Proposal for Quetta Water Supply and Environmental Improvement Project-Construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant

1. Introduction

This proposal offers an economically viable and yet simple bioremediation technology to treat very large amount of sewerage water to quality suitable for agriculture irrigation application. Our bioremediation makes use of the most natural process utilizing AquaClean microbe in a unique biomedia home to retain as much bacteria as possible within the treatment pond.

AquaClean provides very effective natural bioremediation technology with the capability to rehabilitate polluted lakes and rivers without any expensive upfront capital investment. Large volumes of polluted water can be recovered and converted to reusable water at a very affordable cost.

Simple and effective large remediation lagoons consisting of facultative, aerobic and polishing ponds only with very minimum mechanical system is proposed to meet the tender specification and requirement.

The key advantage of our system is very low up front capital investment, low operating cost, low operator skill level, environmental friendly and yet does not need any electricity to run our system. This is made possible with our unique AquaClean bacteria from Ecological Laboratories Inc of USA to achieve the most effective bioremediation technology available today,

Irrigation with polluted water or wastewater is a widespread reality. The use of untreated waste water does bring additional nutrients to plants in agricultural irrigation and save the farmer fertilizer cost, hence increase the yield of the farmer. The application of untreated sewerage water and polluted water in irrigation also contribute to health risks through pathogenic microbial crop contamination, especially when it concerns food consumed uncooked. Among wastewater-related infections, diarrhoeal diseases are the top cause of death among children in the developing world.

The key objective of our proposal is to provide a very cost effective waste water treatment system that reduces the high COD and BOD influent water to level suitable for vegetable and fruit irrigation, yet retain as much plant nutrient as possible and having final effluent free of pathogenic bacteria.

2. Principle of AquaClean Bioremediation

Biological treatment and reliance on bacteria is not new or novel; it has played a central role in conventional waste treatment throughout the history of mankind. What is new, however, is our growing understanding of the natural processes and how we can utilize bacteria for industrial, agricultural and residential applications in the decomposition of organic waste, thereby enhancing the bio-degradation process, which is fundamental to sanitation clean-ups.

Bio-remediation consists mainly of bio-stimulation, where nutrients or oxygen are added to soil or water to stimulate native bacteria populations, and bio-augmentation, where external microorganisms, naturally occurring or engineered strains, are introduced to enhance the degradation process.

The primary use of biological agents has been in enhanced natural remediation and wastewater treatment of sanitation systems for residential and municipalities, lakes, rivers and ponds, once-through lagoons for agricultural and industrial active wastewater systems. Bio-remediation can usually be performed in situ, without the need for existing system modification, thereby generating large savings in upfront capital cost for waste treatment equipment.

This "classic" approach to bio-remediation requires the controlled delivery of oxygen and nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, into wastewater treatment systems. Bio-augmentation, the addition of external microorganisms to a site with sufficient population of suitable types of bacteria will dramatically improve results where biostimulation alone has proven inadequate or ineffective.

AquaClean Productsoffers one of the most proven approaches to Bio-augmentation for various polluted water bodies and wastewater treatment systems. AquaClean is a combination of various species of live bacteria suspended in a liquid medium used for the treatment of industrial, agricultural and residential organically contaminated wastewater. AquaClean is developed and manufactured by Ecological Laboratories of USA with more than 30 years experience in bacteria culture selection, bio-product formulation as well as manufacturing and technological support for wastewater management through microbial treatment planning and application.

AquaCleanbacterial culture contains aerobic species (those that require oxygen) and anaerobic species (those that do not require oxygen). The micro-organisms in Aqua-Clean are non-toxic and non-pathogenic. They are live bacteria in a liquid medium that is non-offensive to humans, animals, plants and all types of aqua culture. AquaClean is made up of various types of bacterial species that have been cultivated for compatibility, reproduction and growth. When AquaClean is added to a contaminated area, the bacteria immediately revive themselves and begin to feed, reproduce and attack that organic waste in the water.

Biostimulation involves the addition of nutrients or oxygen to polluted water to stimulate the bacteria present in the water. The use of artificial aerators is a common technique for biostimulation. However, this method required electricity and high maintenance cost. Our approach is to monitor the dissolved oxygen level and nutrient balance in the waste water and take appropriate action when necessary. One method of increasing dissolved oxygen is the use of a German made product called BioAktiv which consist of pulverized chalk meal that carries homeopathic oscillation vibrating frequency to increase the DO level in the water.

3. Design Principle of our Waste Water Treatment System:-

Polluted water from rivers or lakes is channeled through a mechanical bar screen chamber to remove any solid debris such as plastic bags and floating woods pieces, which are not degradable by microbes. This is followed by a grease trap to trap floating grease before water enters the facultative pond.

