settling rate
of fine suspended particles in Raw water. Alum (Aluminium Sulphate) is added to a water. The
chemical reaction is as follows;

The negative charge particles are responsible to supersede the Van-de-waal forces and bind the
suspended particles. In cases where pH is low, Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate (Na2 CO3 )) is added as
control. Dosage is based on Jar test results.
Picture of WTP Soda Ash Batch tank

3. Flocculation
This is a slow mixing process in which destabilized colloids are brought into contact to promote
agglomeration. The objective of flocculation is to bring the particles into contact so that they will
collide, stick together, and grow to a size that will readily settle or filter out. WTP has a baffle wall
flocculator.
Picture of WTP baffle type flocculator

4. Sedimentation
At this stage impurities are removed. Substances that cause colour and turbidity and, substance that
have become settable by coagulation and flocculation settle and extracted out as sludge. WTP has
two types of Settlement tanks or Clarifiers
Circular Clarifiers
In this tank, the flow is introduced into a central well (small open ended cylinder) via a pipe below
water level but high enough off the floor to avoid the scrapers. The water flows outwards to the
outer walls and is collected at the surface. As it travels, the area of the flow increases and the speed
decreases. The particles settle out into the quieter water below and fall to the floor. Either scrapers
rotate slowly and sweep the floc into a central well or the bottom is hopper shaped to collect the
sludge.
Picture of WTP circular clarifier.

Tube and Plate Clarifier

The concept is putting several horizontal layers into the same tank to reduce the amount of land
required. This is achieved by "plate separators" wherein the simplest versions have multiple flat
plates mounted one above the other. These plates are inclined about 60 to the horizontal to make
the sludge flow down under it's own weight to a collection hopper. Here clean is removed without
re-suspending the solids. This is achieved by having the flow travel up the plates in the opposite
direction to the solids flow - the "counter-flow" type.
5. Filtration
WTP has 7 numbers of Rapid sand filters. In this stage of treatment, particular impurities and floc
from the water are removed and clear water is let to pass through. The apparent method by which
filters remove suspended material is straining - the particles are held back by having holes smaller
than the particles removed. However, secondary mechanisms are also important. These include
filter "ripening" - a buildup of larger particles on the surface of the filter that decreases the aperture
size allowing smaller particles to be removed. Another key secondary process is the settling of
particles onto the horizontal parts of the filter media. This settlement process is enhanced by the
curvature of the flow around the media, spinning the particles out to the edge of the flow through
the pores due to their higher density. There are also electrostatic forces which attract particles to
the media. After few days, the filters require backwashing when the pores become blocked with the
solids removed. In this instance Backwashing is carried out
Backwashing is initiated by any one or more of the following factors:
Time - wash filters on a regular schedule of say every 2 or 3 days.
Turbidity - if the turbidity from a filter starts to rise, this indicates that solids are being
pushed through the media and it needs to be backwashed - immediately.
Headloss - as the headloss rises, so does the probability of floc shear and particle
breakthrough. Reaching a pre-set headloss level will initiate a backwash.
Backwashing technique at WTP uses both air and water at the same time. The sequence starts with
air and water at concurrently. This wash lasts for about 5 - 10 minutes. It is followed by water alone
for about 5 minutes to remove any trapped air.
Picture of WTP Rapid Sand filter during
backwash.

6. Disinfection
At WTP, chlorine gas is used. These are supplied large gas cylinders. Clorine dosage is depended also
on water pH. The higher the pH, the less effective the disinfection becomes. It is noted that going
from pH 7 to pH 8 halves the amount of disinfection. To counter this effect, the chlorine dose is
increased at higher pH levels or Soda Ash is used to reduce pH.
The chlorination system at WTP comprises of;
A chlorine drum source and a 12 mm gas line to the chlorinator.
A chlorinator.
A pipe from the chlorinator carrying the chlorine to the treated water main pipe where it is
injected.
The chlorinator controls the amount of chlorine gas drawn into the water. The control methods and
inputs include, the water flow rate and the residual chlorine level analyzed. Chlorine is added in the
clear tank.

7. Fluoridation
The fluoride injector is used to add the chemical. This added to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is also
added in the clear tank.
8. ph Control
Soda Ash is added to control pH. Soda ash is the common name for sodium carbonate and this is also
known as washing soda. It is added to drinking water to control the pH values to between 7 to 8.5 as set out in the Drinking Water Standards.
Also, to limit the corrosion costs and aesthetic disadvantages of corrosion, the water pH is adjusted
to fall within the range set in the standards.
9. Flow Distribution
The treated water is stored in a 6ML reservoir. It feeds the Raralevu Reservior via gravity and
Wainibuku Reservior via high lift pumps. Both the tanks, then supply to the reticulation systems of
Nausori and Suva area respectively.
The minimum service pressure usually specified is 30 m of water head. The normal maximum is
120m. Pressures higher than this may be supplied with resulting risks of fitting failures, excessive
wear and tear on tap washers and automatic valves such as on dishwashers or automatic washing
machines. Many plumbing fittings are not rated to higher pressures - items such as pressure
reducing valves on gas califonts are prone to failure.

