Orange County WasteWater treatment

Summary

In Southern California's Orange County, where water is scarce, innovative facilities treat 213 million gallons of wastewater daily. The process involves five stages: source control, preliminary, primary, secondary treatment, and disinfection. It reduces heavy metals by 90%, uses microorganisms to consume organic material, and treats the water with advanced methods like microfiltration and UV light. Sludge is decomposed into methane for energy, and solids are composted.

Takeaways

• 💧 Orange County in Southern California faces significant challenges in managing water resources due to its natural scarcity.
• 🏭 The county has developed two facilities capable of treating 213 million gallons of wastewater daily.
• 🔬 There are five key steps in wastewater treatment: source control, preliminary, primary, secondary, and disinfection.
• 🏢 Source control involves working with industries to monitor and reduce heavy metals in wastewater by 90%.
• 🚮 Preliminary treatment includes measuring flow and pH levels, and removing trash, debris, and grit.
• 💦 Primary treatment separates waste particles from water using gravity and density in large cells.
• 🦠 Secondary treatment uses microorganisms to consume most of the organic material in the wastewater.
• 💧 Half of the treated water is sent to a groundwater replenishment system for further purification.
• 🌐 The groundwater replenishment system uses microfiltration, reverse osmosis, UV light, and hydrogen peroxide to purify water.
• 🌱 The other half of the water undergoes disinfection, and the sludge is sent to digesters for natural decomposition.
• ♻️ Methane produced from sludge decomposition is used to power the facility, and the solid waste is used to make compost.

Q & A

What is the average water usage per person per day in Orange County?

The average person in Orange County uses 100 gallons of water a day.

Why is there an urgency to find new methods for water management in Southern California?

Water is not naturally abundant in Southern California, leading to ongoing challenges in protecting and managing water resources.

How much wastewater does Orange County treat per day?

Orange County treats 213 million gallons of wastewater per day.

What are the five steps wastewater must undergo to meet state and federal requirements for purification?

The five steps are source control, preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, and disinfection.

What is source control and how does it help reduce heavy metals in wastewater?

Source control involves working with industries and businesses to monitor what they dispose of into sewers, which helps decrease heavy metals in wastewater by 90 percent.

What happens during the preliminary treatment of wastewater?

During preliminary treatment, the flow and pH levels are measured, and trash, debris, and grit are removed, making the wastewater easier to handle.

What is the purpose of grid chambers in wastewater treatment?

Grid chambers slow down the water flow, allowing grit to settle.

How does primary treatment separate waste particles from water?

Primary treatment involves large cells where water flows for two hours, allowing gravity and density to separate waste particles from the water.

What is the role of microorganisms in secondary treatment?

In secondary treatment, wastewater is exposed to microorganisms that consume most of the organic material.

Where does the treated water go after secondary treatment?

After secondary treatment, the treated water is sent to either a groundwater replenishment system or undergoes disinfection.

What happens to the sludge removed during primary and secondary treatment?

The sludge is sent to digesters where it naturally decomposes for 20 to 30 days, converting the sludge into methane, which can be used to power the facility.

How is the solid waste from the digesters utilized?

The solid waste from the digesters is used to make compost.