CHAPTER 11 WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS

11.1Introdution
Waste stabilization ponds are largely shallow basins in which raw wastewater is treated by
entirely natural processes involving both algae and bacteria. Because these processes are
unaided by man, the rate of oxidation is slow. As a result, they have long hydraulic
retention times that require large tracts of land compared to conventional wastewater
treatment methods (e.g. activated sludge process). WSP are the preferred method of water
treatment in developing countries where sufficient land in normally available and where
temperature is most favorable for their operation. There are three principal types of
ponds; namely,
(i) Anaerobic
(ii) Facultative
(iii) Maturation

Advantage of WSP
1. Simple to construct (mainly earth moving), operate and maintain (cutting grass on
embankments and removing scum and floating objects).
2. Low cost in comparison with other wastewater treatment options especially no
mechanical equipment.
3. High efficiency over 90% removal of BOD, and SS. Especially efficient in removing
feacal pathogens.
4. Robustness due to long hydraulic retention time, they can absorb shockwave.
5. Unskilled labor
6. Low energy requirements mainly sunlight

Disadvantages
1. Odour release All overloaded microbiological wastewater treatment methods have
odor problems. Proper design, operation and maintenance reduce odour problems.
2. Land require much more land; cf. one time capital outlay and recurrent power costs.

11.2 Anaerobic Ponds

The primary function is BOD removal which is achieved by the sedimentation of settleable
solids and their subsequent anaerobic digestion in the resulting sludge layer. Anaerobic
digestion releases gasses (Equation 1) which make makes some material float on the
surface as scum. Scum on the surface cuts off entry of oxygen into the ponds and helps to
keep the ponds anaerobic.
C6H12O6 3CO2 + 3CH4
180 g 48 g

Design criteria
Design at the moment is purely empirical
11.3 Facultative Ponds
In facultative ponds BOD is removed by the normal process of aerobic biological oxidation

Waste + oxygen bacteria Oxidized waste + New bacteria cells

The basic difference between facultative ponds and other biological treatment processes
(such as the biofilter is that O2 supply for bacteria metabolism comes not from the
atmosphere but from photosynthetic activity of algae. To grow and so produce oxygen,
algae needs carbon dioxide and this is supplied as an end product of bacteria metabolism.
Thus, there is a cycle of interdependence or symbiosis between ponds bacteria and algae.

Algae Bacteria Symbiosis

BOD Removal in a Facultative Pond

Design
The best way to design a facultative pond is to assume that it is a completely mixed
biological reactor in which BOD removal can be reasonably represented by a simple first
order kinetic model. The governing equation can be derived as follows.
Rate of accumulation = Inflow outflow + Consumption
For steady state conditions:
11.4 Maturation Ponds
Usually for polishing effluent from facultative ponds. Recall the design standards.

BOD < 20 mg/L

SS < 30 mg/L (Suspended solids)
Faecal coliforms count less than 5,000 per 100 ml
Field experience show two (2) maturation ponds in series with a retention time of 7 days
are necessary to reduce the BOD from 50 60 mg/l to below 25 mg/l

Design
Removal of faecal bacteria in a pond is given by the following equation.
11.5 Pond Construction, Operation and Maintenance
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