The United States Environmental Protection Agency offers engineers and plant managers a comprehensive design and operations manual for pond systems at municipal wastewater treatment facilities. The first version of such a manual was published more than 30 years ago. Today, it is the bible for wastewater treatment facility operation. It provides a detailed overview of the factors that affect the treatment of wastewater, discusses effluent, and touches on all pertinent aspects of physical design and construction. The manual includes a discussion of specific principles and applications, as well as algae, nutrient removal alternatives, and cost and energy requirements.
The updated manual notes the innovations that have occurred over the decades, and details new scientific understanding of the biological processes that are involved. Updated water quality requirements that are either in place or under consideration are also detailed. Many existing plants were built during a time when specific nutrient concentrations were not a part of design considerations, and the new manual offers recommendations for new, expanded and modified systems. There is a new emphasis on operations and maintenance, and an expanded section on troubleshooting and problem identification, and well as state-specific information that targets the training of facility operators. So, the complete answer is “Yes, there are extremely detailed and specific design requirements” for wastewater treatment ponds.
