Self Purification of Streams

INTRODUCTION
The self purification of natural water systems is a complex
process that often involves physical, chemical, and biological
processes working simultaneously. The amount of dissolved
Oxygen (DO) in water is one of the most commonly used
indicators of a river health. As DO drops below 4 or 5 mg/L the
forms of life that can survive begin to be reduced. A minimum of
about 2.0 mg/L of dissolved oxygen is required to maintain higher life
forms. A number of factors affect the amount of DO available in a
river (a) Oxygen demanding wastes remove DO (b) plants add DO
during day but remove it at night (c) respiration of organisms
removes oxygen (d) In summer, rising temperature reduces solubility
of oxygen, while lower flows reduce the rate at which oxygen enters
the water from atmosphere.
 Factors affecting Self Purification
•  Dilution: When sufficient dilution water is available in the
receiving water body, where the wastewater is discharged, the DO
level in the receiving stream may not reach to zero or critical DO
due to availability of sufficient DO initially in the river water
before receiving discharge of wastewater.
•  Current: When strong water current is available, the discharged
wastewater will be thoroughly mixed with stream water preventing
deposition of solids. In small current, the solid matter from the
wastewater will get deposited at the bed following decomposition
and reduction in DO.
•  Temperature: The quantity of DO available in stream water is
more in cold temperature than in hot temperature. Also, as the
activity of microorganisms is more at the higher temperature,
hence, the self-purification will take less time at hot temperature
than in winter.
 Factors affecting Self Purification
•  Sunlight: Algae produces oxygen in presence of sunlight due to
photosynthesis. Therefore, sunlight helps in purification of stream
by adding oxygen through photosynthesis.
•  Rate of Oxidation: Due to oxidation of organic matter
discharged in the river DO depletion occurs. This rate is faster at
higher temperature and low at lower temperature. The rate of
oxidation of organic matter depends on the chemical composition
of organic matter.
Oxygen Sag Curve
The oxygen sag or oxygen deficit in the stream at any point of time
during self purification process is the difference between the
saturation DO content and actual DO content at that time.

Oxygen deficit, D = Saturation DO – Actual DO

 Oxygen Sag Curve (Continued)
The saturation DO value for fresh water depends upon the
temperature and total dissolved salts present in it; and its value varies
from 14.62 mg/L at 0oC to 7.63 mg/L at 30oC, and lower DO at higher
temperatures. The DO in the stream may not be at saturation level and
there may be initial oxygen deficit ‘Do’. At this stage, when the
effluent with initial BOD load Lo, is discharged in to stream, the DO
content of the stream starts depleting and the oxygen deficit (D)
increases. The variation of oxygen deficit (D) with the distance
along the stream, and hence with the time of flow from the point
of pollution is depicted by the ‘Oxygen Sag Curve’ (Figure 12.1). The
major point in sag analysis is point of minimum DO, i.e.,
maximum deficit. The maximum or critical deficit (Dc) occurs at the
inflexion points of the oxygen sag curve.
Oxygen Sag Curve
 Deoxygenation and Reoxygenation Curves
When wastewater is discharged in to the stream, the DO level in the
stream goes on depleting. This depletion of DO content is known as
deoxygenation. The rate of deoxygenation depends upon the amount
of organic matter remaining (Lt), to be oxidized at any time t, as well
as temperature (T) at which reaction occurs. The variation of depletion
of DO content of the stream with time is depicted by the
deoxygenation curve in the absence of aeration. The ordinates below
the deoxygenation curve indicate the oxygen remaining in the natural
stream after satisfying the bio-chemical demand of oxygen.
When the DO content of the stream is gradually consumed due to
BOD load, atmosphere supplies oxygen continuously to the water,
through the process of re-aeration or reoxygenation, i.e., along with
deoxygenation, re-aeration is continuous process.
 Deoxygenation and Reoxygenation Curves
(Continued)
The rate of oxygenation depends on:
•  Depth of water in the stream, more for shallow stream
•  Velocity of flow in the stream, less for stagnant water
• Oxygen deficit below saturation DO: since solubility rate depends on
difference between saturation concentration and existing concentration
of DO.
• Temperature of water: solubility is lower at higher temperature and
also saturation concentration is less at higher temperature.
Sag Curve Analysis – Streeter - Phelps Equation
Sag Curve Analysis – Streeter Phelps Equation
Graphical Representation of Streeter Phelps Equation