Solid debris at the bar screen chamber shall be removed mechanically and dispose at suitable dumping ground as solid waste disposal. As the main water source is sewerage in nature, we do not anticipate much solid debris from this water source.

Most of the grease and floating oil will be trap at the grease trap chamber. AquaClean DGTT will be used to degrade the grease naturally and minimize the grease disposal frequency. With a sufficient large grease trap to hold the retained oil and grease for more than a week, more than 70% of the trap oil and grease will be degraded by AquaClean DGTT product. We anticipate grease removal is required only once every 3 to 6 months or may not required at all.

The main treatment of polluted water takes place at the facultative and aerobic ponds. AquaClean ACF32 remediation at the facultative pond with high organic loading of 900 mg/l COD and 600 mg/l BOD is capable to achieve an initial COD and BOD reduction of approximated 15 mg/l/hr and 10 mg/l/hr respectively. Two third of the BOD and COD should be degraded at the facultative pond with such high organic loading and having a retention time of 3 days. AquaClean ACF32 and AquaClean SA are used at the facultative ponds. The use of AquaClean SA is to enhance degradation of the high level of anticipated settled organic sludge at this point. The use of AquaClean SA with ACF32 will practically eliminate all organic solid in the pond. What is not degradable are the sands and soil particles. However, bulk of the sand and oil particles will be settled at the grating chamber and floating trap. We anticipate mechanical de-sludging is required only once every five to ten years.

Fig 1 Designed COD and BOD values over time

The semi-treatment effluent from the facultative pond with much lower organic loading is then treated by two aerobic ponds in series with each having a retention time of 3.5 days. The COD and BOD reduction at this stage is much slower due to lower organic loading. Fig 1 shows the projected COD and BOD over time during the treatment.

4. Designed final effluent water parameters:-

The above final effluent water standard is based on approved effluent discharge to public water course in Singapore based on Singapore ENV code of practice.

Our proposal set out to achieve the above standard for more than 80% of the time with influent loading maintain within 20% range of the above influent parameters. However, any bioremediation program can be affected by high toxicity of influent water which may affect the final effluent quality beyond our control. AquaClean remediation has proven in various industrial waste treatment applications that it is capable to restore back any system imbalance and shock loading within very short time typically within few days. Ability to maintain system stability in harsh condition is one of our bioremediation technological advantages over others.

Since the main application of the final effluent is for vegetable and fruit irrigation, our bioremediation process target to reduce the organic loading as shown above with minimum effect in nitrogen and phosphate removal to retain the nutrient values for the plant.

Fig 2 Tomato plants in Taiwan using sewerage water with and without AquaClean treatment.

One of AquaClean’s remediation advantages of sewerage waste water for agricultural irrigation is that ammonia and nitrate are converted to organic amino acid and retained in the water. The treated water retain our specific heterotrophic bacteria that convert back the amino acid to ammonia in the soil slowly through AquaClean ammonification process that is being absorbed by the vegetable and fruits.

5. System Proposal

Polishing Pond with AquaClean as may be required to complete Bioremediation

EffluentOutlet

Fig 3 Typical AquaClean Remediation Lagoon

Fig 4 Typical BioMedia Construction

STP: Sabzal Road	Daily flow	8,352	m3/day		Retention Time (Days)
	length (m)	Width (m)	Depth (m)	Vol (m3)
Grit Chamber	4	30	6	720
Floating Trap	6	30	6	1,080
Facultative Pond	140	30	6	25,200	3.0
Aerobic Pond	150	30	3	13,500	1.6
Polishing Pond	150	30	3	13,500	1.6
Land Area required	13,500	m2 =	3.3	acres
STP:Samungli Road	Daily flow	32,000	m3/day		Retention Time (Days)
	length (m)	Width (m)	Depth (m)	Vol (m3)
Grit Chamber	4	50	6	1,200
Floating Trap	6	50	6	1,800
Facultative Pond	170	50	7	59,500	1.9
Aerobic Pond	180	50	5	45,000	1.4
Polishing Pond	180	50	5	45,000	1.4
Land Area required	27,000	m2 =	6.7	acres
Balochistan University	Daily flow	11,000	m3/day		Retention Time (Days)
	length (m)	Width (m)	Depth (m)	Vol (m3)
Grit Chamber	4	38	6	912
Floating Trap	6	38	6	1,368
Facultative Pond	140	38	6	31,920	2.9
Aerobic Pond	150	38	3	17,100	1.6
Polishing Pond	150	38	3	17,100	1.6
Land Area required	17,100	m2 =	4.2	acres

Fig 5 Proposed Lagoon sizing and land required

Thebar screen chamber and floating trap are to be constructed using RC concrete with foundation if necessary. Facultative, aerobic and polishing pond is to be constructed using simple open excavation method with 45^o slope at all sides. The lagoon bed is to be covered with a layer of good quality geo-textile membrane to prevent polluted water seepage into ground and contain the treated water. The above lagoon dimension is recommended for consideration. The actual lagoon shape and size will be adjusted according to site condition and shape available. It is the pond volume that is critical for treatment to work effectively. Detail engineering design will be provided after contract award.

