BASIC BIOLOGY OF WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS

Abstract

The acadomie training of engineers is directed towards teach.. Ing design procedures based on analytical reasonings from first princ-iples. The training is sound because all of the steps of the design procOss are oxposed to relatively quick analysis* and incorrect proc-odures may be identified without recourse to extensive experimental nvestigations. In practice, many situations arise in which the method for developing g a logical design procedure is obscured by lack of fami liarity uttb the principles which are applicable. The designs of some waste treatment process are based on ph. ysieal, chemical, and hydraulic principles whereas the design of bto.. logical waste treatment processes is based almost entirely on experi. ence and ruule,*of-thumb procedures. The applicable biological princip-les do exist, but they have been largely ignored because of lack o `" -cmunioation between biologists and engineers. Further, since many biological phenomena are complex in the ram.. eaticn, of infra ► and interspecies relationships, the desired rational theory .s not immedi. ately forthcoming even when the applicable biological ological principles are enumerated concisely,, But the Public Health Engineers should not let these factors doter their attempts at putting forward rational models of biological waste treatment units. The author does not claim to have written any thing original in the body of this dissertation which is just a eampilation, in a con . solidated form, of the upto.date literature published on the subject..