Sabah-Waste-Water-2013.pdf

8/14/2019 Sabah-Waste-Water-2013.pdf

1/36

A NEW CHAPTER FOR SABAH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT &ECO-SUSTAINABILITY

INNOVATIVE WASTE WATER TREATMENT APPLICATIONS

FOR ISLAND & COASTAL RESORTS

Don E. Baker Jr.Marine Resources & Aquaculture Consultant

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Trinidad SOOM / KM 129 / Bohol, Philippines 6324

OCTOBER 2011
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/36

2 | P a g e W A S T E W A T E R T R E A T M E N T M B B R - H T S 2 0 1 1

Across the Globe today the continued increase of human settlements on coastal and islandregions, especially in tropical settings, the lack of properly treated sewage emanating from thesecommunities has been suggested through research venues that it is human waste that is the causefor coral diseases that are currently devastating coral reef ecosystems (Nat. Geo. News / June 27,2002). Land-based pollution as untreated sewage from urban areas, coastal development, islandvillages, and runoff from chemicals used in agriculture cause sedimentation and mass algal growthwhich further threatens coral reefs. Currently 22% of the worlds coral reefs are under medium tohigh risk from these land-based sources of pollution.

Our Global coral reef ecosystems cover an area of over 280,000 km 2 and support thousandsof species in what many describe as th e rainforests of the seas as well as supporting tens ofmillions of humans that rely on the same for their daily sustenance.

Coral reefs benefit the environment and people in numerous ways by

Protecting shores from the impact of waves and from storms;

Providing benefits to humans in the form of food and medicine;

Providing economic benefits to local communities from tourism.

The chart above depicts the breakdown of component values that contribute to the global annualvalue of coral ecosystems (NOAA, Coral Reef Conservation Program,

http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/ )

INTRODUCTION
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/


3/36


Healthy coral ecosystems support local businesses and economies, as well as provide jobs through tourism and recreation. Every year, millions of scuba divers andsnorkelers visit coral reefs to enjoy their abundant sea life. Even more tourists visit thebeaches protected by these reefs. Local economies receive billions of dollars from thesevisitors to reef regions through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants,

and other businesses based near reef ecosystems. One estimate places the total globalvalue of coral-reef based recreation and tourism at $9.6 billion of the total global netbenefit of coral reefs.

(Cesar, H.J.S., Burke, L., and Pet-Soede, L. 2003. The Economics of Worldwide

Coral Reef Degradation .)

Well over 20% of the worlds coral reef ecosystems have been destroyed without any hopeof their recovery or rehabilitation. They are lost and gone forever. Furthermore, some 24% of theworlds coral reefs are pending total collapse caused by contin ual human presence anddevelopment. The reefs of the nearby Philippine ARMM Province of Tawi Tawi have been ravishedwith species specific over harvesting. Large fishes and groupers are rare to be seen throughout theprovince. Sea cucumbers are mostly extinct in and around the main islands.

The future is horrific. There is no hope of reefs surviving to even mid -century in any formthat we now recognize. If, and when, they go, they will take with them about one-third ofthe worlds marine biodiversity. T hen there is a domino effect, as reefs fail so will otherecosystems. This is the path of a mass extinction event, when most life, especially tropicalmarine life, goes extinct.

Charlie Veron, quoted by David Adam, How global warming sealed the fate of theworlds coral reefs , The Guardian, September 2, 2009

For tourism to flourish at or near a coral reef ecosystem, freshwater is the main basic needfor human beings to survive, whereas, food may limited and even suspended for days at a time.However, freshwater is needed on daily basis for us to survive. With the advent of coastal and islandtourism facilities in the Semporna region as a serious and pertinent example, freshwater is neededto sustain its growing industry in greater quantities to support more and more visiting tourists.
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfhttp://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfhttp://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/02/coral-catastrophic-futurehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/02/coral-catastrophic-futurehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/02/coral-catastrophic-futurehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/02/coral-catastrophic-futurehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/02/coral-catastrophic-futurehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/02/coral-catastrophic-futurehttp://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfhttp://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfhttp://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdf


4/36


If it were for only drinking and limited cooking, the daily basic need would be approximately5 litres per person per day. (Bromberek, Zbigniew, 2009) Unfortunately, the majority use offreshwater is primarily used for showers, toilet flushing, and general rinsing. This puts the dailyfreshwater use per person to be no less than 150 L. The reuse of non-toilet waste water (greywater) is often utilized for hotel and resort landscaping but rarely for reasons of costs incurred for

installing such a system. The lack of addressing adequate treatment regimens is tantamount tokilling the very reefs that are meant to sustain the dive tourism industry.

