P H I L I P P I N E S A N I T A T I O N A L L I A N C E

Sanitation Technology Information Sheet

S E WA G E L A G O O N S

Sewage lagoons are lined ponds or basins that treat
wastewater by allowing the solids to settle to the bottom of
the pond, and allowing naturally-occurring microorganisms
such as bacteria to digest the organic matter. Also known as
waste stabilization ponds, they are popular because they are
relatively inexpensive and easy to design, install and maintain
and can produce a good quality effluent. Their disadvantage is
that they require a large land area and should be located far
from populated areas.
Pros and Cons of Lagoon Systems
While cost and available land may be the overriding factors
when considering wastewater treatment technology, planners
should consider the following when evaluating lagoon
systems:
1. Advantages
• Relatively inexpensive to construct, operate and
maintain;
• Efficient in treating wastewater;
• May be designed to function without electricity or
mechanical equipment; and
• May be expanded or upgraded to treat larger
volumes.
• Lagoon cells – the lined basins used to treat the
wastewater.
• Outlet structures – piping or weirs used to vary
the depth of water in the lagoon cells and allow
discharge at times when treatment conditions are
optimal.
• Berms – earthen or concrete dikes used to protect
the pond during storms and floods.
Types of Lagoons
Sewage lagoons differ in the amount of dissolved oxygen
in the pond and how it gets there. Some lagoons use
mechanical aerators to add oxygen to the water. Others use
wind and waves to naturally add oxygen, while others use
algae, which produce oxygen as a by-product. By contrast,
some lagoons have no dissolved oxygen at all (referred to
as anaerobic). Detailed technical knowledge is needed to
properly select, design and size lagoons so they will operate
properly.
The following is a simple guide to the four major kinds of
lagoon systems:

2. Disadvantages

• Odors and other nuisances such as mosquito

breeding if not properly maintained;
• If improperly designed or installed, can lead to
groundwater and surface water pollution; and
• Reduced treatment efficiency during cold weather.

Basic Design of Sewage Lagoon Systems

There are several components

of a sewage lagoon system. They
• Facultative lagoons – aerobic in the upper reaches and
include:
anaerobic in the lower portion of the pond. These
systems are usually 2–3 m deep and most commonly
• Headworks – typically
used for community wastewater treatment.
consists of bar screens,
• Aerated lagoons – use mechanical aeration devices
flow metering and
to add oxygen to the water. Because mechanical
distribution piping.
aeration is used, these systems can be deeper and
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treat more wastewater on smaller areas of land.
Aerators can be electric, solar or wind-powered.
• Aerobic ponds – these systems are usually 0.5–1 m
deep. They are used for the final stage of effluent
treatment and use natural diffusion and oxygen
generation by algae to keep the water aerobic.
• Anaerobic ponds – contain no oxygen at all.
These are most commonly used for feedlots,
slaughterhouses, food processing plants and other
generators of high-strength wastewater.
All four types produce sludge, which needs to be removed
regularly. It can be digested or dried on-site. Dried sludge
may be composted and used as a soil amendment if it does
not contain unsafe levels of heavy metals, or it can be placed
in a landfill.
Innovative Lagoon Systems
1. Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond System
The AIWPS ® System does not require separate sludge
management operations and it naturally removes parasite
eggs from the effluent. The system utilizes deep ponds with a
central fermentation pit located at the pond bottom to digest
sludge by fermentation. More information on the AIWPS®
system can be found at: http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu.
A L L I A N C E
2. Partially Aerated Lagoon Systems
Partial mix lagoons save energy by providing only enough
aeration to satisfy the oxygen requirements of the system
and do not keep all total suspended solids in suspension (as
opposed to a complete mix design). The US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) estimates operation costs for a
partial mix pond may be as little as 1/10th that of a complete
mix system. For more information about partial mix ponds,
refer to the EPA website at www.epa.gov.
Controlling Nuisance Conditions
Nuisances at lagoons may include odor,
mosquitoes, weeds in the water and on the banks,
and algae. Nuisances can be controlled by following
these best management practices:
• Equipment maintenance – keep equipment clean and in
good working order.
• Solid waste – place weeds, trash and other debris in
covered containers and dispose in a landfill.
• Mosquitoes – establish a monitoring program and
control mosquito breeding with biological or chemical
methods.
• Algae – remove accumulated algae and dispose as solid
waste, compost or reuse as animal feed.
• Vegetation – cut grass and brush next to the lagoon but
don’t let the clippings fall into the water because they
provide breeding sites for mosquitoes. Small animals
such as goats or sheep may also be used to keep
vegetation low.
Sewage Lagoon Safety
There are many hazards that could occur at sewage lagoons.
These include drowning, electrocution, and contact with
pathogens. For these reasons, all lagoon systems should
be fenced or have controlled access with signs to keep
unauthorized people out.
The berms and dikes should be inspected weekly or monthly
to identify areas of leakage and weakness. A break can result
in flooding of downstream areas and serious health hazards.
All sewage lagoon systems should have an operation and
maintenance plan that includes routine operational tasks,
troubleshooting procedures for controlling nuisances, and
health and safety procedures for workers.
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