Waste Water Disposal

Introduction

Waste water disposal is a crucial aspect of environmental engineering. It involves the process of removing and treating waste water from residential, industrial, and commercial establishments to prevent pollution and protect public health.

Land Treatment

Land treatment refers to the application of waste water onto the ground where it is absorbed and treated by natural processes. The process involves the application of waste water onto the soil surface or injection into the subsurface. However, it has its pros and cons. While it is cost-effective and eco-friendly, it requires large land areas and can potentially contaminate groundwater.

Dilution

Dilution is another method of waste water disposal where waste water is released into large bodies of water like rivers or oceans. The waste water gets diluted and eventually treated by natural processes. While this method is easy and cost-effective, it can lead to water pollution if not properly managed.

Self Purification

Self purification refers to the natural process by which water bodies restore their normal conditions after being polluted. The capacity of streams for self purification depends on various factors like flow rate, temperature, and biological activity. However, excessive pollution can overwhelm this capacity leading to long-term environmental damage.

Oxygen Sag Analysis

Oxygen sag analysis is a method used to study the self purification capacity of streams. It involves the measurement of dissolved oxygen levels downstream from a pollution source. The resulting curve, known as the oxygen sag curve, helps in understanding the impact of pollution on the stream's self purification capacity.

Conclusion

Waste water disposal is a critical aspect of environmental engineering. It involves various methods like land treatment, dilution, and self purification. Understanding these methods and their implications is crucial for effective waste water management and environmental protection.

Summary

Waste water disposal is a crucial part of environmental engineering. It involves methods like land treatment, dilution, and self purification. Land treatment involves applying waste water onto the ground, dilution involves releasing waste water into large bodies of water, and self purification refers to the natural process by which water bodies restore their normal conditions after being polluted. Oxygen sag analysis is used to study the self purification capacity of streams.

Analogy

Think of waste water disposal like cleaning up after a big party. The waste water is the mess left behind, and the disposal methods are the different ways you can clean up. Land treatment is like composting food waste, dilution is like washing dishes, and self purification is like letting the mess sit and hoping it will clean itself up. Oxygen sag analysis is like checking how clean the house is after the party.