Course Catalogue.

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate the characteristics and strength of wastewater based on the types and concentrations of contaminating substances.
• Detect physical, chemical, and biological contaminants of wastewater.
• Determine efficient types of wastewater treatment and disposal systems for small and medium communities.
• Design wastewater treatment systems considering wastewater characteristics, land availability, site location, and economic factors.
• Recognize decision-making criteria and management aspects of wastewater treatment in small and medium communities.

Description
Small and medium communities typically rely on decentralized or on-site systems for the collection, treatment, and reuse or disposal of treated wastewater near the source. These systems are increasingly recognized as viable, cost-effective, and sustainable alternatives to centralized treatment facilities. By employing decentralized approaches, communities can address wastewater management challenges more flexibly and efficiently, adapting to local conditions and resource availability. This approach not only reduces the financial burden but also minimizes the environmental footprint associated with traditional large-scale treatment plants.

This course delves into the unique aspects of wastewater treatment in small and medium communities, highlighting the advantages of managed decentralized systems, including their flexibility in management, adaptability to site-specific conditions, cost-effectiveness, and environmental protection. Participants will explore the operational principles and design considerations of various communal wastewater treatment systems.

Through comprehensive discussions and real-world case studies, you will gain practical insights into implementing effective wastewater treatment solutions tailored to the needs of small and medium communities.

Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for a wide range of professionals involved in wastewater management and environmental protection. Municipal planners, designers, and operators of decentralized wastewater systems will gain valuable insights into optimizing their processes.

Plant managers and facility/utility engineers will benefit from advanced strategies for effective system management. Consulting engineers, technicians, and technologists will enhance their technical expertise in designing and operating efficient treatment systems.

Additionally, environmental consultants, public health officials, regulatory agency staff, and sustainability coordinators will find this course beneficial for understanding the latest trends and best practices in wastewater treatment for small and medium communities. Join us to stay ahead in your field and drive innovation in wastewater treatment solutions.

Course Syllabus

Day I

Wastewater Characteristics and Water Pollutants

• Physical, chemical and microbiological parameters of wastewater
• Water pollutants: dissolved, non-dissolved, organic and inorganic contaminants, persistent pollutants
• Typical characteristics of municipal and industrial wastewater

Centralized and Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Population centre and rural area classification
• Centralized and decentralized concepts of wastewater treatment
• Centralized wastewater treatment systems
• Conventional non-discharging (soil-based) decentralized wastewater treatment systems
• Alternative (enhanced) soil-based decentralized wastewater treatment systems
• Effluent dispersal in soil-based decentralized wastewater treatment systems
• Discharging decentralized plants

Decision-making Criteria in Wastewater Treatment

• Decision-making stages
• Criteria for selecting a wastewater treatment system
• Elements for success in wastewater treatment program
• Costs, permits, legal aspects
• Typical reasons for the failure of decentralized wastewater treatment systems

Soil-based Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Components of conventional and advanced soil-based wastewater treatment systems
• Septic tanks: structure, design and operation
• Subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWIS): types, components and design
• Maintenance aspects of conventional soil-based treatment systems

Filtration Systems in Advanced Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Types of filters used in water treatment applications
• Filtration units in decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS)
• Sand filters and non-sand filters
• Single-pass and recirculating sand filters

Day 2

Constructed Wetlands in Advanced Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Types of constructed wetlands: surface-flow and subsurface-flow wetlands
• Physical, chemical and biological processes of contaminant removal in constructed wetlands
• Structure and design criteria of constructed wetlands
• Removal mechanisms for specific contaminants (organic matter, suspended solids, metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, pathogens) in constructed wetlands

Biological Wastewater Treatment Processes: Applications and Operation Principles

• Major components of wastewater treatment plants that use biological processes
• Activated sludge (AS) process: structure, process parameters, design and operational aspects
• Sequencing batch reactors (SBR): operation principles and attributes
• Trickling filters: structure, process parameters, design and operational aspects
• Rotating biological contactors (RBC): operation principles and design criteria
• Membrane bioreactors (MBR): structure, process parameters, design and operational aspects
• Package plants

Wastewater Treatment Lagoons

• Lagoon systems and their operation principles
• Naturally-aerated and mechanically-aerated lagoons: structure, design and operation
• Anaerobic and facultative lagoons: structure, design and operation
• Construction criteria of lagoons

Disinfection Processes in Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Mechanisms of disinfection processes
• Properties of disinfectants
• Chlorination
• Ozonation
• UV irradiation

Management Aspects of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Critical elements of management programs
• Proposed levels of management
• Responsibilities of a decentralized wastewater treatment management program

Concluding Remarks

Discussion Period: Questions and Answers