Wastewater sedimentation is a simple but effective process to remove solids from wastewater. In a primary clarifier, solid particles are moved from the wastewater through the settling process. This process is similar to what happens in a French press coffee maker.
This educational video discusses the science and math behind primary clarification in wastewater treatment and provides a visual demonstration of how this process works. After leaving our houses, wastewater flows through the sewer system to a wastewater treatment facility. At this facility, during the sedimentation step, water slows down in a large basin, which allows larger particles that are denser than water to settle out. The longer the wastewater is in this basin, which is the concept of detention time, the more particles will settle out. After the sedimentation process, the wastewater can then move on to the biological treatment process.
In this video you will learn:
- How velocity impacts settling
- What turbidity measures in wastewater
- Specific gravity and how it is important for wastewater clarifiers
- Detention time and how it is calculated
- How to brew a cup of coffee