The water that comes out from the kitchen after cleaning the utensils etc. contains theresiduals of washing powder and oil, food particles etc. The water which comes out from bathroomsalso contains soap detergents dust, dirt etc. As both of them does not include urine and faecalmatter (human excreta, night-soil) so termed as non-foul wastewater. The water that carries excretaalong with it, i.e. from the water closets is known as foul wastewater. Actually these days thebathrooms and WCs are constructed in a single unit known as the toilet, so wastewater from a toiletis foul wastewater. The term foul here means the readily biodegradable matter that quicklydegrades and results in offensive odours and gases such as methane. The common use of septic

chambers is usually the first chosen waste water treatment method, whereas, it is simply a tank withvaried inlet and out ports.

A septic tank is a combination of sedimentation and digestion mechanism where the sewageis held for 24 or more hours (retention time). During this period the suspended solids are biologicallyliquefied and those that are not settle down to the bottom. The direct outflow of the sewage isrestricted by the provision of baffle walls or inner chambers. As the tank is built or installedunderground and there is no oxygen (and sunlight) so the anaerobic digestion of settled solids(sludge) and sewage takes place. The bacteria decompose even the dissolved organic matter andthus reduce the BOD. This results in the reduction in the volume of sludge and release of gases likecarbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulphide. Appropriate arrangement for the ventilation of the

septic tank is often made but also often neglected.

(Dr Frank Wilson Diagram)


5/36


The effluent of the septic tank, although clarified to a large extent, will still containappreciable amount of dissolved and suspended putrescible organic solids and pathogens .Therefore the effluent of septic tanks should be carefully disposed of but often it is not treatedfurther and injected into an underground leach field which creates further problems with regards toground water resources, freshwater wells, rivers, streams, and other water shed features.

Septic tanks are difficult to properly maintain in tropical environments and require de-sludging on an annual basis. Effluent even from properly maintained septic tanks is high in nutrientconstituents, high in pathogens-bacteria, and extremely harmful to coral reef ecology; causingsuspended algae blooms as well as aiding in benthic macro-algae to compete with live coralcoverage. Though commonly used in island villages and resorts in the Semporna region, septic tanksare primarily designed for in ground use where the effluent is injected into the ground-soil via aleach field. Septic effluent water should never be directly discharged to the sea or water sheds.

Water is a very good carrier of many diseases producing organisms (pathogens); be it freshor salt water. If urine or faecal matter (excreta) is mixed in a body of water and the person

contributing it has some disease like cholera, gastroentitis, infectious hepatitis jaundice, typhoid,etc., it will infect the same water medium. Anybody using, swimming, diving in that water withouttreatment (disinfection) is liable to catch the same disease.

(Chia, L.S. 2000. Overview of Impact of Sewage on the Marine Environment of East Asia: Social and EconomicOpportunities. EAS/RCU Technical Report Series No. 15.)


6/36


Human faecal contamination of near shore and off-shore coral reef environmentshas been clearly demonstrated in the Florida Keys and elsewhere in the Caribbeanand is associated with waterborne disease in humans. In response, the state of

Florida passed legislation to improve water quality in the Florida Keys by requiringthe upgrade of all wastewater facilities, including in-ground receptacles, to thebest available technology or to advanced wastewater treatment at an estimatedcost of $939 million.

(Sutherland KP, Shaban S, Joyner JL, Porter JW, Lipp EK (2011) Human Pathogen Shown toCause Disease in the Threatened Eklhorn Coral Acropora palmata.)

(Chia, L.S. 2000. Overview of Impact of Sewage on the Marine Environment of East Asia: Social and EconomicOpportunities. EAS/RCU Technical Report Series No. 15.)


7/36


Within Asia, some 90 per cent of sewage is untreated and is discharged directly intofreshwater bodies and the sea. There are many problems encountered in the implementation ofsewage management including inadequate waste management legislation and regulations,ineffective enforcement of regulations, insufficient or inadequate waste management facilities andservices, and lack of skilled human resources and equipment in the public and private sectors. (Chia,

2000)The fundamental requirements of an effective sewage management programme are a

comprehensive set of legislation and well-endowed environmental institutions empowered by law.In general, there is no separate legal provision for dealing with sewage in all of the countriesreviewed. The control of sewage pollution is covered under the overall environmental law orlegislation governing water pollution.

Most countries reviewed have expressed concern with the problem of sewage because ofthe impact on human health and quality of life more than as a concern for environmentaldegradation and resource damage. Application of the polluter -pays principle and the adoption ofenvironmental impact assessments are directed at business enterprises.

A review of the use of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirement as a means toaddress the control of sewage pollution in the countries surveyed is given. EIAs are mandated inseven of the countries reviewed in this report. In the cases of Cambodia and Singapore, EIAs arerequired on an ad hoc basis. Details of the application of EIAs in Malaysia where they have becomean accepted practice are presented notwithstanding shortcomings and difficulties.

