Design and dynamic modeling of waste stabilization ponds

Abstract

Waste stabilization ponds are reviewed as a means to treat wastewater. Processes involved in the three main types of waste stabilization ponds are also reviewed. Empirically derived design guidelines are used to propose a design for a series of lagoons to follow a chemically enhanced primary treatment stage in the city of Tatui, Brazil. An existing dynamic "bio-geo-chemical" waste stabilization pond model is reviewed and modified. The modified model is used to fit data from the anaerobic lagoon of a wastewater treatment facility in Riviera de Sao Lorenco. The model is also fit onto aerated lagoon data from the As-Samra treatment station in Amman, Jordan. Both models fit the data well, characterizing pond behavior satisfactorily. The models are then used to predict effluent quality for two different designs for the treatment of wastewater in Tatui. The model for the aerated lagoon is showed to be insufficient, due to the lack of appropriate data. Recommendations are proposed to improve the model with the available data. The anaerobic/facultative pond model, when used in the predictive mode, prompted a redesign of the proposed anaerobic lagoon for Tatui.