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THE TRICKLING FILTER
Introduction

Sewage and effluent treatment for smaller communities and establishments is often
a problem. On the one side there is ever increasing environmental pressure (and
thus more complicated and expensive treatment plants), while on the other hand
smaller establishments want a cost effective, reliable system with minimum operator
input.

The trickling filter process is simple and robust and can be designed to treat sewage
and moderately polluted easily biodegradable industrial effluents.

Plant Capacities

• These plants are very cost effective for effluent treatment in the range of 20 –
5000 people.

• For bigger plants we can offer a host of other technologies.

Typical Applications for Trickling Filters:

• Small communities
• Bush camps
• Holiday resorts
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Garages
• Smaller towns
• The trickling filters are also extremely cost effective in expansion of
overloaded plants, poorly nitrifying plants or when additional nitrification is
required.

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Plant Concept

The plant is based on fixed film technology, which means that the plant is much more
resistant to shocks and upsets than suspended growth systems (e.g. normal
domestic sewage treatment plants). No control of the process is necessary due to the
attached growth of the active microorganisms.

• Pre-treatment: The incoming stream is pre-treated through a hand-

raked or automated screen to remove large objects.

• Carbon removal: The major portion of organic pollutants are removed in

a specially designed, yet simple anaerobic reactor system

• Nitrification / Polishing: Final organics removal and detoxification of the

effluent is performed in the high rate trickling filter

• Solids separation: All the pollutants that have been converted to solids
(sludge) through the previous units are removed in a settling tank

• Disinfection: The remaining organisms are killed in a chlorine or UV-

disinfection stage.

• Nitrate removal: Where high effluent standards exist, nitrates can be

removed by recycling the effluent and a small modification to the process.

• Phosphorous removal: Phosphate can easily be removed with chemical

dosing in front of the settling tank, if required.

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One or Two Stage

Trickling Filters

Anaerobic Reactor
(Septic Tank)
Settling
Tank Chlorination
Contact Tank

Schematic view of a typical installation. Three small single phase submersible pumps
are the only mechanical items required.

Biological principles

The modern trickling filter consists of a bed of highly permeable medium to which
microorganisms are attached and through which wastewater is percolated. The filter
medium consists of either rock or a variety of plastic packing materials. Rock filters
are limited in their application due to their tendency of poor distribution of water
(wetting capacity), cost, difficulty of installation and retention time of liquid. We
therefore use some of the best available mass transfer media on the market in our
systems. Various scientific references that confirm these statements are available on
request.

Filters are constructed with an underdrain system for collecting treated wastewater
and biological solids that have become detached from the packing media. The
collected solids and water are passed to a settler where the solids are separated
from the water. High rate trickling filters with structured media, have very simple
collection systems.

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The organic material in the wastewater is absorbed onto the biological film. In the
outer portion of the film, aerobic organisms degrade the organic material. As the
microorganisms grow, the thickness of the slime layer increases, and the diffused
oxygen is consumed before it can penetrate the full depth of the slime layer. An
anaerobic environment is thus created near the surface of the media.

Even distribution of water through the cross-flow media results in extremely

efficient mixing and wetting. Residence times of 5-10 minutes achievable.

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As the slime layer increases in thickness, the absorbed organic matter is

metabolized before it can reach the microorganisms near the surface. As a result
of having no external organic source available, the microorganisms near the
media surface enter into an endogenous phase of growth and loose their ability to
cling to the surface. The liquid then washes off the slime from the media, and new
slime layer starts to grow. This phenomenon is called ‘sloughing’ and is primarily
a function of the hydraulic and organic loading account for the rate of metabolism
in the slime layer. The velocity in modern filters is specifically adjusted to maintain
a slime layer of uniform thickness.

The organisms obtain their oxygen by natural draught through the filter. The high
rate trickling filters are well designed and a high degree of treatability is possible.

Construction of unit

Reaction Tanks and sumps:

The anaerobic reactor tank, settler and chlorine contact tank can be
manufactured in a variety of materials, from sectionalized steel tanks that are
installed on a plinth, to plastic and conventional concrete tanks. The selection of
the materials depends on site conditions and location.

Trickling filter sumps can be manufactured from treated steel or concrete. These
are simple basins consisting of a concrete slab and 800 mm high brick walls.