Most cities in the East Asian region have master land-use plans for residential, commercialand industrial and other uses. With few exceptions, there is a general lack of physical planning andadequate financial and technical resources to implement modern large-scale sewerage andwastewater treatment plants. (Chia, 2000)

Without doubt, the key causes of coral reef decline in Sabah have been the over-development of the coastal areas and the over-use & abuse of coral reef resources. Migration tocoastal areas for reasons of growing populations, aquaculture enterprises, and tourist developmentshas created a surge in land use expansion leading to clearance of important coastal ecosystems suchas mangroves and sea grass beds. Unregulated inland and coastal construction, such as hotels, malls,and oil palm plantations has increased sedimentation in the coastal waters and is destroying Sabahsreefs as light levels in the water column are reduced and reefs are smothered. Though overfishingand destructive fishing practices have also decimated coral reef fish populations and their habitats,unregulated land clearance for agriculture can cause massive coral reef die-offs through rain causedsediment and chemical run-off from land to the reef.

Untreated sewage and chemical agriculture run-off (e.g. pesticides, herbicides andfertilizers) have caused nutrient loading into Sabahs coral reef waters, leading to algal blooms andeutrophication that continues to adversely affect the States coral reef ecosystems. Sewageemanating from the off shore tourist developments can be a model for change and rectification forall of Sabah if there is a will to address the problems and issues and not put it at the back of thehouse; out of sight and out of mind.


8/36


Pulau Mabul, located on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia, is a good example of unrestrictedhousing and tourism development that has undergone from being a simple offshore island with alimited Bajau community to its present 21 st century state as a refugee colony of illegal immigrantsfrom the Philippines alongside several resorts operations.

From a well wooded island in years past, Pulau Mabul has undergone almost totaldeforestation of its coconut trees to allow / accommodate the massive influx of human inhabitants;water villages, over water resorts, island villages, island resorts.

For the past nearly three decades, Pulau Mabul has undergone a massive environmentalchange brought on by a series of social events that have include war in the Philippines to theevolutionary development of Sempornas regional tourism industry. The latest event was theremoval of all private resort operations from Pulau Sipadan and putting the same island under strictvisitor controls managed by Sabah Parks.

The Asian dive Mecca of Sipadan started to become internationally kn own in the 1970safter Jacques Cousteaus visit there. As a result of this event, dive business operators brought outtheir own building materials and support equipment and planted their own flags. By the turn of thecentury, Sipadan was a maze of self-supporting resorts; from high class types to simple backpackerarrangements. Solid waste & trash started to collect behind some of these resorts. Sewage to somewas but a cement block lined pit situated behind the rooms with a semi rotten piece of plywoodcovering it. Generator waste oil and lubricants were also haphazardly dumped in the islandsinterior forest or jungle. By 2005, the environmental situation at Sipadan became acutely untenableafter years of international complaints for tourist facilities operating independently, inefficiently andoften competing for additional island space. The Malaysian Government finally issued orders for allprivate resorts to remove their facilities completely from the island.

Today, P. Sipadan, managed by Sabah Parks, can only be visited via permits issued to nomore than 120 tourists per day, be they divers, snorkelers, or simply visitors. Though the islandsgroundwater is still contaminated from years of waste oil, associated human use chemicals, thevegetation is returning as well as the bird populations that once thrived there 40 to 50 years ago.

THE PROBLEMS AT PRESENT


9/36


Will the P. Sipadan scenario noted above happen to P. Mabul? What is P. Mabuls currentstate with regards to efficient planning for infrastructures along with the installation of adequatesolid and liquid waste receiving and treatment systems?

Philippine refugees originally from the MNLF & AFP war in the 70s & 80s brought in largepopulation of documented families and people. Today, the influx of Filipinos continues now forreasons of seeking better economic opportunities in Sabah, Malaysia as well as family memberswishing to stay with the older refugees.

Almost overnight, water villages came into being, whereas, building over the water wasmore feasible for reasons of native land rights & titles for the island itself preventing refugees frombuilding on the island.

The basic necessities of food were obtained through fishing and seafood harvesting off theislands reefs. Drinking water was collected from roof water catchments as well as from dug islandwells to tap into the ground water lens system. Fish catches were eventually traded for non-seafood type food and commodities brought in from the mainland; rice, soaps, detergents, oils, fuel.

Life became routine and sustainable with families growing to become their own clans. Unfortunatelywith a rise in human population there is an equally rise in human waste; both solid and liquid.

Washing clothes as well as dumping waste water be it cooking oils, food, or humanexcrement & urine into the water around and beneath the water villages has greatly affected theshallow water reef flats around the entire island with classic eutrophication conditions of densealgae and unnatural macro-algae growth.

Even though a few of the small water village dive resorts have installed septic tanks beneaththeir chalets, the same septic chambers discharge directly into the shallow water beneath andaround the same chalets.

Perhaps through a lack of alternative sewage treatment applications available to resort andhotel operators, Sabahs tourism industry has consistently utilized septic technology as the mainprimary treatment. As noted in the preceding Introduction, the effluent discharge from septic tanksis still considered sewage; packed with high level constituents of nitrogen, phosphates, andpathogens.


