Maintenance of a small sewage treatment plant is necessary on a regular basis to make it efficient, long-lasting, and produce safe, treated water. It can be used by a community, a business organization, or for residential purposes, but routine maintenance avoids many problems like objectionable odors, unsatisfactory quality of water, and mechanical failures. In this blog, we will learn how to maintain a small sewage treatment plant and keep it running smoothly with adherence to regulation standards.
How Do You Maintain a Small Sewage Treatment Plant
1) Regular Inspection
One of the simplest things you do to maintain a small sewage treatment plant is carrying out regular checks. These will allow you to notice any likely issues before they turn into significant issues. Regular checks will also keep everything from pumps to aeration units to filters functioning properly.
What to Do:
- Pump and motor operation: Ensure that the pumps and motors are running within expected levels. Inspect for any abnormal noise or vibration that may indicate failure.
- Aeration system: Inspect the aeration system for blockage or wear. The aerators must run continuously to supply oxygen to the microorganisms that decompose waste.
- Settling tank: Inspect the sludge levels in the settling tank. Sludge will build up over time and maybe even need draining.
2) Cleaning the Filters and Screens
Filters and screens within a small sewage treatment plant are very important for the elimination of large debris and particles from wastewater. They become blocked up over time and stop the plant from treating the sewage.
What to Do:
- Clean the filters and screens routinely based on how much waste is being treated. In systems subject to heavy usage, this occurs weekly or every other week.
- Remove any dirt and clogs from the screens with a pressure washer or a hose.
- Inspect the condition of the filters; replace the filters if broken or very worn out.
3) Inspect and Control the Sludge Levels
Sludge accumulation is unavoidable with a miniature sewerage treatment system. Yet, if sludge accumulates over time, it will reduce the efficiency of the system and even clog or cause odor.
What to Do:
- Check the level of sludge periodically in the treatment tank and settling tank.
- Drain excess sludge through sludge draining pumps or contractors where needed.
- Maintain a balanced amount of sludge within the system to deliver maximum biological treatment.
4) Monitor and Repair Aerators
Aerators introduce oxygen into the wastewater that is necessary to support aerobic bacteria in breaking down organic solids. When the aerators are not functioning properly, then it will be an inefficient process with more contaminants in the effluent.
What to Do:
- Inspect aerators regularly to ascertain if they are functioning normally and providing the proper amount of oxygen to the system.
- Replace or clean aerator diffusers or membranes when clogged or damaged.
- Check the aeration tank to ensure the system is receiving proper oxygen levels and re-adjust aerators as needed.
5) Check Effluent Quality
Effluent quality is dependent upon how well your sewage treatment plant is operating. Monitoring effluent is essential to ensure that treated water complies with standards for discharge or re-use.
What to Do:
- Regular assessments of effluent must measure BOD alongside TSS and pH values.
- Tests should determine regulatory compliance of the effluent by investigating possible treatment system issues including broken equipment combined with wrong process settings and low bacterial growth.
- The system needs adjustments if needed to improve the quality of effluent output.
6) Service Electrical Parts
A small sewage treatment plant is dependent on some electrical equipment like pumps, motors, and aerators to run at maximum efficiency. Any power failure can cause the whole process to stop and lead to expensive downtime.
What to Do:
- All electrical connections must be checked for looseness, corrosion, or wear.
- Control panels, circuit breakers, and sensors must be checked to ensure they’re functioning normally.
- Employ a qualified electrician to do annual electrical inspections and maintenance when needed.
7) Avoid Overloading the System
Overloading a small sewerage treatment plant may result in suboptimum treatment, wear and tear of equipment, and even contamination of effluent. Avoid overloading the system by restricting the quantity of wastewater to be handled by the plant.
What to Do:
- Monitor the flow rate at intervals to ensure the system is not treating more wastewater than it was originally designed to handle.
- Teach system users (a facility, business, or community) about water conservation practice so the system load can be minimized.
- Install a flow-measuring system to monitor incoming volume of wastewater.
8) Maintain Detail Records of Maintenance Activities
Maintaining a record of all the maintenance work enables you to track the system performance, schedule future maintenance needs, and observe patterns of fault.
What to Do:
- Maintain a record of all cleaning, removal of sludge, repairs, and inspections carried out.
- Maintain a record of any modifications to the operation of the system, for example, changes to aeration or dosing.
- Use maintenance records to plan future maintenance and determine trends that may be indicative of underlying problems.
Conclusion
To maintain a small sewage treatment plant in its best working state, frequent examination, cleaning, and monitoring should be done. Maintenance of the filters, aerators, and sludge at good levels is done to have the system maintained at peak performance and within standard water quality standards. By exercising preventive maintenance actions, you may prevent expensive repair, extend plant life, and safeguard public health and the environment.
Do you need an advice or assistance on selecting the best water and waste water treatment unit? We have solutions for all your problems!
Let us know your problem, our experts will make sure that it goes away.
For an assistance or related query,
Call on +91-9650608473
Or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com
