Background

The water is found almost everywhere on Earth. Water resources like rivers, lakes, which provide
water contain a lot of pollution, garbage unfit for consumption. To be clean, the water should
undergo a number of treatments necessary to make it drinkable. Water purifiers designed to
eliminate or reduce certain pollutants (nitrates, pesticides, heavy metals, organic materials and etc),
as well as improve the quality and taste of the water.
Natural raw water usually has some impurities. They are quantified by color, turbidity, odor and
taste. These are called organoleptic parameters. It also may contain excessive disinfection by
products (DBPs) precursors, which are quantified by dissolve organic carbon (DOC) or UV
absorbance. So this laboratory is very important to get the idea of most favorable conditions for an
optimum water treatment. During the laboratory experiment, a conventional domestic water
treatment process was undertaken. Here, we did some process from conventional domestic water
treatment. At laboratory we measured color, turbidity, UV absorbance and pH of raw water with
some changes.

Discussion
In table 3(Jar test table), when pH increases from 5 to 9, turbidity decreases from pH 5 to pH 8 and
in pH 9, turbidity increases suddenly. When pH increases from 5 to 6, color increases and then
decreases up to pH 8 and then increases suddenly to pH 9. When pH increases from 5 to 6, UV
absorbance increases and then decreases up to pH 8and then increases suddenly to pH 9.
Here, we should get concave shape of graph for turbidity pH, color pH and UV absorbance pH
graphs. And also, bottom part of concave graph should at pH 7 and optimum values should also at
pH 7. If we see results of table 3, turbidity values have concave shape with respect to pH from 5 to
9. But, bottom part of concave is not at pH 7 and optimum value is also not at pH 7. Color and UV
absorbance values do not have concave shape with respect to pH from 5 to 9. For not getting proper
shapes, there might be some reasons. They are: there might be some human errors, there might be
some instrument errors and before putting raw water in beaker for sedimentation and for
coagulation we might not clean that properly; there for there might be some contaminations. From
table 3 (Jar test table), we determined optimum pH as 8.

From table 2, we can understand, turbidity of raw water and turbidity of raw water after
sedimentation are equal and turbidity after coagulation is less than turbidity of raw water and
turbidity of raw water after 30 minutes. If we see the UV absorbance column in table 2, UV
absorbance of raw water is high and UV absorbance of raw water after sedimentation and UV
absorbance of raw water after coagulation are less than UV absorbance of raw water respectively.
From table 2, we can understand color of raw water after coagulation is low than other two. And
color of raw water after sedimentation is higher than other values. pH value of raw water after
coagulation is higher and pH of raw water is less than pH value of raw water after coagulation and
pH value of raw water after sedimentation is less than other values.
There are some importance processes in conventional water treatment plant. They are: coagulation,
flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. Major reason for doing coagulation is to
remove microorganisms and turbidity. For removing Dissolved Organic Carbon from water; we
have to enhance coagulation. Small particles such as organic compounds, colloids micro organisms
and etc exist in the fresh water bodies. Usually this particle surfaces are negatively charged. The
negative charges should be neutralized to bring them together and make them to settle. This process
is achieved by coagulation. Flocculation is to bring particles into contact, to collide, stick together
and grow to a size that will readily settle. This process is accomplished by slow and gentle mixing.
At the flocculation process enough mixing must be provided to keep the floc in suspension. Too
much of mixing will shear the floc particles and disperses it. At the process of sedimentation,
removal of suspended particles whether such particles already exist in water or are produced by the
action of coagulation-flocculation. Principle of sedimentation is solid liquid separation by
gravitational force Applications in water treatment. We cannot ensure all of the flocs are removed
by settling. For removing non settled particles further treatment is required. So, filtration provides
an opportunity for separation of small flocs and particles. Granular media filtration and membrane
filtration are the two types of filtrations. For inactivating pathogens, we use disinfection process in
conventional water treatment. This is achieved by altering or destroying structures or functions of
essential components within the pathogens.
Conclusion
From this laboratory assessment we got ideas about most favorable conditions of optimum water
treatment. And also we got the ideas about physical water quality parameters. They are turbidity,
color and UV absorbance with respect to pH. This laboratory assessment is the beginning of the
Environmental Engineering. This experience will help us work an Environmental Engineer in
future. From this laboratory knowledge we can start small conventional water treatment plant in our
home.

