Sewer sediments

The sewer processes take place in a complex system. They proceed in one or more of the five phases the suspended water phase, the biofilm, the sewer sediments, the sewer atmosphere and the sewer walls, and by exchange of relevant substances across the interphases. Processes that proceed in the sewer system affect other parts of the urban system, i.e., the urban atmosphere with malodorous substances. Furthermore, wastewater treatment plants and local receiving waters receive not just those substances discharged into the sewer but also products that are the result of the sewer processes (Figures 1.1 and 1.3). 

The occurrence of sewer sediments is primarily determined by the physical characteristics of wastewater solids and the hydraulic conditions. Basically, sewers should be designed and operated in a way that does not result in permanent deposits. This ideal performance of a sewer is not generally observed, and sediments may be more or less temporarily accumulated in sewers. In combined sewer networks, sediments may settle under dry-weather conditions when the wastewater velocity and shear stress at the bottom are low and be... 

The physical characteristics of sewer deposits can be described in terms of individual particle and bulk properties. The hydraulic and structural conditions in the sewer, together with the nature of the inputs, will control the type of material that deposits at a given location. Crabtree (1989) has proposed a sewer sediment taxonomy that is relevant mainly in terms of physical properties but also to chemical and biological processes (Table 3.5). The taxonomy is based on four primary classes with a fifth class B comprising agglutinated or cemented class A material. 

As seen from Table 3.5, organic matter constitutes an essential part of sewer sediments, however, generally with a low biodegradability. Class D (sewer biofilm) is included in the taxonomy (Section 3.2.7). Class A sewer sediment material is most commonly found in combined sewer networks. 

Only a few studies have been directly concerned with chemical and biological processes in sewer sediments. However, relatively high anaerobic activity in terms of H2S formation of sediment deposits compared with what is generally observed in sewer biofilms is observed (Section 6.2.5). This activity may indicate H2S formation in the deep parts of the sediment caused by the production... 

TABLE 3.5. Sewer Sediment Taxonomy as Proposed by Crabtree (1989). 

TABLE 3.6. Typical Values of Selected Pollutants Associated with Class A Sewer Sediments (Ashley et al., 2001). 

This chapter deals with the microbial transformations of wastewater under aerobic conditions in a sewer network. It emphasizes the transformations of the organic matter and includes processes in both the water phase and the biofilm. Furthermore, transformations of particles in suspension originating from sewer sediments are included. A concept and a corresponding model for the integration of the major microbial processes, i.e., growth of the heterotrophic biomass, the respiration and the hydrolysis, are also dealt with. The basic chemical and biological aspects of sewer processes are focused on in Chapters 2 and 3. The reaeration process is dealt with in Chapter 4. 

Basically, a concept for microbial transformations in sewer networks should cover soluble and particulate components and relevant processes in the water phase, in the biofilm and in the sewer sediments. In addition, mass transfer between these phases and an air-water transfer of oxygen should be taken into account (Figures 1.3 and 5.2). Although only the aerobic microbial activity will be focused on in the concept presented in this chapter, anoxic and anaerobic processes should be considered possible extensions (cf. Chapter 6). 

From a general point of view, but still related to sewer conditions, the anaerobic processes in wastewater are dealt with in Chapter 3, especially in Section 3.2.2. In the following, the sulfur cycle is focused on. A part of this cycle proceeds under anaerobic conditions, and another part is aerobic. In a sewer system with changing aerobic and anaerobic conditions, this combined cycle is of particular interest but, at the same time, also complex to deal with. The nature of the sulfur cycle in a sewer is further complicated because the processes proceed in and between the biofilm, the sewer sediments, the water phase, and the sewer atmosphere. 

Sulfate is typically found in all types of wastewater in concentrations greater than 5-15 gS nr i.e., in concentrations that are not limiting for sulfide formation in relatively thin biofilms (Nielsen and Hvitved-Jacobsen, 1988). In sewer sediments, however, where sulfate may penetrate the deeper sediment layers, the potential for sulfate reduction may increase with increasing sulfate concentration in the bulk water phase. Under specific conditions, e.g., in the case of industrial wastewater, it is important that oxidized sulfur components (e.g., thiosulfate and sulfite) other than sulfate may act as sulfur sources for sulfate-reducing bacteria (Nielsen, 1991). 

Removal of sewer biofilm and deposits by flushing and use of a cleaning ball for detachment of biofilm and resuspension of sewer sediments are examples of mechanical methods for reducing sulfide occurrence. 

A new concept for improved CSO impact assessment must include physical and microbial characteristics and processes. As far as the microbial heterotrophic transformations are concerned, intensive investigations have shown that suspended particles originating from sewer sediments follow the concept for wastewater depicted in Figure 5.5 (Vollertsen and Hvitved-Jacobsen, 1998 Vollertsen and Hvitved-Jacobsen, 1999 Vollertsen et al., 1999). This finding is important, because it shows that the concept and corresponding model developed for transformations of wastewater in sewers... 

TCDD was detected at high concentrations (up to several hundred ppb) in storm sewer sediments (Smith etal. 1983 Tieman et al. 1985). 

Many of these springs have been channeled into storm sewers. Also, the hilly nature of the site results in much soil erosion that also finds its way into the storm sewers. Once sediment testing is performed in these sewers, it will be relatively easy to trace the contaminants up-gradient. This is likely to narrow down areas of contamination and burial sites. For example, explosives always find their way into the storm sewers. The explosive burial site referenced in the historic document section will probably only be found via this storm sewer sediment testing. 

Leung, H. D. Chen, G. Sharma, K. Effect of detached/re-suspended solids from sewer sediment on the sewage phase bacterial activity. Water Sci. Technol. 2005, 52, 147-152. 

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