10/36


Septic tanks commonly utilized beneath chalets / roomsWater Village type Resorts

Septic tanks by themselves are ineffective at removing nitrogen compounds that havepotential to cause algal blooms in receiving waters; this can be remedied by using a nitrogen-reducing technology, or by simply ensuring that the leach field is properly sited to prevent directentry of effluent into bodies of water.


11/36


A fixed biomass system which has recently aroused interest in the field of wastewatertreatment is the MBBR technology (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor). Its principle working feature is thegrowth of a fixed biofilm on plastic elements or carriers which move freely in the aerated biologicalreactor chambers.

Originally of Norwegian technology, the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor or MBBR process isbased on the aerobic biofilm principle and utilizes the advantages of activated sludge and otherbiofilm systems without being restrained by their disadvantages.

MBBR are a hybrid of activated sludge and biofilter processes. Unlike most fixed filmbioreactors, MBBR utilize the whole chamber volume for the biomass by generating continualmovement within the aeration chamber by means of the carefully designed aeration system.However, contrary to an activated sludge reactor, MBBR does not need return activated sludge(RAS); the recycling of activated sludge can be difficult to control and is the main reason so manysewage plants in Sabah are inoperative. MBBR achieves its treatment strategy by having a biomassgrow on high surface area plastic carriers that move freely in the water volume of the reactors andkept within the reactor volume by a sieve arrangement at the reactor outlet to prevent their loss. Atthe bottom of the tank, a large bubble aeration system assures mixing and floating of the plasticcarriers with their attached biomass.

The basis of the process is the biofilm carrier elements that are made from polyethylenewith a 20 year plus life expectancy. The elements provide a large protected surface area for thebiofilm and optimal conditions for the bacteria culture to grow and thrive. The biofilm that is createdaround each carrier element protects the bacterial cultures from operating excursions to yield a veryrobust system for those industrial facilities loaded with process fluctuations. The biofilm alsoprovides a more stable home for the bacteria to grow, so there is less space required compared toother biological systems and far less controls.

MOVING BED BIO-FILM REACTOR TECHNOLOGY


12/36


In the MBBR biofilm technology, the biofilm grows rapidly within well protected engineeredplastic carriers, which are carefully designed with high internal surface area. These biofilm carriersare suspended and thoroughly mixed throughout the waste water phase by a multitude of airbubbles. With this technology it is possible to handle extremely high loading conditions without any problems of clogging, and treat industrial and municipal wastewater on a relatively small footprint.

The plastic carriers have a diameter around 1-2 cm with a similar length and a density veryclose to that one of water. Only 40-70 % of the tank volume is filled by carriers. Unlike other fixedbiomass systems (trickling filters and submerged biofilters), MBBR systems show no cloggingproblems and a lower head loss. Compared to activated sludge systems, MBBR systems have nobulking problems which result from inadequate control of the recycled sludge. MBBR systems canoperate with more reactors in series with a more selected biomass for each treatment step.Moreover no sludge recycling is needed and management is easier (Rusten et al. 1997).

MBBR is generally set in two stages: the first stage basically aims at organic substanceremoval, whilst the second one is specialized in nitrification. Essentially nutrient levels and DO levels

are the only control points for the system. MBBRs can be designed for new facilities to removeBOD/COD from wastewater streams or for nitrogen removal. Existing activated sludge plants can beupgraded to achieve nitrogen and phosphorus removal or higher BOD/COD capacity (up to 500%increases have been obtained).

In the MBBR biofilm technology the biofilm grows well protected within engineered plasticcarriers, which are carefully designed with high internal surface area. These biofilm carriers aresuspended and thoroughly mixed throughout the water phase. With this technology it is possible tohandle extremely high loading conditions without any problems of clogging, and treat industrial andmunicipal wastewater on a relatively small footprint.

The plastic carriers have a diameter around 1-2 cm and a density very close to that oneof water. Only 50-70 % of the tank is filled by carriers. Compared to other fixed biomass systems(trickling filters and submerged biofilters), these systems show no clogging problems and lowerhead loss. Compared to activated sludge systems, MBBR systems have no bulking problem andcan operate with more reactors in series with a more selected biomass for each treatment step.Moreover no sludge recycling is needed and management is easier (Rusten et al. 1997).


13/36


MBBR was set in two stages, thus the first one basically aims to the organic substanceremoval, whilst the second one is specialised in nitrification.

Essentially nutrient levels and DO levels are the only control points for the system. MBBRscan be designed for new facilities to remove BOD/COD from wastewater streams or for nitrogenremoval. Existing activated sludge plants can be upgraded to achieve nitrogen and phosphorusremoval or higher BOD/COD capacity (up to 500% increases have been obtained).


14/36


The newly designed Tomher Infinity Enhanced Bio-Filtration Sewage Treatment SystemBIOSOLV combines two very recent developments in waste water and sewage treatmenttechnology, and the resulting combination has a synergistic effect on the overall speed of the wastewater treatment cycle, from influent raw waste water to effluent treated water. In addition, theBioSolv system requires a much smaller foot print than conventional waste water treatmentfacilities; installed for a variety of treatment requirements and purposes.

