Section II. WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL
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GENERAL
Each wastewater disposal system consists of the following: collecting the
wastewater, transporting it to a central location, treating the wastewater to render it safe
and innocuous, and disposing of the resulting effluent. Figure 1-1 illustrates a complete
wastewater system. For example, wastewater removed may leave a house or dwelling
by way of a sewer system. The sewer system structures convey the wastewater to the
treatment plant for processing, chlorinating, and disposing of the now treated
wastewater through a connecting outfall sewer.
1-8.
OBJECTIVE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT
The objective of wastewater treatment is to remove as many of the residues as
possible and bring the wastewater supply as nearly as practicable back to the quality of
the original water supply. Although potable water is never produced at the treatment
plant, the wastewater treatment processes at one town or installation are often the first
steps of water treatment for those farther down a stream. In any instance, wastewater
treatment plant processing should be carried sufficiently far to ensure that no nuisance
condition or health hazard will result by the final disposal of the effluent and that the
quality of the water in receiving streams is not seriously impaired. In addition, the
effluent must meet applicable Federal, state, and local discharge criteria.
1-9.
WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS
The water collection system transports wastewater from its origin to a designated
destination. The purpose of a wastewater collection system is to safeguard the soldiers
from disease-causing organisms, industrial wastes and so forth, as the wastewater is
removed from its point of origin to the point for treatment or disposal (discussed in
following lessons). Sanitary collection systems which use conveying structures and
pumps are designed to remove these domestic and industrial wastes. Interceptors and
traps are used as preventive maintenance measures prior to the wastewater entering
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