Sewage

Pollution
INTEGRATED PROJECT
ON
-Ayush Vijayvargiya
-Devashish Singh
-Arjun Chaturvedi
-Kushagra Ramnani
-Salman Ulla Khan
-Ishaan Sidana
SUBMITTED BY
Sewage pollution
Sewage:
Sewage is the term used for wastewater that ofen
contains feces, urine and industry waste. It is a water-carried
waste, in solution or suspension that is intended to be re-
moved from a community also known as wastewater. Sewage
disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many
people in these areas dont have access to sanitary conditions
and clean water.Untreated sewage water in such areas can
contaminate the environment and cause diseases such as diar-
rhea and cholera.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD):
refers to the
amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all the organics
in one liter of water were oxidized by bacteria and protozoa.
Te frst step in measuring BOD is to obtain equal
volumes of water from the area to be tested and dilute each
specimen with a known volume of distilled water which has
been thoroughly shaken to insure oxygen saturation.
Afer this, an oxygen meter is used to determine the con-
centration of oxygen within one of the vials. Te remaining
vial is than sealed and placed in darkness and tested fve days
later. BOD is then determined . Te range of possible read-
ings can vary considerably: water from an exceptionally clear
lake might show a BOD of less than 2 ml/L of water. Raw sew-
age may give readings in the hundreds and food processing
wastes may be in the thousands.
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Algal Bloom:
is a rapid increase or accumulation in the pop-
ulation of algae (typically microscopic) in an aquatic system.
Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine envi-
ronments. Although there is no ofcially recognized threshold
level, algae can be considered to be blooming at concentrations
of hundreds to thousands of cells per milliliter, depending on
the severity. Algal bloom concentrations may reach millions of
cells per milliliter.
Algal blooms are ofen green, but of particular note are
harmful algal blooms (HABs), they involve toxic or otherwise
harmful phytoplankton. Such blooms ofen take on a red or
brown hue and are known colloquially as red tides.
Bright green blooms are a result of cyanobacteria (collo-
quially known as blue-green algae) such as Microcystis. Blooms
may also consist of microalgae (non-phytoplankton) species.
Tese blooms are recognizable by large blades of algae that may
wash up onto the shoreline.
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Sewage pollution : A Case study
GENERATION OF WASTEWATER IN SOME
METRO CITIES
Analysis:
Te graph above shows the amount of wastewater generated
in diferent metro cities across India in Million Liters per Day
(MLD). It can be interpreted from the graph that Delhi gen-
erates the most wastewater (3800 MLD) followed by Mumbai
(2400 MLD). Te graph also shows that Chennai generates very
less wastewater i.e. only 158 MLD. Hyderabad also generates
less wastewater (426 MLD). Tis shows us that southern parts
of India generate less wastewater as compared to the northern
parts.
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Analysis:
Te above graph shows the wastewater treatment capacity in
some metro cities across India. From the graph it can be inter-
preted that Delhi has the highest wastewater treatment capaci-
ty as compared to other cities. Te graph also shows us that in
Chennai and Hyderabad the wastewater treatment capacity is
more than the wastewater generated. Delhi has the wastewater
treatment capacity but still the diference between wastewater
generated and wastewater treatment capacity is also very high
i.e. 1470 MLD. Mumbai also has very high wastewater treat-
ment capacity i.e. 2130 MLD.
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WASTEWATER GENERATION BY
DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES
Analysis:
Te graph shows the year wise progress of ETP (Efuent Treat-
ment Plant) installation in the concerned industries under GAP.
It can be interpreted from the graph that the number of units
with ETP installed has increased noticeably in the 1o years. Te
graph also shows us that the number of units without ETP has
decreased from 54 to 0 in the 1o years. Tis shows us that the
GAP has led to an observable enhancement of river quality in
the Ganga.
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GANGA ACTION PLAN
(GAP)
Te Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was the frst large scale
action plan oriented towards conservation and rehabilita-
tion of water resources. It was launched in 1985.