The BioSolv, as shown in the above simplified flow diagram, uses two separate aeratedtreatment reactor chambers which utilize enhanced micro-nutrient technology, a plastic media, anda patented aeration application. The aeration action provides air bubbles that are only 3mm indiameter compared to the normal 20mm which results in more rapid addition of oxygen to thewaste water being treated and giving much greater processing/treatment control of the dissolvedoxygen levels ranging above 4.0 mg/L and values of around 8mg/L have been measured. This isunique to BioSolv and is a major development in efficient aeration and encourages more rapiddigestion of the BOD resulting in smaller reaction chambers.

The control of dissolved oxygen is critical in any aerated waste water plant and can be aproblem if levels are not sufficient enough to maintain the living bacterial components that thriveon the moving plastic media carriers. The tiny air bubbles are generated on specifically designedgrids fitted above the base of the reactor tanks to ensure that a constant aeration action keeps theplastic media carriers continually moving / flowing in a circular rotating manner similar to aconvection current to ensure efficient oxygen transfer throughout the entire reactor tank

The core of the process is the suspended media, or bio-film carrier elements, which aremade of polyethylene with a density slightly below that of water. The elements are designed toprovide a large protected surface area for bio-film growth. This process allows for operation at ahigher biomass inventory per m 3 of reactor volume than would be achievable with a conventionalactivated sludge process (ASP), without additional solids loading on the secondary clarifiers. Thisresults in a significant reduction in the footprint size of the facility relative to a conventional ASPsystem.


15/36


The biomass in the Infinity BioSolv system is resilient against factors such as temporarylimitation of nutrients, toxicity spikes, pH changes, and temperature changes. These factors mayreduce the biological capacity of the biofilm system temporarily, but will not significantly affect thebiomass in the reactor. The process will adjust itself to normal performance in a very short time afterthe shock.

Since the biomass is attached to the moving plastic media, which is maintained in thereactor vessels, the suspended/attached growth process is less susceptible to solids washout duringpeak wet weather flows than conventional ASPs.

Looking at the flow diagram above, in the first aeration chamber the BOD of the incomingsewage is significantly reduced. It is possible to calculate the volume of plastic carriers required todigest the incoming BOD and convert this into a vessel volume for R1. From the vessel volume theaeration required can then be determined. In the second aeration chamber R2, ammonia isconverted into nitrate. The bacteria that achieve this work better in an environment where the BODreduction bacteria do not exist or are at very low levels.

The final effluent produced is around f our times better than the Malaysian standard A andall the ammonia is converted to nitrate and the phosphate is converted to inorganic phosphate.These two components are the basis of many fertilisers and hence makes the final effluent an idealfeed for hydroponics


16/36


Tomher BioSolv Modular Unit Design


17/36


Lankayan Island Dive Resort / Test Effluent Parameters from the Tomher BioSolv Unit

LANKAYAN ISLAND STAFF BRIEFING / TRAININGOn the Tomher INFINITY BIOSOLV


18/36


WHAT IS BIOFILM CARRIER ALL ABOUT?

The biofilm carrier is made of highdensity, durable Polypropylene - plastic (0.92g/cm3) and shaped as small cylinders with a crosson the inside of the cylinder and fins on theoutside. Various shapes and sizes are introduced bynumerous manufacturers. One of the importantadvantages of the moving bed biofilm reactor isthat the filling fraction of carrier in the reactor canbe subject to sewage loads.

By increasing the filling fraction (increase the % of carriers in a given volume space) one canincrease surface area and capacity of the reactor to reduce BODs without additional tanks . It shallbe noted that oxygen demands also increases simultaneously, whereas, a larger air blower may berequired.

Microorganisms growing on the carrier media are also much more resistant to pH and toxicshock as well as fluctuations in BODs. Produced bio -solids are also easy to separate and dewater.The bacterias /activated sludge grow on the internal surface of the carriers. The bacteria breakdown the organic matter from the waste water. The aeration system keeps the carriers withactivated sludge in motion. Only the extra amount of bacterias growth, the excess sludge will comeseparate from the carriers and will flow with the treated water towards the final separator.


19/36


In many cases, the use of a septic tank is not the best or eco-friendly application, whereas,there may be insufficient land space for an adequate drain or leach field to discharge/treat theeffluent. In these cases, an alternative type of waste water treatment is warranted. In addition,water village communities and resorts located on small, sandy or rocky islands will requirealternative applications rather than relying exclusively on septic tanks/chambers.

In 1997, an innovative waste water treatment system was designed in Sabah, Malaysia for awater village type resort to adequately treat septic tank discharge/effluent rather than allowing thesame untreated waste water to enter the coastal shoreline waters in and around the resort itself.This design was incorporated from pre-existing sub-surface flow constructed wetland designs; SSF.