Note: Deoxygenation and reoxygenation occurs simultaneously. After

critical point, the rate of re-aeration is greater than the deoxygenation
and after some distance the DO will reach to original level and stream
will not have any effect due to addition of wastewater. At time t=0 at x
= 0.
Determination of Critical DO Deficit (Dc) and Xc
Determination of Critical DO Deficit (Dc) and Xc
Numerical Example
Numerical Example
Numerical Example
Numerical Example
Effluent Disposal and utilization
The sewage after treatment may be disposed either into a water body
such as lake, stream, river, estuary, and ocean or on to land. It may also
be utilized for several purposes such as (a) Industrial reuse or
reclaimed sewage effluent cooling system, boiler feed, process water,
etc., (b) Reuse in agriculture and horticulture, watering of lawns, golf
courses and similar purpose, and (c) Ground water recharge for
augmenting ground water resources for downstream users or for
preventing saline water intrusion in coastal areas.
Status of wastewater generation, collection and treatment in Indian
metro
The prime cause of critical unsanitary conditions in many cities in
India is due the lack of facilities to collect wastewater and to dispose
off after treatment. Data on wastewater generation and collection is less
when compared to information on water supply. Owing to this it is
difficult to assess the total pollution potential. As per CCB reports the
total wastewater generated 23 metro cities is 9,275 MLD [CPCB,
1997].
Status of wastewater generation, collection and treatment in Indian
metro (continued)
Out of this, about 58.5% is generated by the first four metro cities, viz.
Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Chennai. The city of Bombay generates
the maximum wastewater to the tune of 2,456 MLD and Madurai
generates the least with 48 MLD [CPCB, 1997]. From the available
data it may be seen that the ratio of industrial to municipal wastewater
varies from 0.06% to 2%. Out of the 23 metro-cities, 19 cities have
sewerage coverage for more than 75% of the population and the
remaining 4 cities have more than 50% coverage. On the whole 78%
of the total metro population is provided with sewerage facility,
compared to 63% in 1988 [CPCB, 1997].
Out of 9275 MLD of total wastewater generated, only 31% (2,923 mld)
is treated before letting out and the rest i.e., 6,352 MLD is disposed
off untreated. Three cities have only primary treatment facilities and
thirteen have primary and secondary facilities. The municipalities
dispose off their treated or partly treated or untreated wastewater
into natural drains joining rivers or lakes or used on land for
irrigation or fodder cultivation or into the sea or combination there of.
Status of wastewater generation, collection and treatment in Indian
metro (continued)
It is found that in 12 metro-cities there is some level of organized
sewage farming under the control of government or local body. The
municipal corporations of Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur,
Madras, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Surat, Vadodara and Varanasi have
sewage farms organized by government/farmers and controlled by
Government/Municipal Corporation/irrigation departments. The cost of
sewage charged ranged from Rs.400/ hectare/year in Jaipur to Rs.75/
hectare/year in Hyderabad. The average sale price of sewage works out
to be Rs.188/hectare/year for metro-cities.
Economic value of sewage
The sewage contains nutrients, which if not optimally reused may
cause eutrophication in receiving water bodies, thus causing their
premature ageing. Hence, instead of directly discharging the effluents
into water bodies it can be used for irrigation or fodder cultivation. The
economic value of sewage can be assessed based on its nutrient value.
This will guide for considering sewage as a source of income, and to
make sewage treatment economically viable.
The nutrient value of sewage in terms of nitrogen 30 mg/L, phosphate
7.5 mg/L, and potassium 25 mg/L is provided by CPCB [1997]. The
total value of nutrient in sewage assuming @ Rs. 4220/- per tone of
nutrient (as per 1996 cost), works out to be Rs. 1018 million, i.e., Rs.
890.6 million towards nutrients plus Rs. 127.4 million toward the cost
of water.
A realistic rate for tariff towards sewage supplied for sewage farming
should consider the cost of nutrients apart from the cost of water
supplied.
Economic value of sewage (continued)
At present the sewage is charged at average rate of Rs. 188/hectare/
annum, which is towards the cost of irrigation water only. If nutrients in
the sewage are also to be accounted for, then an additional cost of Rs.
263/MLD or Rs. 1315 per hectare/annum should be levied for
application levels of 500 cm per hectare per annum. Hence, the tariff
should be levied at Rs. 1503 per hectare/annum (Rs.1315 + 188)
from cultivators [CPCB, 1997].