Analysis:
Te graph shows the year wise progress of ETP (Efuent Treat-
ment Plant) installation in the concerned industries under
GAP. It can be interpreted from the graph that the number
of units with ETP installed has increased noticeably in the 1o
years. Te graph also shows us that the number of units with-
out ETP has decreased from 54 to 0 in the 1o years. Tis shows
us that the GAP has led to an observable enhancement of river
quality in the Ganga.
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EFFECTS of Sewage pollution
India faces a turbulent water future. Unless water management
practices are changed - and changed soon - India will face a se-
vere water crisis within the next two decades and will have nei-
ther the cash to build new infrastructure nor the water needed
by its growing economy and rising population. Urbanization has
given rise to a number of environmental problems such as water
supply, wastewater generation and its collection, treatment and
disposal in urban areas. In most cases wastewater is let out un-
treated causing pollution in downstream areas. Sewage and not
the industrial pollution accounts for more than 75 per cent of
the surface water contamination in India. In India less than 50%
of the urban population has access to sewage disposal system
Health Damage:
When toxic substances enter a body of water, they will be dis-
solved, become suspended in water or get deposited on the bed
of the water body. Te resulting water pollution causes the qual-
ity of the water to deteriorate and afects aquatic ecosystems.
Pollutants can also seep downand efect groundwater deposits.
Pollutants enter groundwater, rivers, and other water bodies.
Such water, which ultimately ends up in our households, is ofen
highly contaminated and can carry disease-causing microbes.
Bathers are at increased risk of contracting illness due to
bacteria and viruses present in sewage efuent. Gastrointestinal
disorders have been linked to sewage pollution.


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Economic Loss:
Debris associated with sewage probably has the highest mone-
tary cost associated with its presence on our beaches due to the
resulting loss of tourism in addition to blockage removal. Te
closing of commercial shellfsh beds due to sewage contamina-
tion can lead to high income loss.
Clean beaches have many advantages for humans and com-
mercial seafood farms as well as for the wildlife:

-Tey are safer for the public.
-Tey encourage people to come and use them, which will im-
prove local economy.
-Tey beneft everyone now and in the future
-people are getting sick
-poor are getting more poorer by the cost of medication
-loss in G D P growth of country
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Ecological Damage:
Sewage-contaminated water causes eutrophication, which is the
increase in concentration of chemical elements required for life.
Te nitrates, phosphates, and organic matter found in human
waste serves as a food for algae and bacteria. Tis causes these
organisms to overpopulate to the point where they use up most
of the dissolved oxygen that is naturally found in water, making
it difcult for other organisms in this aquatic environment to
live. Te bacteria are basically strangling the other organisms.
Some of the organisms that do overpopulate from this can also
be disease-causing microorganisms. Phosphates are also found
in soaps and detergents, but there are other household products
that we use everyday that can be toxic to many animals and
humans if they are dumped directly into a water body.
Eutrophication:
Te process of excessive deposition of chemical nutrients in
water bodies is termed as eutrophication. It is one of the many
problems which have their origin in sewage water pollution.
Degradation of the quality of water, reduction in number of
fsh and increase in biological oxygen demand (BOD) are ma-
jor efects or consequences of eutrophication. Increase in the
concentration of phosphates, nitrates and other chemicals in-
cluding organic wastes in water bodies causes excessive growth
of algae and bacteria. Growth of such organisms is responsible
for increase in BOD and thereby, reduction in the number of
aquatic creatures. Te growth of native plants is also hampered
by excessive algal growth.
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Fighting sewage pollution
It used to be said that the solution to pollution is dilution.
When small amounts of sewage are discharged into a fowing
body of water, a natural process of stream self-purifcation oc-
curs. However, densely populated communities generate such
large quantities of sewage that dilution alone does not prevent
pollution. Instead of discharging sewage directly into a nearby
body of water, its better to let it pass through a combination of
physical, biological, and chemical processes that remove some
or most of the pollutants. Tis takes place in sewage treatment
plants.