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Trickling filters:

The media is shipped to site in sheet form, thereby reducing transport cost
radically. On site the sheets are glued together to form blocks, through the use of
local labour. The blocks are simply stacked into the steel or concrete frame. The
trickling filter is finished off by cladding on the outside.

Media is self-supporting and can be walked on, with no radial pressure. A simple
system of non-blocking open nozzles is installed on top of the filter(s) to distribute
the water evenly.

What makes this package plant better than other systems?

• Proven Technology
• Reduced Energy consumption
• Robustness
• Small footprint
• Reduced operator input
• Long lasting UV-stabilized media is used in the trickling filter
• Transport is simple
• Simple construction: No cranes are required on site
• No smells
• No nuisance insects

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S L U D G E D R Y IN G B E D

5 000 l IR R IG A T IO N
W ATER
CT 07 STO RAGE
TANK

M T03

S E P T IC T A N K T /F F E E D T R I C K L I N G F IL T E R SE TTLER C 2I C O N T A C T O U T L E T
SUMP M T 01 TAN K SUM P

RAW SEW AG E
Q = 4 0m ³ / d ay F O R IR R IG A T IO N

IN L E T B O X

C T0 3 CT 04 CT 05 P S 03APS 0 3B
MT 02

O VE R FLO W T O
NATURAL PO ND

PS 02 A P S 02B

C T0 1 C T02

PS01A PS 01B

C T 06
S L U D G E C O L L E C T IO N C L IE N T
SUMP
N A M IB IA
W IL D L IF E
RESO RTS LTD

A Q U ASE R V I C E SE&N G I N E E R I N G
A (P T Y ) L T D .
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E Y o u r p a rt n e r in w a te r p u rific a ti o n
CT 01 C T0 2 P S 0 2 A /B C T05 P S 0 1 A /B PS03

S E P T IC T A N- K1 O F F T /F F E E D S U M
- 1P O F F T / F F E E D P U M P- S2 O F F O U T L E T S U M- P1 O F F SLU D G E IR R IG A T I O N T A N K T el : (0 6 1 ) 2 6 1 1 4 3 F a x : (0 6 1 ) 2 5 7 6 2 8
V O L U M E - 5 2 ,5 m ³ T o ta l VO LUM E - 3 ,5 m ³ T o t a l TY PE - S U B M E R S IB L E VO LU M E - 0 ,6 m ³ R E T U R N P U M P -S 2 O F F FE E D P U M PS - 2 O FF P .O .B o x 2 0 7 1 4 , W i n d h o e k , N am ib ia
- 4 0 m ³ E ffe ct iv e - 1 , 5 m ³ E ffe c tiv e C A P A C IT Y - 1 5 m ³/ h TY P E - S U B M E R S IB L E TYPE - C E N T R IF U G A L
HEAD - 8 mW C C A P A C IT Y - 3 ,5 m ³/ h C A P A C IT Y - 2 ,5 m ³/h
C T06
POW ER - 2 , 2 k W (I n s t )
S L U D G E C O L L E C T IO N
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HEAD
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SU MP - 1 OFF
C T0 3 M T02 VO LU M E - 1m ³ C T 04 M T 0 3(E X IS T I N G ) P & ID
- 1 O FF T R I C K L I N G F I L -T E1 RO F F S ET TLER - 1 O FF C T07 C H L O R IN E C O N T A C T IR R IG A T I O N W A T E R D E S IG N D R AW N
- 2 1 ,6 m ³ B A S IN - 7 m ³ T o ta l AREA - 4 m² TA N K - 1 O FF S TO R A G E T AN K V O LUM E
- 4 0 m ³/ d a y VO LUM E - 6 m ³ E ffe c t iv e C A P A C IT Y- 3 ,5 m ³/h SLU DGE C A P A C IT Y - 1 ,0 m ³ E f fe ct iv e G .L . C .L .
D R Y IN G B E D- 1 O F F
S U R F A C E A R- E4A0 m ² DWG. NO. D AT E
0 3 .0 0 2 .H O B - 0 0 5 R e v 2 2 0 0 1 -0 7 -1 0

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 AQUA SERVICES & ENGINEERING (PTY) LTD

Tel: 061 261143 Fax: 061 257628 E-mail: ase@ase.com.na

 AQUA SERVICES & ENGINEERING (PTY) LTD

Tel: 061 261143 Fax: 061 257628 E-mail: ase@ase.com.na