Sewage treatment plants in Cleveleys are facilities designed to receive, treat, and dispose of wastewater from various sources, including residential, commercial, and industrial activities. These plants play a crucial role in protecting public health and the environment by removing harmful pollutants from sewage before it is discharged back into natural water bodies or reused for other purposes. Here’s an overview of how sewage treatment plants work:

Inflow: Wastewater enters the treatment plant through underground pipes or gravity-fed systems. This wastewater contains a mixture of organic and inorganic materials, pathogens, nutrients, and other pollutants.

Preliminary Treatment: In the preliminary treatment stage, large objects such as debris, plastics, and grit are removed from the wastewater through screens, grit chambers, and sometimes grinders. This helps prevent damage to downstream equipment and ensures smooth operation of the treatment process.

Primary Treatment: In the primary treatment stage, the wastewater flows into large settling tanks, known as primary clarifiers or sedimentation basins. Here, suspended solids and organic matter settle to the bottom of the tanks, forming a layer of sludge, while lighter materials like grease and oils float to the surface, forming a scum layer. The clarified water in the middle is then discharged for further treatment.

Secondary Treatment: The clarified water from the primary treatment stage undergoes biological treatment in secondary treatment processes. This typically involves aerobic or anaerobic treatment methods, where microorganisms break down organic pollutants in the wastewater. Common secondary treatment methods include activated sludge systems, trickling filters, and sequencing batch reactors.

Tertiary Treatment (Optional): In some cases, additional treatment steps may be employed to further improve the quality of the treated wastewater. Tertiary treatment processes may include filtration, chemical disinfection (e.g., chlorination or UV disinfection), and advanced nutrient removal (e.g., phosphorus or nitrogen removal).

Discharge or Reuse: The treated wastewater, now significantly cleaner and free from most pollutants, is discharged into receiving water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or oceans, or it may be reused for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, industrial processes, or groundwater recharge.

Sludge Management: Throughout the treatment process, solids removed from the wastewater, including primary and secondary sludge, are collected and processed separately. Sludge treatment may involve thickening, dewatering, digestion, and sometimes incineration or landfilling, depending on local regulations and the characteristics of the sludge.

Sewage treatment plants vary in size, capacity, and complexity, ranging from small decentralised systems serving individual communities to large centralised facilities serving entire cities or regions. Effective operation and maintenance of these plants are essential to ensure they meet regulatory requirements and protect human health and the environment. Get in touch today to find out more about our treatment plants sewage services in Cleveleys.