Treatment Plant:
Sewage treatment plants neutralize and deactivate the chem-
icals found in the sewage water. Tey work by relying on the
bacteria that is found in our colons, which eat away the nitrates,
phosphates and organic matter that is found in sewage. Tese
plants can be expensive to build and operate for many govern-
ments, but there are cheaper alternative which rely on nature
to do most of the work. Tis is done by rebuilding or restoring
wetlands, because the plants and bacteria found in the wet-
lands will do the same thing that bacteria in standard sewage
treatment plants do. Tis helps the environment in two ways:
restoring wetlands and treating human waste water before it
pollutes the natural waterways.
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What Can Children Do:
In many countries, there is an ongoing national campaign
called Bag it and bin it, dont fush it! Its aim is to protect
rivers and seas by decreasing the number of disposable items
fushed down toilets. So, bag it and bin it. Please dont fush
it.
Dont fush anything down the toilet that is made of plas-
tic or non-biodegradable material. Tis includes cotton
bud sticks, sanitary towels and nappkins which can travel
through the sewers and end up back on our beaches.
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What Can Be Done In Neighbourhood:
Sewer overfows and backups can cause health hazards,
damage home interiors, and threaten the environment. Sew-
age pollution gets into our local creeks when it escapes the
sewage system. Following steps helps you to reduce sewer
overfow in your apartment or neighborhood.
Tree roots can invade even the smallest cracks in
pipes. Tree roots can block the pipes causing sewers to
backup and overfow. Careful thought needs to be given
to the location of thirsty trees.
Use basket/strainers in sinks to catch food scraps and
empty them into trash for disposal.
Cracked pipes have to be repaired or replaced.
Broken sewer pipes not only let stormwater in, they
can also allow untreated waste to enter the soil and create
unhealthy conditions. If you suspect broken pipes, have
your system inspected by a licensed plumber.
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Stormwater downpipes are not allowed to be con-
nected to the sewerage system. Te efect of doing so is
overfows of diluted raw sewage further down the system.
Tis is a major cause of sewer overfows.
People pouring grease down sewer lines are other
common reasons for sewage overfows. Never pour grease
down sink drains or into toilets.
Using contaminated sewage for fertilizer can result in
epidemics of such diseases as cholera. Tese diseases can
even become chronic where clean water supplies are lack-
ing.
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Treatment of Sewage Water In Plants:
Sewage Water Treatment If sewage water is treated before its
release into rivers, most problems associated with pollution
would be solved. Removal of contaminants is the main ob-
jective of treatment of sewage water. Before the actual treat-
ment of water, efuents are pretreated.
Te process of pre-treatment helps in the separation of
oils, greases, gravel and sand from polluted water. Tis
process is carried out by fltration of sewage water.
Biological wastes dissolved in water are treated with
microbes. It helps in converting wastes into a solid mass
which can be easily separated later on.
Once the biological treatment is over, partially-pure ef-
fuents are treated with chemical disinfectants. Te water
treated in treatment plants can be used in golf courses, for
watering lawns and also in agriculture for irrigation.
Sewage treatment plants generate clear and clean wa-
ter. Some of the treatment plants dispose the wastes into
oceans. Tis is one form of pollution and it should prove
to be harmful for the environment.
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Restoration of wetlands is one of the important means of
treating sewage water. Wetlands allow to process sewage wa-
ter naturally, without the use of any artifcial method/tech-
nique. Te idea behind restoring wetlands is that bacteria
present in them would dilute the nitrates and phosphates.
Te same process takes place in sewage water treatment
plants except that, here (in wetlands) it is carried out natu-
rally.
Sewage water treatment is useful in todays world where
environmental issues are of prime concern. Trough the
process of treatment, eforts need to be taken to purify ef-
fuents. It should beneft not only human beings but also the
varied fora and fauna of our planet. Lets pledge to keep our
environment clean and the harmful efects of sewage pollu-
tion at bay.