Schematic Waila Water Treatment Plant Diagram

CASE 2 Kinoya Sewerage Treatment Plant (KSTP)

This plant is also operated by Water Authority of Fiji (WAF). It is located in between Suva City and
Nasinu Town, at a very low Reduced Level for gravity intake. Built in the 1970s, the plant follows
typical conventional sewer treatment process. The Plant has the capacity to cater for a population of
180,000 persons. Storm water is not collected. The plant capacity is approximately 30ML/day and
has the ability to collect 250 800mg/L BOD sludge and treat it upto a reduced 30mg/L. The
processes adopted at WTP are as follows;

Source: Google Images (edited)

1. Screening
The Plant employs both bar followed by continuous screen as depicted in picture below. These are
used to remove any floating debris such as plastics that will affect other treatment process.

Bar screen

Continuous screen

Source: google images

2. Grit Removal
In the stage, sand and grit must is removed from wastewater. This is critical;
to extend the lifespan of the mechanical components, especially pumps;
to prevent sand and grit from getting into the pipelines and machinery, which can cause blockages.
to avoid depositing a sand package at the bottom of the digestion tank, the presence of which
would minimize the effective volume and hence the efficiency of the tank.
3. Primary Treatment
The primary sedimentation tank comes after the grit chamber. Here as many of the settleable undissolved particles as possible are separated. This sludge is called primary sludge. This reduces the
load and size of sludge treatment units. Almost 60% of all suspended solids are removed at this
stage.
4. Secondary Treatment
The trickling filter bed consists of a cylindrical tank 2 4 meters high equipped with a perforated
bottom. The trickling filter is filled almost entirely with packing material made up of lava slag, gravel
or other suitable material. A rotary distributor arm spreads the influent wastewater over the upper
layer of the media and then the wastewater trickles down over and in between the packing material
through the filter. Through the under-drain and the drainage collection trench the treated water is
discharged.
The stabilization of wastewater is accomplished biologically using a variety of microorganisms. The
so-called biological skin, also known as biofilm is developed on the surface of the packing material.
The settled wastewater flows in thin layers over the aerobic layer of the biofilm. From the passing
liquid absorption of the dissolved solids, present in the settled wastewater, takes place in the
biofilm. All of the biological contaminants are consumed and degraded, these lead to the treatment
of the wastewater.

5. Thickener
The stabilized effluent is passed onto this tank for thickening. The supernatant water is discharge
into the sea, 1.5 km from the shoreline. While, bottom thick layer laid to dry. The partially dry sludge
is belt pressed and formed into Cakes. It is sold as manure.

6. Sludge Digester
The plant also has a digester tank, where anaerobic metabolism takes place and Methane gas is
produce. This, WAF simply burnt for carbon credit.

Picture of Kinoya Sewerage Treatment Plant.

General Layout of Kinoya Treatment Palnt

Discussion
It is noticed that the method of treatment has remained same for the two treatment plant over the
years. However new electronic devices; such as pumps, chlorinators, motors, control meters, and
the likes have drastically improved the plant efficiency and ability to cater for the demands of the
growing population.
For the water treatment, WAF is looking at avenues to find quick treatment solution. Other methods
of treatment are being looked at to supply water to evacuation centers during storm periods. AVGs
and package plants seem to be cost effective solutions.
Sewerage on the other hand, is still an area of research. Recently a break thru findings was unveiled.
Nereda process in the Netherlands, claim that sewerage plant capacity could be increase just by
using different bacteria. This new found bacterium reduces the tank detention time and thus,
increases plant efficiency. There are also studies carried out to turn Sewerage Treatment Plant into
an energy producing plant for methane gas.

Conclusion
The conventional method of treatment is still very effective. The process employed is direct and
staged. As such, confusion or complications does not arise when identifying faults. For example,
smell in sewer treatment plant or high pH level in water supply. By simply adding soda Ash or
correcting the screen chamber the problem could be solve respectively. All in all, the plant are easy
to maintain and reliable for long term use.

Bibliography
Metcalf and Eddy, 2003. Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse, MacGraw hill, New Dehli.