Background for Laboratory 02

The activated sludge process has the advantage of producing a high quality effluent for a reasonable
operating and maintenance costs. The activated sludge process uses microorganisms to feed on
organic contaminants in wastewater, producing a high-quality effluent. The basic principle behind
all activated sludge processes is that as microorganisms grow, they form particles that clump
together. These particles (floc) are allowed to settle to the bottom of the tank, leaving a relatively
clear liquid free of organic material and suspended solids.
In activated sludge process, biological wastewater treatment process which speeds up waste
decomposition. Activated sludge is added to wastewater, and the mixture is aerated and agitated.
After a certain amount of time, the activated sludge is allowed to settle out by sedimentation and is
disposed of wasted or reused (returned to the aeration tank).
Here, we made waste water with proportion 100:5:1 0f Carbon: Nitrogen: Phosphorous and we
collect microorganisms at Ratmalana waste water treatment plant.
Discussion for Laboratory 02
In table 1, if we see dissolved oxygen concentration of agitated waste water with respect to time,
there is alternately circling in values of dissolved oxygen concentration from 0 minutes to 21
minutes. And from 21 minutes to 36 minutes dissolved oxygen concentration of agitated waste
water decreases. Then, up to 60 minutes also, there is alternately circling in values of dissolved
oxygen concentration.
In table 1, dissolved oxygen concentration of non-agitated waste water decreases from 0 minutes to
15 minutes. Then, dissolved oxygen concentration of non-agitated waste water increases from 15
minutes to 27 minutes. After that, dissolved oxygen concentration of non-agitated waste water
decreases from 33 minutes to 42 minutes. Then, dissolved oxygen concentration of non-agitated
waste water decreases from 45 minutes to 54 minutes. After that, it increases up to 60 minutes.
In table 1, dissolved oxygen concentration of clean water (control sample) decreases from 0 minutes
to 60 minutes overall. But, there are some values which decrease in some few places.
Here, theoretically, dissolved oxygen concentration of agitated waste water and non-agitated waste
water should decrease with respect to time (from 0 minutes to 60 minutes). Because, agitated waste
water and non-agitated waste water have micro organisms here. For growing micro organisms
which need oxygen. So, with respect to time dissolved oxygen concentration of closed certain
amount of water should decrease. There might be some reasons for not fulfilling theoretical
expectations.

They are: there might be some human errors, there might be some instrument errors and we might
not close samples of waste water container properly. If we did not close sample container properly;
oxygen in outer air can dissolve in samples of waste water.
In carbon removal time graph, we can understand; carbon removal concentration of agitated waste
water is higher than others from 0 minutes to 30 minutes. Then, carbon removal concentration of
agitated waste water is between the other values from 30 minutes to 39 minutes. After that, carbon
removal concentration of agitated waste water is higher than other two values from 39 minutes to 60
minutes. Carbon removal concentration of non-agitated waste water is higher than other two values
from 30 minutes to 39 minutes. Carbon removal concentration of non-agitated waste water is
between other two values at other times. And, carbon removal concentration of clean water is
always lower than other two values from 0 minutes to 60 minutes. But, theoretically carbon removal
concentration of agitated waste water should have always higher value. Because, in agitated waste
water sample; agitate that properly. Due to agitate, oxygen which exist on surface of sample is
mixed properly with whole agitated waste water sample. So, micro organisms can grow fast and can
remove large amount of carbon. But, there might be some reasons for this error. They are: there
might be some human errors, there might be some instrument errors and we might not close
samples of waste water container properly. I remember when we did experiment for non-agitated
waste water; after getting some values we mixed oxygen again for maintaining temperature at 24
C. Due to access oxygen, this error might occur.
Bar screens are typically at the entrance of a waste water treatment plant. Bar screen are used to
remove large objects such as rags, plastic bottles, bricks, solids, and toy action figures from the
waste stream entering the treatment plant. Removal of grit is achieved by differential sedimentation,
in which the flow velocity is so controlled that grit may settle, but most of the organics are retained
in suspension. Following screening and grit removal, the waste water flows very slowly through
large tanks called primary clarifiers, where most of the fine settle able solids settle down to the tank
bottom. An aeration tank where the biological reactions occur.An aeration source that provides
oxygen and mixing. A tank, known as the clarifier, where the solids settle and are separated from
treated wastewater. Secondary clarifier then remains to separate out the microorganisms (activated
sludge) so that just clean water is left. Some of the solids collected in the secondary clarifier (return
activated sludge) are sent back to the aeration tank to treat more wastewater and the excess (waste
activated sludge) is pumped to another location in the plant for further treatment. The clean water
that flows out the top of the clarifier is sent along for disinfection. Thickening is a procedure used to
increase the solids content of sludge by removing a portion of the liquid fraction. To illustrate, if
waste activated

sludge, which is typically pumped from secondary tanks with a content of 0.8% solids, can be
thickened to a content of 4% solids, then a fivefold decrease in sludge volume is achieved.
Conclusion for Laboratory 02
From this laboratory assessment we got ideas about waste water treatment process and specially got
ideas about activated sludge process. In activates sludge process, we got ideas about micro
organisms and action of it.
This laboratory assessment is the beginning of the Environmental Engineering. This experience will
help us work an Environmental Engineer in future. From this laboratory knowledge we can start
small conventional waste water treatment plant in our home.