Biological ponds: definition, classification, types, processes and biological water treatment

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

Every year there is an increase in water consumption, which is associated with an increase in the number of inhabitants in most regions of the country, as well as the continued growth of industry. This leads to the fact that pollution of the environment with sewage is also increasing, putting before the experts a difficult task - how to cause the least possible harm to nature with the least losses for progress. There is a need to develop effective methods of wastewater treatment, among the most effective of them is the creation of biological ponds. Let's get to know them better, find out the essence of this term, varieties and specifics of arrangement and application.

Concept

Artificially created reservoirs are now not uncommon. And biological ponds are among them, however, they are distinguished from other varieties by their purpose - in such ponds, conditions are created as close to natural as possible, in which wastewater will be self-purified. Canalso meet other names of structures - lagoons, simple ponds, stabilization ponds, post-treatment ponds.

The main "inhabitants" of such reservoirs are green algae, which actively release oxygen during their life, and this chemical element, in turn, leads to an acceleration of the decay of organic matter. In addition, the following groups of factors influence the decomposition process:

• Temperature.
• Aeration.
• Water speed.
• The vital activity of bacteria.

This is how water is purified - quite naturally and quite quickly. In just 5 days, you can make a complete cleaning of the reservoir. In addition, plants will accumulate heavy metals inside them, which in nature decompose for a long time.

Characteristic

Let's get acquainted with the main parameters of bioponds:

• Optimal depth is small - from 0.5 to 1 meter.
• The shape is a rectangle.
• The ratio of length and width depends on the method of aeration: if it is artificial, then the proportion is 1:3, if natural - 1:1, 5.

It is in such conditions that the massive development of planktonic algae and other beneficial microorganisms occurs. In order for bioponds to perform their immediate functions, the following plants are planted next to them: reed, calamus, reed, broad-leaved cattail, water hyacinth and some others.

The useful life of these structures is more than 20 years.

Varieties

Biological ponds for wastewater treatment can be of three main types, information about them is presented in table format for ease of perception.

Variety	Short description
For biological water treatment	Most often, wastewater has a pre-settled character. The duration of the liquid is about 30 days. To get the best effect, they most often have 4-5 steps
For additional cleaning	Used in cases of preliminary biotreatment, as one of its stages
Fish	There is a dilution of waste water: after pre-treatment, this water is mixed with fresh river water (usually in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:5)

In addition, you can find another classification - the division into flow and contact, while the first, in turn, can be multi- and single-stage.

Also, bioponds can be divided into three groups depending on the biotic cycle: anaerobic, aerobic and facultative-aerobic.

• Anaerobic are most often used for partial water treatment. Living organisms living in them need a large amount of oxygen. An essential point of such reservoirs are the unpleasant smells of decay.
• Aerobic are the most powerful in terms of purification, since the living organisms living in them, primarily algae, take part inwastewater oxidation.
• Optional aerobic - an intermediate option that combines the unpleasant smell of rot and more efficient cleaning.

With multi-stage cleaning, fish can be bred in the ponds of the last stage, most often it is carp.

Application

Research has proven that the simplest and yet most effective water purification system is the use of natural methods, in particular plant organisms. For algae, improving water quality is a natural function, since they need potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen for normal life, and microorganisms responsible for the oxidation of organic matter are formed in the root system. The work of artificial reservoirs is based on these factors.

Bioponds are used both for independent water purification, and as part of a whole complex of similar structures, for example, anticipating the use of agricultural irrigation fields or for post-treatment at aeration stations. For wastewater treatment, biological ponds are preferably used in those regions where the air temperature is at least +10 ° C on average throughout the year and a moderately humid climate.

Sanitary supervision

Treatment facilities, including bioponds, are under constant sanitary control, the task of which is carried out by sanitary and epidemiological stations. The following specialists are required to monitor the condition of such reservoirs:

• Parasitologist.
• Epidemiologist.
• Entomologist.

For the purpose of control, various types of research are used, including bacteriological. Compliance with measures to prevent the discharge of wastewater not subjected to preliminary treatment and disinfection into water bodies is also checked.

Benefit

Biological purification of water in a pond, in addition to its simplicity and effectiveness, is also very useful for a person. First of all, ordinary natural processes are used, so there is no talk of artificial interference in the life of the natural community. Such reservoirs can be used both for self-cleaning of reservoirs and for post-treatment. In addition, bioponds help in the following cases:

• Destroy up to 99% of E. coli.
• Reduced to almost 100% content of helminth eggs.

However, it is important to note a significant disadvantage of such reservoirs - at low temperatures, the efficiency of their use decreases significantly, and covered with ice cover, they can no longer perform their functions: oxygen does not penetrate into the water, so the process of organic matter oxidation stops.

The use of bioponds - reservoirs in which living organisms live - is the simplest and most profitable system of biological pond cleaning. This method helps to achieve significant savings in energy and resources, and the result will be very high quality. In addition, compliance with any special conditions is not required, maintenance of the structureas simple as possible.