Operation and recovery of a seasonally-loaded UK waste stabilisation pond system

Abstract

. "Operation and recovery of a seasonally-loaded UK waste stabilisation pond system." Water Science & Technology 67, no. 5 (2013) AbstractAn intermittent discharge waste stabilisation pond system was trialled for treatment of a seasonal wastewater load from a campsite. The system showed rapid acclimatisation to incoming load, with chlorophyll-a exceeding 700 mg l -1 within two weeks and filtered and unfiltered effluent biochemical oxygen demand below 20 and 30 mg l -1 respectively. Good performance continued for some weeks, after which photosynthetic oxygenation capacity in the first pond was seriously impaired by a shock loading believed to include fatty material. Inflow to the system was suspended and a surface film was broken up, after which the pond recovered within an 8-day period. Laboratory experiments indicated that interventions such as artificial aeration and dilution with effluent had no beneficial effect although mixing may have increased the rate of recovery.

On the hydrodynamics and treatment efficiency of waste stabilisation ponds: From a literature review to a strategic evaluation framework

“…In fact, regions with distinct seasons (cold winters and warm summers) and extreme climate conditions, such as the continental climate zones, equally appreciate WSPs in wastewater treatment (Heaven and Banks, 2005;Heinke et al, 1991;Price et al, 1995;Ragush et al, 2015;Rockne and Brezonik, 2006;Tilsworth and Smith, 1984;Whalley et al, 2012;Whalley et al, 2007). There have been studies reporting on the performance of WSPs in cold climate regions since 1940s (Banks et al, 2003; Heaven Heaven et al, 2011;Liu et al, 2015;Oleszkiewicz and Sparling, 1987;Prince et al, 1995;Zhang et al, 2013). WSPs in these regions experience an average annual air temperature as low as -12ºC, with extremes of -59 ºC in cold winters to ºC in hot summers (Tilsworth and Smith, 1984).…”