Sewage Treatment Plant

Prepared by

Md.Shamsuzzaman
Sewage Treatment Plant
Overview

All modern ships are provided with sewage treatment plant to
comply with the international regulation of MARPOL 73/78
(Annex IV) to prevent pollution of sea by discharging human waste

The lesson will provide the details of sewage treatment plants fitted
onboard

Procedure of treating sewage prior disposal overboard


Learning Objectives
Purpose
Various types of sewage treatment plants
Operating Principle of aerobic type
Components & operation of aerobic type
Components & operation of No Discharge or
Zero Discharge type
International regulations
Sewage Treatment Plant
Why do we need sewage treatment plant ?
Raw sewage, if left untreated
is unsightly & smells
becomes putrid and source of diseases like
dysentery
typhoid
diarrhea etc
due to the presence of coliform bacteria found in the intestines.
According to regulation coliform count in the effluent discharge in
restricted water should not exceed 1000 per 100 ml

Hence, sewage need to be treated and disinfected as well.
Types of Sewage Plant

Biological or Aerobic type
Chemical or Zero discharge type
Retention system
normal collection
vacuum collection
Aerobic Type Sewage Plant
Operating Principle

Bacteria existing naturally in water is cultivated
by supplying air continuously

Upon digestion of raw sewage, bacteria
excretes inert sludge, having no detrimental
effect on the environment
Aerobic Type Sewage Plant
What happens if air supply is stopped ?

Aerobic bacteria will die
Anaerobic bacteria that does not require oxygen will strive
It will also breakdown the raw sewage
But liberates stinking H
2
S gas as by product
Anaerobic bacteria is harmful for environment
Can cause various diseases



Aerobic Type Sewage Plant
Major Components
Aeration tank
Settling tank
Holding tank
Air compressor
Comminutor
Discharge pump
Zero Discharge Sewage Plant
Discharging effluent overboard,
after disinfecting with chlorine,
is not environmental friendly as
it causes pollution by adding
chemicals to sea.

Zero discharge sewage plant
overcomes this problem by
retaining sewage onboard.
Shipboard Sewage Discharge
International Regulations
Sewage plant must be fitted with a system to comminute and
disinfect the sewage
The holding tank must be sufficient to meet the number of
crew onboard
There must be an external line for shore discharge
For commuted & treated sewage, it must be discharged at
more than 4 nautical miles from nearest land
Speed of vessel during discharge must be more than 4 knots

Tutorial Assignment
Q1. Describe with a simple sketch the operation of an aerobic
type sewage treatment plant commonly found onboard ship.

Q2. Explain the effect, if air supply into the aeration tank is
stopped.

Q3. Describe with a simple sketch the operation of zero
discharge type sewage treatment plant.

Q4. State the important international regulations regarding
shipboard sewage discharge.