Waste Water Treatment Greece Project by: Pantelis Paschalakis Nikos Daskalakis

Waste Water Treatment Europe First significant improvements in 1980’s First significant improvements in 1980’s Great changes over the past twenty years. Great changes over the past twenty years. UWWT Directive Increased percentage of people connected to WWT Decreases in discharges of Eastern European Countries ( EU – 10) and accession countries are due to economic recession. Decline in polluting manufacturing industries

Waste Water Treatment in Northern + Central Europe Nordic Countries Most of the population connected to the highest levels of tertiary treatment ( Removal of nutrients and organic matter) Central Europe More than half of wastewater receives tertiary treatment

Waste Water Treatment in Southern + East Europe Southern and Eastern Europe Only half of the population is connected to WWT. Accession Countries 30 to 40% is connected to secondary or tertiary treatment.

Cause for this difference: Policies to reduce eutrophication and improve bathing water quality were implemented earlier in the northern and central Than in the southern and eastern countries and in the accession countries Improved surface water quality, including bathing water quality, with a decrease in the concentrations of orthophosphates, total ammonium and organic matter over the past ten years

Waste Water Treatment directive Member States should identify water bodies as sensitive areas. Member States should identify water bodies as sensitive areas.

Results of WWT An additional threat to the environment: Disposal of sewage sludge (Treatment plants) An additional threat to the environment: Disposal of sewage sludge (Treatment plants) Has to be disposed of: 1)spreading on soils, landfills or 2) incineration. Has to be disposed of: 1)spreading on soils, landfills or 2) incineration. Disposal routes can transfer pollution from water: 1)to soil or 2)air Disposal routes can transfer pollution from water: 1)to soil or 2)air Take into account in the respective policy implementation processes Take into account in the respective policy implementation processes

Waste Water Treatment Europe

Waste Water Treatment Greece Environment Minister H.E. Mr. George Souflias H.E. Mr. George Souflias

Environment-International agreements Party to: Antarctic- Environmental Protocol Antarctic- Environmental Protocol Antarctic- Marine Living Resources Antarctic- Marine Living Resources Antarctic Treaty Antarctic Treaty Biodiversity Biodiversity Climate change Climate change Climate change- Kyoto protocol Climate change- Kyoto protocol Desertification Desertification Environmental Modification Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Wastes Law of the sea Law of the sea Marine Dumping Marine Dumping Ship Pollution Ship Pollution Wetlands Wetlands

WWT Research in Greece I. Experimental and mathematical simulation of filamentous bulking and foaming in the WWTP of Ioannina II. Consulting for the operation of the Volos WWTP III. Wastewater reuse - Guideline development for pilot artificial recharging of aquifers through direct injection and irrigation, for seawater intrusion control within the framework of integrated and sustainable water management

WWT Research in Greece IV. Bulking sludge phenomena in wastewater treatment plants V. Optimization of flow pattern in nutrient removal plants to prevent bulking VI. Author Affiliation: Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki GR-54124, Greece.

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Experimental and mathematical simulation of filamentous bulking and foaming in the WWTP of Ioannina Laboratory and full scale experimental investigation of filamentous bulking and foaming in activated sludge systems. (Due to M. Pacivella) Laboratory and full scale experimental investigation of filamentous bulking and foaming in activated sludge systems. (Due to M. Pacivella) Laboratory simulation and analytical work: Engineering Lab of N.T.U.A. Laboratory simulation and analytical work: Engineering Lab of N.T.U.A. Full scale investigation: WWTP, Ioannina city ( Population : 130,000) Full scale investigation: WWTP, Ioannina city ( Population : 130,000)

WWTP in Greece facing operational problems due to excessive bulking and foaming of activated sludge

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Consulting for the operation of the Volos WWTP Scope: Operation optimization of Volos WWTP Objectives: 1. Determination of the quality characteristics of the municipal and industrial wastewater 2. Wastewater and sludge characterization for toxicity determinations 3. Mathematical modeling of the biological treatment for the optimization of the operation of plant 4. Calibration of analytical apparatus 5. Intercalibration of analytical methods 6. Training of laboratory staff.

Volos WWTP

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Wastewater reuse - Guideline development for pilot artificial recharging of aquifers through direct injection and irrigation, for seawater intrusion control within the framework of integrated and sustainable water management Project aim: Promotion and dissemination of wastewater reuse techniques Project aim: Promotion and dissemination of wastewater reuse techniques

This project includes : 1. Development of reuse guidelines in Greece and their evaluation in a pilot scale unit for the artificial recharge of groundwater aquifer by direct injection and irrigation of treated wastewater. 2. Control of salt water intrusion and groundwater level decrease contributing to the principles of sustainable management of water resources. 3. Dissemination and the application of the results in Greece and the Mediterranean countries.

