Quality of surface water and generation of sludge at water treatment plants

Abstract

Among the waste produced daily by communities are those resulting from the treatment of water for public supply, with local specificities that reflect the characteristics and uses of the land. Despite the continuous generation and inadequate disposal still current in Brazil, there is little information on these residues. The data related to the composition of these sludges are essential for the study of alternatives for beneficial uses and for determining the risks to the environment and human health from inadequate disposal. It is in this context that the present study was developed, with the objective of identifying the physical-chemical characteristics of sludge produced in water treatment plants (WTPs) and of verifying the presence of these elements in the waters of the source used for supply. Such research was carried out through a case study in two WTPs in the state of São Paulo that perform surface abstraction. Therefore, in each of the WTPs, samples of densified sludge, representative of the dry and rainy periods, were characterized. The chemical findings of the sludge have been compared to the historical series of a decade of monitoring of the water quality of the sources of these WTPs. Among the main results, concentrations above the reference limits for the inert residues of aluminum, iron, manganese and barium in sludge are highlighted, as well as the existence of iron and manganese in the raw water collected and the variations in the concentrations of iron, sodium and manganese in the sludge due to the climatic conditions.

Microbiological composition of sludge generated in water treatment plants

“…Two sludge samples were collected, before and after the centrifugation process in WTP 1 and 2 (Fiore et al, 2020). The first sampling took place in October 2018 and the second in August 2019.…”

“…In Fiore et al (2020), the analytical methods used to characterize the organic and inorganic parameters of the sludge samples and the physical-chemical data for the gross mass, leachate and solubilized extract are presented. The analyses were carried out by different laboratories accredited by the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality, in accordance with standards 10004, 1005 and 10006 of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT, 2004a;2004b;2004c).…”

Influence of Calcination and Comminution of Drinking Water Treatment Sludge on the Properties of Ceramics

“…Approximately 500 m³/s of water is used for drinking water production in Brazil, which is expected to increase by 26% by 2030 owing to the growth of the urban population [6]. During this process, DWTS generation is estimated to range from 260,000 to 800,000 m³/day [7]. Although Brazilian legislation recommends the reuse or recycling of solid waste to reduce its environmental impacts [8], most of the DWTS generated in Brazil are still discharged into rivers [9].…”

Using water treatment sludge to Improve Geotechnical Engineering Properties of Soils: A Review

“…This waste comprises both organic and inorganic components [7], primarily Fe, Al, Mn, and Cu [8], as well as bacteria [10] and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [9]. Ferric or aluminum https://ajes.uoanbar.edu.iq/ oxide-based coagulants are often used in water station facilities in Brazil [11], leading to the sludge's popular names of ferric sludge and aluminum sludge. In Brazil, sludge from water treatment plants is considered a non-hazardous waste [12], and its producers should adhere to regulations that encourage reduced production, reversal, and final disposal of unrecoverable components [13].…”