Appendix A

Tables
Appendix A - Tables

214 Volume 4 Malaysian Sewerage

Industry Guidelines
 Appendix A

Appendix A Tables
Table A1 Contaminants of Concern in Sewage Treatment
Table A2 Typical Composition of Untreated Domestic Sewage
Table A3 Major Biological Treatment Processes Used for Sewage Treatment
Table A4 Interim National River Water Quality Standards for Malaysia
Table A5 River Clarification
Table A6 The Occupational Safety and Health Act 514, 1994 Brief
Summary of Contents
Table A7 Permissible limits for potentially toxic elements in soil
Table A8 Options for disposal of Sludge and reuse of biosolids

Sewage Treatment Plants Volume 4 215

Appendix A - Tables

Table A1 Contaminants of Concern in Sewage Treatment

Contaminants Reason for Concern

Suspended solids Suspended solids can lead to the development of sludge

deposits and anaerobic conditions when untreated sewage
is discharged in the aquatic environment.

Biodegradable Composed principally of proteins, carbohydrates and fats,

organics biodegradable organics are measured most commonly in
terms of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand). If discharged
untreated to the environment, their biological stabilisation
can lead to the depletion of natural oxygen resources and to
the development of septic conditions.

Pathogens Communicable diseases can be transmitted by the

pathogenic organisms in sewage.

Nutrients Both nitrogen and phosphorus, along with carbon, are

essential nutrients for growth. When discharged to the
aquatic environment, these nutrients can lead to the growth
of undesirable aquatic life. When discharged in excessive
amounts on land, they can also lead to the pollution of
groundwater.

Refractory organics These organics tend to resist conventional methods of

sewage treatment. Typical examples include surfactants,
phenols and agricultural pesticides.

Heavy metals Heavy metals are usually added to sewage from commercial
and industrial activities and may have to be removed if the
sewage is to be reused.

Dissolved inorganic Inorganic constituents such as calcium, sodium and sulphate

solids are added to the original domestic water supply as a result
of water use and may have to be removed if the sewage is
to be reused.

216 Volume 4 Malaysian Sewerage

Industry Guidelines
 Appendix A - Tables

Table A2 Typical Composition of Untreated Domestic Sewage

Concentration (mg/l)
Constituent
Strong Medium Weak
Solids, total 1200 720 350
Dissolved, total 850 500 250
Fixed 525 300 145
Volatile 325 200 105
Suspended, total 350 220 100
Fixed 75 55 20
Volatile 275 165 80
Settleable solids, ml/l 20* 10* 5*
Biochemical oxygen demand, 400 250 110
5 day, 20C (BOD5, 20C)

Total organic carbon (TOC) 290 160 80

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) 1000 500 250
Nitrogen (total as N) 85 40 20
Organic 35 15 8
Free ammonia 50 25 12
Nitrites 0 0 0
Nitrates 0 0 0
Phosphorus (total as P) 15 8 4
Organic 5 3 1
Inorganic 10 5 3
Chlorides 100 50 30
Alkalinity (as CaCO3) 200 100 50
Grease 150 100 50

* All values except settleable solids are expressed in mg/l.

Sewage Treatment Plants Volume 4 217

Appendix A - Tables

Table A3 Major Biological Treatment Processes Used for Sewage

Treatment

Type Common Name Use

Aerobic processes

Suspended Activated-sludge process Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)

growth
Conventional (plug flow)
Continuous-flow stirred-tank
Step aeration
Pure oxygen
Modified aeration
Contract stabilisation
Extended aeration
Oxidation ditch
Sequencing batch reactor
Suspended-growth nitrification
Aerated lagoons
Aerobic digestion
Conventional air
Pure oxygen
High-rate aerobic algal pond
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Nitrification
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Stabilisation, carbonaceous BOD removal
Stabilisation, carbonaceous BOD removal
Carbonaceous BOD removal

Attached Trickling filters

growth
Low-rate Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
High-rate Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Roughing filters Carbonaceous BOD removal
Rotating biological contactors Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Packed-bed reactors Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)

Combined Trickling filter, activated sludge Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)

processes
Activated sludge, trickling filter Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)

Anoxic processes

Suspended Suspended-growth denitrification Denitrification

growth

Attached Fixed-film denitrification Denitrification

growth
continued

218 Volume 4 Malaysian Sewerage

Industry Guidelines
 Appendix A - Tables

Table A3 (continued)

Type Common Name Use

Anaerobic processes

Suspended Anaerobic digestion Stabilisation, carbonaceous BOD removal

growth
Standard-rate, single-stage Stabilisation, carbonaceous BOD removal
High-rate, single-stage Stabilisation, carbonaceous BOD removal
Two-stage Stabilisation, carbonaceous BOD removal
Anaerobic contact process Carbonaceous BOD removal

Attached Anaerobic filter Carbonaceous BOD removal, stabilisation

growth (denitrification)
Anaerobic lagoons (ponds) Carbonaceous BOD removal (stabilisation)

Aerobic/anoxic or anaerobic process

Suspended Single-stage nitrification- Carbonaceous BOD removal, nitrification,

growth denitrification denitrification
Nitrification-denitrification Nitrification, denitrification

Attached Facultative lagoons (ponds) Carbonaceous BOD removal

growth

Combined Maturation or tertiary ponds Carbonaceous BOD removal

processes
Anaerobic-facultative lagoons Carbonaceous BOD removal
Anaerobic-facultative-aerobic Carbonaceous BOD removal
lagoons