Main responsibilities of N.T.U.A. study: 1. Survey of implemented wastewater reuse methods and critical evolution of worldwide regulations and legislation governing wastewater reclamation. 2. Definition of wastewater quality criteria for the alternative reuse methods, suitable for the Mediterranean region and specifically Greece. 3. Analysis of wastewater effluent quality from several WWTP in Greece and assessment of their reclamation and reuse possibilities. 4. Laboratory scale studies to investigate various treatment and disinfection methods aiming to the development of the most appropriate technology for wastewater reclamation in Greece.

Monte Carlo simulation for the determination of cumulative distribution of fecal coliforms

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Bulking sludge phenomena in wastewater treatment plants Aim: The research project investigated the consequences of sludge bulking in approximately 25 large wastewater treatment plants, selected to cover the greater part of Greece Aim: The research project investigated the consequences of sludge bulking in approximately 25 large wastewater treatment plants, selected to cover the greater part of Greece Procedure: Sludge and sewage samples were analyzed for filamentous identification and sewage characteristics Procedure: Sludge and sewage samples were analyzed for filamentous identification and sewage characteristics several bench scale units were operated in order to investigate the effect of critical parameters such as wastewater characteristics and plant configuration several bench scale units were operated in order to investigate the effect of critical parameters such as wastewater characteristics and plant configuration A population dynamics mathematical model and verified with the aid of experimental data A population dynamics mathematical model and verified with the aid of experimental data According to the findings of the project useful practical suggestions for the improvement of the operation of treatment plants in Greece were formulated According to the findings of the project useful practical suggestions for the improvement of the operation of treatment plants in Greece were formulated

Dominant filamentous bacteria in Greek WWTPs

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Optimization of flow pattern in nutrient removal plants to prevent bulking Main objective: Development of control strategies to prevent filamentous bulking in nutrient removal plants Development of control strategies to prevent filamentous bulking in nutrient removal plants {The Sanitary Engineering Laboratory of NTUA, worked in collaboration with the other partners in all the aspects of the project} {The Sanitary Engineering Laboratory of NTUA, worked in collaboration with the other partners in all the aspects of the project}

Topics: 1. Survey of existing nutrient removal WWTPs in Greece 2. Wastewater characterization studies 3. Pilot and laboratory scale studies on the effect of different modes of operation on the growth of filamentous bacteria ( Microthrix parvicella)

The main conclusions : 1. Upgrading of wastewater treatment plants to nutrient removal in many cases resulted in poorer settling properties of activated sludge compared to conventional treatment plants without nutrient removal 2. Poor settling properties( bulking): Normally caused: 1)by an excessive growth of filamentous bacteria and in some cases 2)by the surface chemistry of the activated sludge. Filamentous bacteria hinder the agglomeration and settling of sludge physically whereas the effect of surface chemistry is electrostatic in nature identified bacteria may cause bulking. 4-5 were the ones most commonly found in nutrient removal activated sludge systems

Microscopic identification of filamentous bacteria 4. Growth of filamentous bacteria: Depend on actual wastewater composition and configuration and operational parameters of process tanks 5. Use of selector systems: Successful in controlling bulking in conventional treatment plants without nutrient removal. Positive effect of selectors appeared to be reduced in nutrient removal plants.

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Author Affiliation: Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki GR-54124, Greece Summary: Summary: Occurrence and the fate of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and Ni) during the wastewater treatment process were investigated in the wastewater treatment plant (WTP) of the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, operating in the activated sludge mode. Occurrence and the fate of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and Ni) during the wastewater treatment process were investigated in the wastewater treatment plant (WTP) of the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, operating in the activated sludge mode.

Sampling Procedure: Wastewater and sludge samples Influent (raw wastewater, RW) Effluent (primary sedimentation effluent, PSE) Effluent (secondary sedimentation effluent, SSE) Sludge (primary sludge, PS) Activated sludge from Recirculation stream (activated sludge, AS) Digested/ dewatered sludge (final sludge, FS)

Research: The distribution of metals between the aqueous and the solid phase of wastewater was investigated The distribution of metals between the aqueous and the solid phase of wastewater was investigated

Results: Good exponential correlation was found between the metal partition coefficient, logKp, and the suspended solids concentration Good exponential correlation was found between the metal partition coefficient, logKp, and the suspended solids concentration Mass balance of heavy metals in the primary, secondary and the whole treatment process showed good closures for all metal species Mass balance of heavy metals in the primary, secondary and the whole treatment process showed good closures for all metal species Relative distribution of individual heavy metals in treated effluent and sludge streams indicated that Mn and Cu are primarily (>70%) accumulated in the sludge, while 47-63% of Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe, Ni and Zn remain in the treated effluent. Relative distribution of individual heavy metals in treated effluent and sludge streams indicated that Mn and Cu are primarily (>70%) accumulated in the sludge, while 47-63% of Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe, Ni and Zn remain in the treated effluent.

Flow chart of the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Thessaloniki (QRW: m3/d, QPS: 4500 m3/d, QAS: m3/d, QAS2: 3000 m3/d)