Sewage Treatment System

Waste Treatment

Minimisation and appropriate treatment of waste is essential for a community that
wishes to approach any degree of sustainability. The consideration of sewage treatment is essential for any development. Since the 1st of January 1999, disposal of sewage waste at sea has become illegal under EU legislation.

A Suggestion for Oatlands

It is possible for a Community like Oatlands to collect and treat their sewage waste in a sustainable manner. We recommend that the sewage from Oatlands be treated in a Sludge Thermal Drying unit, which would produce pellets for subsequent incineration. The sewage sludge, as collected from the development is fed into a drying unit. If deemed acceptable, this unit could be located in the nearby Richmond Park, on the banks of the Clyde. This process increases the dry solids content to about 90-95%. From here it is passed to the pelletising units, which produce small pellets.

Click for larger schematic

	In attempting to attain a cyclic nature, which is the very essence of sustainability, we recommend that these pellets should be used to fuel boilers that are connected to our proposed district heating network. This would substantially reduce fuel bills, and would also remove any dependency on outside sources. If this does not prove to be socially acceptable, the pellets could be sent to Longannet Power station, where there are considerations already underway for the burning of such pellets. Alternatively, they could be used as a soil conditioner/fertliser, which is currently a popular choice. Whichever procedure was followed, the Oatlands community would be making large steps towards the sustainable treatment of it's sewage waste.

• Cost

  The cost of a system of this type is estimated at GB£1.5million. This estimate is based on the present market, and existing projects. This would represent a cost per dwelling of about GB£600 (assuming about 2500 dwellings in the devleopment).
  At the present time, this method of sewage disposable is quite a new concept, however, due to the success of the initial projects, it is becoming very popular.

  Benefits

  • Foul water effluent to the local network is zero.
    
    
  • Augmentation of the local network is not necessary.
    
    
  • If used as fuel for communal heating boilers, there is potential for large financial savings,
    and a reduced dependency on outside sources.
    
    
  • Selling/donating it to Longannet power station could result in benefits from Scottish Power.
    
    
  • Infrastructure in place for sustainable management of waste.

External Reference Links:

1. http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk/des20/chapter7/4.htm
   DETR Sewage statistics.
2. http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/projects/EandE/97-8/energy_from_waste/home.htm
   Previous project on Energy-from-Waste.
3. http://caddet-ee.org/newsdesk/nw198_08.htm
   Successful Sewage drying project in Antwerp.
4. http://www.purac.co.uk/
   Wastewater treatment solutions.
5. http://www.infilcodegremont.com/Profile.htm
   Large US Treatment company.
6. http://plymouth.ces.state.nc.us/septic/98jantra2.html
   Comments on Wastewater treatment systems.

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