Sewage Treatment Plants Volume 4 219

Appendix A - Tables

Table A4 Interim National River Water Quality Standards for

Malaysia

Classes*
Parameters (units)
II IIA IIB III IV V
Ammoniacal Nitrogen 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.9 2.7 >2.7
(mg/l)
BOD5 (mg/l) 1 3 3 6 12 >12

COD (mg/l) 10 25 25 50 100 >100

DO (mg/l) 7 5-7 5-7 3-5 <3 <1
PH 6.5-8.5 6-9 6-9 5-9 5-9 -
Colour (TCU) 15 150 150 - - -
Elect. Cond.# 1000 1000 - - 6000 -
(mmhos/cm)
Floatables N N N - - -
Odour N N N - -
Salinity# (0/00) 0.5 1 - - 2

Taste N N N - -
Total Diss. Solid# 500 1000 - - 4000
(mg/l)
Total SS (mg/l) 25 50 50 150 300 >300
Temperature (0C) - Normal - Normal - -
2 2
Turbidity (NTU) 5 50 50 - - -
F. Colif. (counts/100 10 100 400 5000 5000 -
ml)
Tot. Colif. (counts/100 100 5000 5000 (20 000) (20 000) > 50 000
ml)
50 000 50 000

N No visible floatable materials/debris, or no objectionable odour, or no objectionable

taste
* Classes are described on the following table
#
Related parameters, only one recommended for use

Geometric mean

Maximum not to be exceeded

220 Volume 4 Malaysian Sewerage

Industry Guidelines
 Appendix A - Tables

Table A5 River Clarification

Class Uses

I Conservation of natural environment

Water supply I - practically no treatment necessary (except by
disinfection or boiling only)
Fishery I - very sensitive aquatic species

IIA Water supply II - conventional treatment required

Fishery II - sensitive aquatic species

IIB Recreational use with body contact

III Water supply III - extensive treatment required

Fishery II - common, of economic value, and tolerant species
Livestock drinking

IV Irrigation

V None of the above

Note: This data is adapted from the Water Quality Criteria and Standards for
Malaysia, Final Report July 1986, Department of Environment.

Sewage Treatment Plants Volume 4 221

Appendix A - Tables

Table A6 The Occupational Safety and Health Act 514, 1994 - Brief
Summary of Contents

Part No. Content

I Preliminary

II Appointment of Offices

III National Council for Occupational Safety and Health

IV General Duties of Employers and Self Employed Persons

V General Duties of Designers, Manufacturers and Suppliers

VI General Duties of Employees

VII Safety and Health Organisations

VIII Notification of Accidents, Dangerous Occurrence, Occupational Poisoning and

Occupational Diseases and Inquiry

IX Prohibition Against use of Plant or Substance

X Industry Codes of Practice

XI Enforcement and Investigation

XII Liability for Offences

XIII Appeals

XIV Regulations

XV Miscellaneous

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was enacted by the Parliament
in 1994. In general, it is an enabling law in that the duties, responsibilities,
penalties and guidelines are to be followed by each specific industry. The
following table provides an outline of OSHA.

Parts of OSHA have a specific target audience. For example, if the professional
is a designer, then Part V would be applicable with respect to Occupational,
Safety and Health in their design.

222 Volume 4 Malaysian Sewerage

Industry Guidelines
 Appendix A - Tables

Table A7 Permissible limits for potentially toxic elements in soil

Parameters Limits (mg/kg)

Zinc 900

Copper 250

Nickel 150

Cadmium 12

Lead 1000

Mercury 4

Chromium 1000

Arsenic 150

Sewage Treatment Plants Volume 4 223

Appendix A - Tables

Table A8 Options for disposal of Sludge and reuse of bio-solids

Type of sludge/ Option for

Source/ Treatment
No Disposal or
by-product Process
Utilization
1 Liquid primary sludge and - Imhoff tanks D
septage - Primary and secondary
clarifiers
- Septic Tanks
2 Dewatered primary sludge - Drying beds C, D, I, S
and dewatered septage - Mechanical dewatering
equipment
3 Pond sludge - Oxidation ponds D, F, R
- Aerated lagoons
- Waste stabilization
ponds
4 Dewatered pond sludge - Drying beds C, D, F, I, R, S
- Mechanical dewatering
5 Digested sludge - Digesters D, F, R
- Sludge lagoons
- Anaerobic ponds
6 Dewatered digested sludge - Drying beds C, D, F, I, R, S
- Mechanical dewatering
7 Lime stabilised sludge - Lime stabilisation C, D, F, R, S
8 Compost product - Composting A, C, D, F, L, R, S
9 Thermally dried sludge - Thermal drying A, C, D, F, L, R,
(pellets/granules) S, SP
10 Incinerator ash - Incineration C, D, S, SP
NOTES:
A = Use in agriculture
C = Disposal to controlled dumpsites
D = Disposal to dedicated sludge disposal sites
F = Use in forestry/non-food crops
I = Incinerate
L = Use for landscaping at public amenity areas
S = Disposal to sanitary landfill sites
R = Use in rehabilitation of degraded
SP = Recycled into special product, e.g. building material

224 Volume 4 Malaysian Sewerage

Industry Guidelines