Download Oxidation pond or lagoon or water stabilization pond is a secondary wastewater treatment and more Summaries Building Materials and Systems in PDF only on Docsity! Oxidation Pond Oxidation pond or lagoon or water stabilization pond is a secondary wastewater treatment that treats waste or sewage coming from industries, residential areas, etc. It uses microorganisms like bacteria, algae and light energy (sunlight) to stabilize the wastewater. The oxidation pond is constructed 1-1.5 m deep inside the soil and provided with inlet and outlet systems. Earlier, symbiotic algae and bacterial growth were used to treat the wastewater under the act of sunlight. Later on, it was found that not only the algae-bacterial association but also the fungal growth can purify the industrial effluents or raw sewage. Definition of Oxidation Pond Oxidation pond refers to the stabilization pond stabilizing the domestic, trade, industrial wastes etc., by the microbial interaction (primarily bacteria and algae). It seems like a large shallow pond with 2-6 feet height of water body. Oxidation pond requires the presence of sunlight and oxygen for the secondary treatment of domestic and trade wastes. The secondary treatment of the organic and inorganic waste coming from raw sewage and industrial effluents is necessary. The direct disposal of the wastewater to the aquatic system can affect the life of water bodies and the quality of water as well. Mechanism of Waste Treatment The mechanism or working of the oxidation pond can be made simple by understanding the following steps: 1. First, the bacteria present in the oxidation pond will oxidize the organic waste of the domestic as well as industrial sewage. By doing this, bacteria release carbon dioxide, water and ammonia. 2. The algal growth occurs in the presence of sunlight. It utilizes the inorganic wastes formed by the organic matter decomposition and releases oxygen. Advantages • The stabilization pond reduces the biological oxygen demand up to 90% naturally. • It is a simple method to operate or does not require sophisticated equipment. • Oxidation pond is a practical and effective method for the wastewater treatment of domestic and trade wastes in tropical areas. • The operation of a stabilization pond does not require much labour- power. • It is an economical method for the treatment of wastewater from small and isolated units. Disadvantages • The construction of a stabilization pond requires more land area. • The maintenance is quite intricate. • Sometimes, it gives a foul smell and mosquito menace during the process if not appropriately maintained. • There may get a chance of effluent seepage into the ground water, which can ultimately cause ground water pollution
