Wastewater Treatment Plant

at Al-Quds University

The wastewater treatment plant at Al-Quds University is consisted of activated sludge process followed by two cut-off membrane filter machines (Hollow fiber UF followed by Spiral wund UF), followed by a reverse osmosis system.

Activated sludge treatment system

A locally made package wastewater treatment plant was installed at Al-Quds university main campus at Abu-Dies in 1998. It is based on the activated sludge extended aeration treatment process. The generated wastewater (black and grey wastewater and runoff water) is collected from different places of Al-Quds University campus in a two-stage primary settling basin then pumped to the treatment plant.

The hydraulic retention time in an aeration tank of the wastewater treatment plant is 16-20 hours. The microorganisms metabolize the organic matter which subsequently decreases BOD value of treated wastewater. The activated sediment in the clarification tank is circulated to the aeration tank with special pump.  Wastewater is then treated with aluminum sulfate as coagulating agent to promote the removal of suspended solids before filtration with sand filter. The destruction of high population of microbes is carried out by chlorination using Tricolor as disinfectant. The treated wastewater is collected for reuse in a special pond. Part of activated sludge secondary treated wastewater is connected to the UF hollow fiber system without treatment with chlorine for farther treatment by filtration technologies.

Ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis plant

Two small scale membrane treatment plants with a capacity of 12 m³ /day were installed at the site in 2004 and 2006 from local companies.

The first unit was equipped with two pressure vessels made from Vendor (AST technologies, model number 8000 WW 1000-2M) that house the hollow fiber membranes with 100 kD cutoff (Vendor, AST technologies, Model no. 8000- WWOUT_IN_8080).  The second UF unit was equipped with 2x4 inch pressure vessels with pressure resistance up to 150 psi. Each vessel holds two separation membranes (spiral wound with 20 kD cutoff which is equivalent to 0.01 micron separation rate). The designed permeate capacity of the system is 0.5-0.8 m³/h. This membrane can remove bacteria, suspended solids, turbidity agents, oil, and emulsions. The two UF units (Hollow fiber and Spiral wund) are designed to delver 1.5 m³/h.

A reverse osmosis treatment system is installed. The RO membranes are manufactured from thin film polyamide. It consists of 1x4 inch pressure vessel made from composite material with pressure resistance up to 400 psi.  The vessel holds two 4 inches special separation membranes (Manufactured in thin film polyamide with pH range 1-11 model BW30-4040 by DOW Film Tec.). Membrane anti-scalent (Product NCS-106-FG, made of phosphate in water with active ingredient of phosphonic acid disodium salt)  are continuously dosed to the RO feed  at concentration of 4 ppm  in order to prevent deposition of divalent ions.  The system is designed to remove major ions and heavy metals. The designed RO permeate capacity of the system is 0.45-0.5 m³/h.

The secondary treated effluent from the collection pond is pumped to the hollow fiber ultra-filtration unit, then to the spiral wund ultra-filtration unit. The UF permeate is collected in special tank and further fed to the RO unit were it is further treated to the required quality.

Wastewater reuse

The treated wastewater generated from the activated sludge treatment plant at A-Quds University followed by (part of it) UF and RO systems are monitored all the time by a trained operator under the direct supervision of a specialized technical and research team at Al-Quds University. Wastewater samples from different ten operational sites of the treatment plant are taken biweekly and analyzed at the Center and Biological Analysis at Al-Quds University to insure quality of treated wastewater according to the WHO and the Palestinian standards for treated wastewater non restricted for irrigation. Treated wastewater generated from this treatment plant is used to irrigate non edible trees and flower plants at the University.

v Remote Monitoring System of Wastewater Treatment Plant

v Achievements: