The quantity of residuals generated from water treatment plants depends upon the raw
water quality, dosage of chemicals used, performance of the treatment process, method
of sludge removal, efficiency of sedimentation, and backwashing frequency. Sludge
production by the physical separation of SS occurs under quiescent conditions in the
primary clarifier, where suspended solids are allowed to settle and to consolidate on
the clarifier bottom. Raw primary sludge results when the settled solids are
hydraulically removed from the tank. The relative solid and liquid fractions of a
slurry are most commonly described by the solids concentration, expressed as mg/L or
percent solids. The purpose of the present investigation is to estimate a suitability
on the design capacities of residuals treatment facilities by the quantity of dewatered
sludge generated from water treatment plants.
