Evaluation of the wastewater stabilization pond at the METU treatment plant

As a case for the improvement of efficiency of the wastewater stabilization pond, Middle East Technical University (METU) treatment plant's operation was investigated. The measured hydraulic detention time was half of the theoretical value indicating short circuiting. Also, the BOD removal efficiency was very low. The substrate removal rate constant, k, was determined for first and second order reactions with different methods by using dye test and BOD analysis results. A new pond inlet configuration was proposed as a method of improving the hydraulic efficiency

Key words:

• Wastewater stabilization pond
• biological efficiency
• hydraulic characteristic
• dispersion
• short circuiting
• dead space