To be revised.

Waste water, due to its various components, needs to be treated to become fresh water again. This treatment is performed in a series of certain processes. The central steps make use of hungry micro-organisms. Now, what does a treatment plant look like?

Set-up of a Waste Water Treatment Plant

Everybody has probably seen a waste water treatment plant. There are usually several bassins, round or rectangular in shape, of sizes not less than some 10 or 100 square meters.

A Scheme of a Waste Water Treatment Plant

Just click on a place that you want to know more about. (Does not work correctly, yet)

This wonderful picture of a waste water treatment plant can be found at the Schule Oberegg in Switzerland. Keep your mouse pointer above any part of the image to see the english translations and to link to a related textpart within the project (Does not work correctly, yet).

Rake with Sand and Grease Trap

This is, of course, the waste water itself, and where it first runs into in the treatment plant. A certain collection tank or bassin is missing here, while not unusual.

Primary Clarification Tank

This area is for first sedimentation and decanting of the waste water. Also, first biological degradation processes may take place.

Sludge

Sludge is very important for biological treatment. First, it fixes micro-organisms for biological waste water treatment; second it degradates itself like compost when biomass has died.

Service Building

Well, this is the place, where treatment plant personnel contributes to the waste water (toilets, etc.) and its treatment (documentation, process monitoring, etc.).

Secondary Settling Tank

In the final step of the waste water treatment the aim is to let all sediments sink down and decant clean water from the top.
That's it!

It may be added at this place that...

H2G2 has a waste water treatment plant of its own. However, biologically you can no longer speek of "micro"-organisms that are calling the sewer their home.

This entry is part of the Project
"Biological Waste Water Treatment".

Links to related pages of the project

• An Overview of Waste Water
• Waste Water Composition
• Waste Water Treatment
• Biological Background for Waste Water Treatment

General Remark by the Author

This is the second revised and complemented version of the article on treatment plant set-up, with an internal and an external link, for the latter is the source site of the image. As in any other article related to the project, I would appreciate any comments, corrections and suggestions on that!

Please be encouraged to tell me whatever you think, might be important in this topic. Take a look at the other distinct entries on related topics. Tell me where to find more information (especially graphical information) inside and outside the guide. You will be awarded with you being mentioned in the later edited entries - if accepted - as fellow researcher.

Version 2.3,
21.12.2000,
HollePolle