| Abstrakt: |
New Borg Al-Arab city includes 9 residential areas and 4 industrial zones. The four industrial zones are occupied by 266 running factories belonging to different industrial sectors. All the domestic sewage as well as the industrial wastewater is treated at an oxidation pond treatment plant and the plant effluent is used in irrigation of silviculture areas. The plant consists of 2 pond complexes. Each complex comprises 9 facultative ponds, arranged in 3 parallel series. Raw wastewater is pre-treated through screens and grit removal before entering the primary ponds. The study aims at assessment of the performance of the waste stabilization ponds. The results revealed that pre-treatment units were not functioning properly. The retention time was calculated to be 6 days in each pond of the first complex and 3 days in each pond of the second complex. The mean BOD surface loading rate was calculated to be 676 kg/ha/d for the first complex and 1584 kg/ha/d for the second. The plant was hydraulically and organically overloaded. The percentage removal of BOD, COD, SS, and NH3-N had an annual mean of 57%, 56%, 44%, and 39%, respectively for the first complex and 21%, 42%, 39%, and 25%, respectively for the second. Faecal coliforms were reduced by about 1 log10 unit in both complexes. The final pond effluent was not complying with the Egyptian law for reuse in irrigation. The study proposed some recommendations which can improve the efficiency of the plant as well as the effluent quality. |
