Posted by TCFalconBird
That's where it's interesting. The walls that run the length of it are actually dividers. The ones perpendicular to those seem to just bridge across. What we couldn't figure out was the function of those wooden boards hanging in the water by metal strips (I'll attach a pic): https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4262/34308146933_3be6c5ef7a_z.jpg
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so I have an answer for ya! Yeah, I get to be useful today.
The ladders go down into the cells/settlement/treatment areas so if something gets clogged, they can dislodge it. Just really that simple. Its for that and routine maintenance. The pits/grids/cells, etc. do these two functions. They allow the solids to "settle" to the bottom and the top water is then both adjusted for BOD and COD and then separated thru a filter to the finishing area. The sludge at the bottom could have been either trap door dropped to a loading area below (the activated sludge is disposed of as solid waste per EPA regs) OR they had pump lines to pump the activated sludge out to a holding tank. It would sit there until full or they had a waste pick up day. It would depend on what you saw at the bottom. I would guess there were pipes pumping the sludge to a tank. That's more common.
I would post a picture of a WW treatment plant, but they really do vary quite a bit. The general flow is the same bc the goals are the same, but how they reach it....different.
1.Roughing filter, or settling basin, to remove large particles and debris.
2.Coagulation and flocculation to induce opposite charges, which brings molecular-sized bacteria and harmful particles together to form even larger particles, followed by sedimentation to settle the now large groups of particles (flocs) out of the water.
3.Secondary filtration to remove bacteria, algae, and any other small flocs still present in the water.
4.Chlorination to destroy any remaining bacteria, viruses and pathogens.
5.Aeration to remove undesired odors or tastes caused by Steps 1-4.
6.Additional treatment, if necessary, such as adding lime (for softening) or fluoride.
Ah sewage.....lets me know how far I have NOT come in my career. LOL. I started out as a co op for EPD in water quality, and now I am in human poop swabs and disease. I think we have figured out why I'm single..... I'm gross.
Y'all have a super day!