To reduce costs, the design allowed the existing septic tanks to remain beneath each unit oftwo room chalets. Rather than having the septic tanks directly discharging into the shallow seawatershoreline, the effluent was piped to strategically placed collection tanks in which ozone was applied.

Ozone aids in the sterilization process as well as helping to decompose complex dissolvedorganic matter. This same ozone treated waste water was then pumped to an inventive modularsubsurface wetland / hydroponics design that scrubbed out nutrients and reduced bacteria beforebeing discharged into the coastal water. The discharge water from the system was clear, odourlessand low in E. coli bacteria counts; similar to small stream/river waters.

Wetlands are defined as land where the water surface is near the ground surface longenough each year to maintain saturated soil conditions, along with the related vegetation. Marshes,bogs, and swamps are all examples of naturally occurring wetlands. A constructed wetland isdefined as a wetland specifically constructed for the purpose of pollution control and wastemanagement, at a location other than existing natural wetlands. There are two basic types of

SUB SURFACE MODULAR HYDROPONICS WASTE WATER TREATMENT


20/36


constructed wetlands, the free water surface wetland and the subsurface flow wetland. Both typesutilize emergent aquatic vegetation and are similar in appearance to a marsh.

Physical, chemical, and biological processes combine in wetlands to remove contaminantsfrom wastewater. An understanding of these processes is fundamental not only to designing

wetland systems but to understanding the fate of chemicals once they enter the wetland.Theoretically, wastewater treatment within a constructed wetland occurs as it passes through thewetland medium and the plant rhizosphere. A thin film around each root hair is aerobic due to theleakage of oxygen from the rhizomes, roots, and rootlets. Aerobic and anaerobic micro-organismsfacilitate decomposition of organic matter. Microbial nitrification and subsequent denitrificationreleases nitrogen as gas to the atmosphere. Phosphorus is precipitated with iron, aluminium, andcalcium compounds located in the root-bed medium. Suspended solids filter out as they settle in thewater column in surface flow wetlands or are physically filtered out by the medium withinsubsurface flow wetland cells. Harmful bacteria and viruses are reduced by filtration and adsorptionby biofilms on the rock media in subsurface flow and vertical flow systems.

Modular Sub-Surface Engineered Wetland Treatment SystemPacific Hydro Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (PHT)

Sub Surface Flow (SSF) wetlands are basically gravel - or soil- based wetlands in which thewastewater passes through the porous substrate rather than above an impermeable substrate. Thelarge surface area of the media and the plant roots also provides ample sites for a myriad ofmicrobial activity.

SSF systems use many of the same emergent plant species as Surface Flow / Pond (SF)systems. When treating an equivalent volume of flow, gravel-based SSF wetlands especially use lessacreage than SF constructed wetlands. Also, gravel-based SSF systems are relatively low inmaintenance requirements and are less likely to have odour and mosquito problems than are SF


21/36


lagoons. When properly designed, gravel-based wetland systems have high efficiency rates forremoving biodegradable organic matter and nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater.

Subsurface-flow wetlands can be further classified as horizontal flow and vertical flowconstructed wetlands. Subsurface-flow wetlands move effluent (household wastewater, agricultural

or mining runoff, tannery or meat processing wastes, or storm drains, or other water to be cleansed)through gravel, stone or sand medium on which plants are rooted.

In subsurface-flow systems, the effluent may move either horizontally, parallel to thesurface, or vertically, from the planted layer down through the substrate and out. Subsurfacehorizontal-flow wetlands are less hospitable to mosquitoes, (as there is no water exposed to thesurface) whose populations can be a problem in surface-flow constructed wetlands. Carnivorousplants have been used to address this problem. Subsurface-flow systems have the advantage ofrequiring less land area for water treatment, but are not generally as suitable for wildlife habitat asare surface-flow constructed wetlands.

Modular Sub-Surface Engineered Wetland Treatment SystemPacific Hydro Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (PHT)

The subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetland concept, incorporated as an easilyexpandable modular system with the PHT design application, can accommodate increase wastewater volume loads with business or home expansions.


22/36


The PHT modular design application can offer high performance treatment for reducingBOD5 and TSS levels at relatively low costs for construction, operation and maintenance.


23/36


The odor and vector control offered by the SSF concept make it attractive for systems whichare in close proximity to the public or home. Use applications range from single family dwellings tolarger developments, resorts, community water villages, and other public facilities.

Ammonia removal in non-modular, non-aerated SSF systems is often noted as being

significantly deficient. The reason is the lack of oxygen in the gravel / soil media bed profilecombined with an inadequate hydraulic retention time (HRT) to complete the nitrification reactionsto remove nitrogen; especially in the form of ammonia NH3 and nitrite NO2.