Specially constructed biomedia as shown in fig 4 is to be installed all lagoons. The biomedia is made from special nylon strings providing a media surface area of 4.5m² per m run. The media rope can be wound evenly on a rectangular frame constructed from bamboo or PVC pipes with 150m per m³ of frame. AquaClean-BioAktiv remediation with the biomedia can achieve a BOD reduction rate of 40g/m².day. Based on a BOD reduction rate of 550 mg/l on the media surface, the estimated biomedia material is tabulated in Fig 6.

The recommended size of biomedia frame is 5m X 2m X 1m providing 10 cubic meter frame volume that takes about 150m length of biomedia material. The frame is to be installed evenly at all the lagoon so that it serve as filter media to trap as much organic waste particle as possible and provide a resident home for the microbes to speed up the biological degradation process. Detail layout arrangement shall be decided at site.

STP: Sabzal Road	Daily flow
	8,352	m3/day
Daily BOD reduction on media	4,594	kg
Biomedia surface	114,840	m2
Biomedia length	25,520	m
Biomedia frame	170	m3
Samungli Road	Daily flow
	32,000	m3/day
Daily BOD reduction on media	17,600	kg
Biomedia surface	440,000	m2
Biomedia length	97,778	m
Biomedia frame	650	m3
Balochistan University	Daily flow
	11,000	m3/day
Daily BOD reduction on media	6,050	kg
Biomedia surface	151,250	m2
Biomedia length	33,611	m
Biomedia frame	220	m3

Fig 6 Biomedia requirement

Three sets of diesel driven water pump of suitable capacity may be required at each treatment plants to pump water from source to the bar screen chamber. It is recommended that the water flow from bar screen chamber all the way to polishing pond be designed based on gravitational flow so that no mechanical pumping equipment is necessary.

Fig 7 tabulate the various dosing schedule.

AquaClean product is a unique pre-cultured bacteria that does not need any further treatment. Application is simply open the bottle and pour directly into each respective lagoon.

6. Construction Period

Our bioremediation technology does not required elaborate mechanical equipment. The complete system can be constructed within 4 months and commence operation by 5^th months. If existing lagoon is available, we can commence treatment within 3 months from date of award.

7. Performance Guarantee

We undertake to carry our all dosing and water sample monitoring during the first twelve months of operation and guarantee to achieve the design effluent parameter in paragraph 4 above within 3 months from inoculation.

In addition to water sample monitoring, we will conduct field experiment in collaboration with local university to determine the commercial benefits of using our treatment water in vegetable and fruit farming as compare to use of non-treated water.

8. Product Experience

About AquaClean

AquaClean’s (referred hereafter as synonymous with Microbe-Lift) core product is a unique consortium of bio-cultures that contains highly effective aerobic, anaerobic, facultative, chemo- and photosynthetic microorganisms that are perfectly safe for humans, animals and plant life. Working in harmony with nature, AquaClean helps rapidly restore the natural balance while providing a host of ancillary benefits. AquaClean complies with the strictest environmental regulations. AquaClean is a non-toxic, non-caustic, biodegradable, non-pathogenic product authorized by the USDA for the treatment and clean up of environmental waste.

BluePlanet markets and sells the AquaClean product line providing natural bio-tech solutions for industrial, municipal, agricultural and residential wastewater management and cleanup. The Company owns the international distribution rights for Microbe-Lift products that have been effectively protected by trade-secret for over thirty years. AquaClean products are currently manufactured and purchased directly form the technology owner, Ecological Laboratories in Cape Coral, Florida. The Company is capable of large-scale production, and has an excellent reputation for customer service and quality control.

Manufacture

Ecological Laboratories, Inc is a Biotech Company specializing in the development of microbiological products for the natural treatment of environmental problems associated with the various wastewater and organic recycling issues. Some of the primary applications of our product technology include the reduction of organic contaminants (BODs, CODs and TSS), reduction of odors from H₂S and other sulfur compounds, control of algae, reduction of nitrogen compounds, and restoration of the natural balance of ponds, lakes and rivers.

Ecological Laboratories products have been used since 1976 in the treatment of Industrial and Municipal wastewater treatment, Agricultural Farms and Food Processing