Given the schematic flow and data of activated sludge below.

Aeration Basin 1

Clarifier 1

Aeration Basin 2
Effluent

Influent

Aeration Basin 3

Clarifier 2

Aeration Basin 4

Plant Inflow:

20 MGD

Clarifier:

2 MG

BOD5:

250 mg/L

Core SS:

600 mg/L

NH3-N:

30 mg/L

WAS Conc.:

7,500 mg/L

Aeration Basin: 6 MG

WAS Flow:

110 GPM

MLSS:

Effluent TSS is negligible

3,000 mg/L

Where: MGD = million gallons per day

GPM = gallons per minute

MG = million gallons

Core SS = core suspended solids in clarifier

WAS = wasted activated sludge

TSS = total suspended solids

MLSS = mixed-liquor suspended solids

Required:
1. Calculate the hydraulic retention time of the aeration basin. Then calculate the hydraulic
retention time of the clarifier. Express answers in hours.
2. Calculate the Space Loading to the Aeration Basins
3. Calculate the F/M ratio
4. Calculate the SRT and the MCRT for this system. How much do they differ?
5. Calculate the total oxygen (not air) demand on the system in one day. Use a value of 1.2 lbs of
oxygen per pound of BOD and 4.33 lbs of oxygen per lb of ammonia.

6. If the target MCRT is 10 days, what should be the wasting rate be adjusted to? Up or down?
7. Assume that a total of four aeration basins make up the 6 MG of volume. If one basin is taken
off-line and the MLSS concentration does not change in the other three basins, what is the new
food to microorganism ratio?
8. If each of the aeration basins is 16 feet deep and 33 feet wide, how long is each basin? Round to
the nearest whole foot.
9. If there are two clarifiers and they are each 75 feet in diameter, what is the surface overflow
rate? Express your result in GPM/sq. ft.
Solution:
1. =

or =

For Aeration Basin:

=

6
= 0.30 .
20

2
= 0.10 .
20

For Clarifier:

Therefore, HRT for aeration is 7.2 hours and HRT of clarifiers is 2.4 hours

(250)(20)(8.34)
=
= .
1,000 3
(802.139)(1,000 3 )
,
= 5 = (250)(20)(8.34) = .
(3,000)(6)(8.34)

(3,000)(6)(8.34)
(3,000)(6)(8.34)
=
= (7,500)(110 )(8.34) = (7,500)(0.1584 )(8.34)

2. =
3.
4.

= .

+

[(3,000)(6)(8.34)] + [(600)(2)(8.34)]
=
= .
(7,500)(0.1584 )(8.34)
Note: The bigger the difference between SRT and MCRT means bigger sludge blanket
5. First Step: Calculate for lbs BOD5 & lbs NH3-N coming into the plant
lbs BOD5 = (250)(20)(8.34) = 41,700 lbs x 1.2 lbs O2/lb BOD5 = 50,040 lbs
lbs NH3-N = (30)(20)(8.34) = 5,004 lbs x 4.33 lbs O2/lb NH3-N= 21,667 lbs
=

Total oxygen demand = 50,040 + 21,667 = 71,707 lbs O2

6. =

[(3,000)(6)(8.34)] + [(600)(2)(8.34)]

= 16,012.8 /
= ( . )( )(8.34)

10 =

(16,012.8)
= .
(7,500)(8.34)

7. 6 MG for four (4) basins which means 1.5 MG for each basin
(250)(20)(8.34)
=
(3,000)(3 1.5)(8.34) = .
8. Basins Dimensions:
= = 3316
If each basins holds 1.5 MG (converted to ft3, 200,535 ft3)

200,535
=
=
= .
(33)(16)
9. The Surface Overflow Rate (SOR) is defined as the amount of flow moving through the area of
the clarifier.
First Step: Find the total available surface area of both clarifier
2

= 2 = (3.1416)(752) = , .
There are two clarifiers, so the total available surface area is 8,835.5 ft2
Next Step: Convert influent flow from MGD to GPM
106
1
(20 ) (
) = 13,889
)(
1 1,440 .
13,889
=
= . /
8,835.5