PHT modular hydroponics type SSF design incorporates a high rate of oxygen injection via aninnovative / simple flow design. Water entering successive modular tanks is highly oxygenated togreatly aid in fostering deep plant root penetration which, in turn, aids in nutrient uptake,nitrification reactions, and antibacterial conditions. The modular tank application also gives per literof waste water volume longer hydraulic retention time (HRT) which further aids in both nutrientremoval / scrubbing and antibacterial affection.


24/36


CONCLUSIONS NOTED WITH THE PHT / HTS SSF Design

The modular subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetland concept can offer high performancelevels for BOD5 and TSS at relatively low costs for construction and operation andmaintenance. It is particularly well suited for small to moderate sized installations wheresuitable land and media are available at a reasonable cost. Ideally the PHT HTS well suitedfor water village type communities and resorts.

The odour and vector control offered by the PHT HTS SSF concept make it attractive forsystems which are in close proximity to the public. The PHT design applications range fromsingle family dwellings to larger developments and public facilities.

The cost effectiveness of the PHT HTS SSF wetland systems as compared to free watersurface (FWS) wetlands for the same water quality goals will depend on the local availabilityof land and the cost for land and for the media used in the SSF concept.

Ammonia removal in most of the past older generations of operating SSF systems isdeficient; for lack of oxygen in the bed profile and a too brief HRT to complete thenitrification reactions. The PHT HTS SSF design incorporates a strong aeration application in

each of the reactor tanks and is highly effective for ammonia removal through the simpleequation noted below.


25/36


26/36


Non-Aerated SSF Systems Summary


27/36


PRIMARY TREATMENT SYSTEMS - MBBR

Design Example for a PE 200 System:

PE 200 (with PE02) 5.0 Cubic meters => 4,500 M 2

Daily Flow (m3/d): 40

Peak flow (4DWF) 6.7 [Achievable Output]BOD (kg/day) 12.0


28/36


Reactor 2 Tanks (2): R 55CC / 5,400 Litres

Settlement Tank (1): R 72CC / 7,200 Litres

Working Water Level in R1 / R2 / Settlement Tanks: 1.5 Meters

(In consideration of Air Blower use and max water depth capable to pump air)

R 55CC / 5,400 L = 2.11 Meter High

@ 1.5 meters Ht = 3.8 cubic meters space

5.0 Cubic meters Bio-Carriers / 4 tanks = 1.25 cubic meters per R Tank

3.8 / 1.25 = 30% fill to avail. water space

(Note: IF Carriers increased to 40% => PE 250 to 300)


29/36


FINAL TREATMENT HYDROPONICS APPLICATION

Gayana Resort Prototype System Design

Construction Phase


30/36


Construction Phase

Planting the HTS Reactor Tanks with local species

The first hydroponics waste water treatment design, coined by the proponent designers asHTS, was undertaken out at Pulau Gaya, Gayana Resort in 1997. The first system design wasspecifically installed at The Reef Project for reasons of demonstrating a simple but viable systemthat could remove nutrients from human waste water prior to discharge into the sea. Serving two(2) toilets at The Reef Project, data was assessed from staff daytime use and guest visits during theevening hours to 9PM.


31/36


Volume output from a septic tank (2,400L) located beneath the main build was an average of1,400L / 24 hours. Water volume retention in the septic was within or better than manufacturesguidelines and noted as approximately 30 hours. As the The Reef Project facility was public, withlimited operational hours, the PE was noted as 15 with an average daily use for guests and staff.

Septic tank effluent water was collected in a 1,000L HDPE tank in which ozone was injectedfrom 6AM to 12AM or during the period of toilet use and retention period in the septic chamberitself.

From the collection tank, ozone treated water was transferred every 20 to 30 minutesduring day / night use via a level control float switch which activated a water pump.

The HTS was installed with one (1) header tank, one (1) covered reactor tank, and three (3)planted reactor tanks.

Water quality effluent from the septic tank was within the standards for the same as follows:

The Header tank received heavy aeration to eliminate the ozone injected into the septic tankeffluent collection tank. From the header tank, the waste water entered the first covered tank toundergo ammonia to nitrite as per the following simple equation.

After conversion to nitrite, the same water was injected every 20 to 30 minutes per volumeinto the next three (3) HTS reactor tanks that were planted with a variety of mature plants.

Water flow into each HTS reactor tanks is at the very bottom of each tank. The successive20/30 minute injections traveled upward to finally drain into the heavily aerated central pipe. Waterwill then travel downward through the aeration (counter flow action) and flow out of the tank at the

bottom of the central pipe and then into the bottom of the next HTS reactor tank. Water that entersthe bottom of the HTS tank has been highly aerated as it travels downward in the central pipe of theformer HTS reactor tank. This action is the key feature that allows the design to efficiently functionwith minimum tanks for adequate hydraulic retention time (HRT) to be able to change the nitrite tonitrate and have the plants absorb the same into their root systems.

Each HTS reactor tank was filled with aggregate gravel; averaging 1.5 to 1.75 inch diameter.


