Eco Sewage - an example of natural sewage management

Untreated sewage running into the sea

Same sewage - penac treated

A small town in Northern Africa right at the sea had ever increasing problems with their raw sewage running into the sea. Swimming had become impossible,
the tourists as well as the fish stayed away.
A rather inexpensive, environmental friendly solution was offered by Plocher Consulting.

Project
Construction and implementation of a biological sewage plant in accordance to the Plocher Energy System.
Goal: To stabilise the effluent water of the 20,000 inhabitants of Zerelda . 
Inflow from private households and garages, no industrial effluent
 

Situation up to July 1998
· The effluent of Zeralda, 20,000 residents, runs untreated over the
  beach into the bathing bay; the colour is dark grey and there is a
  nauseating smell.
· Very strong smell on the beach.
· Reduction of fish in the area.
· Tremendous health risks for bathers and visitors to the beach area.
· Additional pollution of the total beach area through
  defective effluent pipes.

Total view of bathing beach with effluent water in flow

Activities from June 1998 onwards
· Planning and projecting of an effective biological sewage plant for the beach of Zeralda
  with the Plocher System and in this planning, specifically regarding the climatic
  conditions as well as the technical possibilities given in Northern Algeria.
· Goal definition: Post treatment effluent should be clear and free of smell.  Due to
  non-existing prior data, no chemical or biological parameters were available.
· Realization of all planning work, disposition of material and construction work
  by Plocher consult.

Construction from 8.7.98
Ground preparation
· Securing of the plants of the area in question
· Height controlled excavation for settling pond, 300m²
  surface, max depth 1.1m
· Height controlled excavation for 7 purification ponds.
  Total length of ponds 110m, width approx 7m,
  maximum depth 1.1m
· Excavation for filter ponds, erection of a high water
  security bank.
  Total earth movement approx 2100 tons.

Securing of the plants of the area in question

Creation of a flat water zone for
marsh plants.

The momentary construction work July, 10, 1998

Technical Work
· Lining of settling pond and all purification ponds with
  black pond foil.
· This foil has been treated by the Plocher System and
  carries the information for effluent purification.
· Covering the foil with sand to protect against damage
  thereafter a pebble layer is put on. In that pebble
  layer they work in PES informed zeolith.
· Between the various ponds build-up of pebble barriers
  for water filtration.  In these barriers empty pipes are
  put down for later installation of biocatalysts.
· Re-planting of the secured marsh plants into the
  marsh zones.

Lining of settling pond and all purification ponds with
  black pond foil

Covering the foil with pebbles

Situation July, 12, 1998

Installations of biocatalysts, re-planting
· Installation of the biocatalysts which have received
  specific information in Meersburg for project Zeralda.  
  They will be installed into the empty pipes.
· Planting of the biological sewage plant with 390 marsh
  plants imported from PVS Sudheimer in D-64579
  Gernsheim. These plants were during their total
  growth period, treated with penac products and flown
  in from Germany.
· Flooding of the plant directly after planting was
  complete.

Installation of biocatalysts

The plants treated according to PES are being
laid out for planting

Flodding on July, 14, 1998

The results, July,15, 1998
· The new biological sewage plant receives hourly
  150m³ effluent.
· Besides waste water from showers, toilets and
  washing, further considerable contamination through
  old oil which also flows in.
· A lot of activity can be seen in the water through
  strong bubbles forming.
· Purification pond 4 becomes inhabited by frogs and
  toads again.
· Due to the optimum biological conditions in the
  settling ponds (water and sand informed with the PES)
  the old oil is successfully broken down and digested
  by microbes.
· Treatment of beach on 14.7.98 and after that no
  further bad smells were observed.
· The water from the overflow of the biological sewage
  plant into the sea is clear and odourless from 17.7.98

Overflow of effluent into 3rd
purification pond

Overflow after passing the last filter pond. The water is clear
and odourless.
Photo: August, 17, 1998

Inspection and Opening, 18.7.98
· Handing over to the Governor de Grand Alger
· Informing residents and at the same time distributing
  4,000 sifters of penac-w to use in the private
  households of Zeralda.
· Telling residents of the possibilities of using the new
  purified effluent for irrigation and agriculture.

Handing over to the Governor

Inspection an opening

Summary
· Photo of July, 8, 1998, without biological sewage plant.
· Building and running of new biological sewage plant
  through Plocher Consult within 10 days.
· Photo July, 17, 1998, target clearly achieved.

Target clearly achieved, July, 17, 1998

Before: July, 8, 1998

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