Performance Evaluation of a full-scale DEWATS plant in South Africa

Content - Summary

As a part of a project funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC Research Project K5/2002) was the aim of this thesis the interpretation of the performance of a full-scale DEWATS evaluation plant in Durban, Newlands-Mashu, South Africa.

Laboratory analyses were performed to determine the treatment efficiency of the plant and compared with the initial design performance and local discharge standards. Operational and maintenance issues that influenced the research activities were elaborated.

The treatment plant was operated under operation conditions three times above the design maximum in order to study if the system collapses under increased hydraulic loadings.

It was shown that the system was affected by rainfall, which led to an overstatement of the performance through a dilution effect. The general performance of the system has not shown satisfying results compared to the estimated performance of the design spreadsheets. The effluent complied with local discharge limits concerning the reuse of wastewater for irrigation. Increased hydraulic loadings have not affected the treatment plant in a way that a collapse could be observed. It was moreover observed that no difference in the reduction of organic matter under higher hydraulic loadings appeared.

For further information about this thesis, please contact Lars Schoebitz via e-mail: Lars.Schoebitz@eawag.ch

Bibliographic information

Schoebitz, L. (2013). Performance Evaluation of a full-scale DEWATS plant in South Africa. Diploma Thesis, Krankenhaus- und Medizintechnik, Umwelt- und Biotechnologie der TH Mittelhessen, Germany

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Biogas systems Case studies in other formats English Sub-Saharan Africa Urban (entire city)

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