32/36


As this was a mock-up / testing system, the following tests were undertaken, whereas, TP1 is thecovered NH3-NO reactor tank and the next tanks as TP2 to TP4. TP4 is the last HTS Reactor tankprior to effluent into the sea.

It is worth noting that the highly aerated HTS system design clearly removed Ammonia-Nitrogen 100% when reaching TP3.


33/36


Prior to the introduction of the HTS design to Gayana Resort, Pulau Gaya, Sabah, the abovemap shows septic tank effluent direct discharge into the coastal water at and even beneath thewater village type resort was tested as follows. Water quality test sites were designated and thefollowing conditions were found.


34/36


Comparison of Septic & BioSolv System Applications for a PE 30 Unit HTS

SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT PE 30 (9 Tanks)

- HTS Tank Configuration @ 1 reactor tank and 8 plant tanks => 9 Tanks- HTS Tank working liquid volume @ 1,200 L for a TH400 /1,800 L tank- HTS Tank working total liquid volume @ 9 X 1,200L => 10,800 L- PE Use water use @ 200L / person

- PE Per Tank Unit => 3.5 / X 9 Tanks => 31.5 PE Total

- HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time) => 10,800L / PE30 X 200L => 1.8 Days

BIOSOLV EFFLUENT PE 30 (4 Tanks)

- PE Per Tank Unit => 7.5

- HTS Tank Configuration @ 4 (TH400) plant tanks only

- HRT => 4,800L / PE30 X 200L => 0.8 days or 19 hours

BILLIAN ISLAND HTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION - 2010


35/36


Anon. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual. EPA/625/R-00/008 February 2002. Office ofWater Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Anon. 2000. Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet Wetlands: Subsurface Flow. United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Washington, D.C. EPA 832-F-00-023

Burke, L., Selig, E., and Spalding, M. 2002. Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia. Washington DC: WorldResources Institute.

Bromberek, Zbigniew, 2009. Eco-Resorts: Planning and Design for the Tropics. Elsevier Ltd., London.255p.

Bryant, D., Burke L., McManus J., and Spalding M.. 1998. Reefs at Risk: A map-based indicator ofthreats to the world's coral reefs. Washington DC: World Resources Institute.

Cesar, H.J.S., Burke, L., and Pet-Soede, L. 2003. The Economics of Worldwide Coral Reef Degradation. Cesar Environmental Economics Consulting, Arnhem, and WWF-Netherlands, Zeist, The Netherlands.23 pp.

Chia, L.S. 2000. Overview of Impact of Sewage on the Marine Environment of East Asia: Social andEconomic Opportunities. EAS/RCU Technical Report Series No. 15. 82 pp.

Gawler, M., Cripps, S., Drijver, C., Jorge, M. and Morris, B. (eds.). 2000. CoralWeb - Coral ReefEcoregions in Action, 2000-2005: Framework Document. WWF Action Network, Zeist, TheNetherlands. 205 pp.

Longmuir. S. 2000. ENGINEERED REED BEDS - AN EFFECTIVE POLISHING METHOD FORWASTEWATER. WSL Consultants Pty Ltd. 35pp.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2005. Implementation of the National Coral ReefAction Strategy: Report on U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Agency Activities From 2002-2003. SilverSpring, MD. 124 pp.

Nellemann, C. and Corcoran, E. (Eds). 2006. Our precious coasts Marine pollution, climate change

and the resilience of coastal ecosystems. United Nations Environment Programme, GRID-Arendal,Norway, www.grida.no

Pforr,C., Macbeth,J., Clark,K.,Fountai. J, and Woo. D,.2007. THE DYNAMICS OF A COASTAL TOURISMDEVELOPMENT; attitudes, perceptions and processes. Cooperative Research Centre for SustainableTourism CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd. 150pp.

Rusten, B., Kolkinn, O. and degaard, H. (1997). Moving bed biofilm reactors and chemicalprecipitation for high efficiency treatment of wastewater from small communities. Wat. Sci. Tech.,35 (6), 71-79.

REFERENCES CITED & FURTHER INFORMATION
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfhttp://www.grida.no/http://www.grida.no/http://www.grida.no/http://www.grida.no/http://coralreef.noaa.gov/redirect.html?newURL=http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdf


36/36

Siti Haryani Chek Ranil. S.H.C. 2000. Overview of Subsurface Constructed Wetlands Application inTropical Climates. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, JohorBahru, Malaysia.

Sutherland KP, Shaban S, Joyner JL, Porter JW, Lipp EK (2011) Human Pathogen Shown to CauseDisease in the Threatened Eklhorn Coral Acropora palmata. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23468.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023468

UN-HABITAT, 2008. Constructed Wetlands Manual . UN-HABITAT Water for Asian Cities ProgrammeNepal, Kathmandu. 250p.

Sabah-Waste-Water-2013.pdf

Documents

Transcript of Sabah-Waste-Water-2013.pdf