Performance evaluation and monitoring of an appropriate low-cost wastewater treatment technology for small Palestinian communities. Proc. Regional Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse.

Abstract

In Palestine, most rural areas, governmental and private schools, universities, hotels and housing projects are still lacking central sewage facilities. This paper evaluates the performance and process optimization of a newly erected WSP system in Talitha Kumi school compound located in Beit Jala City, south of East Jerusalem, West Bank. The results of lab analysis showed that the average concentrations of total BOD and total COD of the influent were 363 mg/l and 621 mg/l, respectively. Moreover, the concentrations of total phosphorus, ammonium and nitrate were 34.5 mg/l, 83.1 mg/l and 43.3 mg/l, respectively. The raw domestic wastewater from Talitha Kumi School revealed extremely high concentration in total suspended solids; the average value was 1528.5 mg/l. Though the anaerobic pond was organically overloaded with a retention time of 1.2 days, removal rates in both total BOD of 38% and filtered BOD of 45% were achieved. Whereas removal rates of 42%, 46%, 39% and 9% for ammonium, nitrate, suspended solids and phosphorus respectively were recorded respectively. Lab analysis on the facultative and maturation ponds effluent showed that an increase in the concentrations of total BOD, as well as total and filtered COD, due to prevailing anaerobic conditions the ponds throughout the research period. To enhance the performance of these ponds, upgrading of the existing treatment facilities at Talitha Kumi School was suggested. Upgrading process entailed the construction of a 20m3 regulating tank and two covered anaerobic ponds, with a hydraulic retention time of 2 days each. Additionally, re-arranging the existing ponds by connecting the first 7 ponds in parallel to have a total surface area of 157.5 m2 of facultative ponds with a retention time of 5.7 days was considered as an essential upgrading measure. Moreover, a scheme of parallel connection between the last three ponds was suggested to increase the total surface area of the maturation ponds to 67.5 m2, with a retention time of 3 days. Finally, installing a pilot filter media, for the sake of improving the effluent quality, is equally recommended.