CLASSIFICATION OF TREATED EFFLUENTS (SEWAGE PURIFICATION WORKS) |
A |
PS – PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TREATMENT - HUMUS TANK EFFLUENT |
OD – OXIDATION POND SYSTEM |
Conventional sewage purification according to accepted design criteria#. This includes screening and primary settling followed by biological purification such as the biological filter bed process or activated sludge process. Secondary treatment also includes the settling or clarification after biological or alternative purification methods.
PST - PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY TREATMENT
Final effluent complies with the GENERAL STANDARD*, with the E.coli count relaxed to a maximum of 1000 E. coli /100 ml
In addition to the above-mentioned primary and secondary or equivalent treatment one or more tertiary treatments, viz. land treatment, maturation pond, filtration, chlorination or other types of disinfection, etc., should be applied.
STD - PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY TREATMENT
(Compare with PST)
Final effluent complies with the GENERAL STANDARD* viz. inter alia NIL E. coli/100 ml
SP-STD - ADVANCED PURIFICATION
Final effluent complies with at least the SPECIAL STANDARD* and the quality compares favourably with that recommended for drinking water
In addition to the above-mentioned primary, secondary and tertiary treatment, advanced purification also includes special physico-chemical purification or other advanced techniques. |
Final effluent contains a maximum of 1 000 E. coli/100ml
The pond system should be designed according to a recognised standard# and operated in a nuisance-free manner. The combined retention time of the primary pond and approximately 4 secondary ponds should usually be at least 45 days. This system should drain into an irrigation dam of which the reserve storage capacity during dry weather conditions is at least 12 days. Unless sufficient space is available and the ponds are sufficiently remote from built-up areas, this system is not recommended for communities with a population exceeding 5 000.
Every oxidation pond system which is not able to deliver effluent of the above- mentioned quality should, for the purpose of this guide, be regarded on its merits as no more than equivalent to PS.
SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT
(Primary settling and limited biological purification)
This effluent must undergo further secondary and tertiary or equivalent treatment before it may be utilised for the purposes indicated in this guide.
For the direct use or disposal, only nuisance-free land treatment or irrigation of fenced-in plantations will be permitted on its merits. |
* GENERAL AND SPECIAL STANDARD
Quality requirements for purified sewage effluent as laid down by the Department of Water Affairs - see Government Notice R553 in Government Gazette Extraordinary of April 1962, and any amendments thereto. (E. coli = typical faecal coli). |
# DESIGN CRITERIA
Design criteria such as those set out in A Guide to the Design of Sewage Purification Works of the Institute of Water Pollution Control (I.W.P.C.), Southern African Branch (November 1973). |
DIRECTIONS THE UTILISATION OF TREATED EFFLUENTS FOR IRRIGATION |
B |
IRRIGATION OF |
PS – PRIMARY AND SECONDARY |
PST - PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY |
STD – GENERAL STANDARD |
SP-STD – ADVANCED PURIFICATION |
OD – OXIDATION POND SYSTEM |
• VEGETABLES AND CROPS CONSUMED RAW BY MAN (3 EXCLUDED) • LAWNS AT SWIMMING POOLS, NURSERY SCHOOLS, CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• CROPS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WHICH ARE NOT EATEN RAW (VEGETABLES, FRUIT, SUGAR-CANE)
• CULTIVATION OF CUT FLOWERS (SEE ALSO 6) |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING BEFORE HARVESTING IS ESSENTIAL |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE ON ITS MERITS
• EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING BEFORE HARVESTING IS ESSENTIAL |
• FRUITTREES AND VINEYARDS: FOR THE CULTIVATION OF FRUIT WHICH IS EATEN RAW BY MAN (SEE 2-FRUIT WHICH IS NOT EATEN RAW) |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• DRIP AND MICRO-IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE ON THEIR MERITS PROVIDED FRUITS ARE NOT DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO SPRAY
• EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING BEFORE HARVESTING
• FALLEN FRUIT IS UNSUITABLE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• FLOOD, DRIP AND MICRO-IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE ON THEIR MERITS PROVIDED FRUITS ARE NOT DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO SPRAY
• EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING BEFORE FRUITS ARE HARVESTED
• FALLEN FRUIT IS UNSUITABLE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION |
• GRAZING FOR CATTLE EXCLUDING MILK PRODUCING ANIMALS (SEE 5) |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE BUT NOT DURING GRAZING
• GRAZING ONLY PERMISSIBLE AFTER EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING-NO POOLS
• NOT PERMISSIBLE AS DRINKING WATER FOR ANIMALS |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• PERMISSIBLE AS DRINKING WATER FOR ANIMALS |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• PERMISSIBLE AS DRINKING WATER FOR ANIMALS |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE BUT NOT DURING GRAZING
• GRAZING ONLY PERMISSIBLE AFTER EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING-NO POOLS |
• GRAZING FOR MILK PRODUCING ANIMALS (DEFINITION OF MILK- SECTION l(XV) OF THE HEALTH ACT 1977 (ACT 63 OF 1977) |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE • PERMISSIBLE AS DRINKING WATER FOR ANIMALS |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• PERMISSIBLE AS DRINKING WATER FOR ANIMALS |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• CROPS NOT FOR GRAZING, BUT UTILISED AS DRY FODDER
• CROP CULTIVATED FOR SEED PURPOSES ONLY
• TREE PLANTATIONS
• NURSERIES - CUT FLOWERS EXCLUDED (SEE 2)
• ANY PARK OR SPORTSFIELD ONLY DURING DEVELOPMENT AND BEFORE OPENING THEREF OF
• PARKS AND (SEE 6)
• LAWNS AT SWIMMING POOL EXCLUDED (SEE 1) |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE ON ITS MERITS
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION OR POOL FORMING
• NO SMELL NUISANCE
• PROPERLY FENCED
• NO PUBLIC ALLOWED
• NO MEAT ANIMALS, MILK PRODUCING ANIMALS OR POULTRY ALLOWED |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE (SEE ALSO 4 AND 5) |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE (SEE ALSO 4 AND 5) |
• (i) PARKS, ONLY FOR BEAUTIFYING FLOWERBEDS, TRAFFIC ISLANDS ETC.-I.E. NOTA RECREATION AREA |
• ONLY FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO SPRINKLER IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO PUBLIC DURING IRRIGATION |
• FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• SPRINKLER PERMISSIBLE ON ITS'MERITS
• NO PUBLIC DURING IRRIGATION |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO PUBLIC DURING IRRIGATION |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• PERMISSIBLE ON ITS'MERITS
• NO PUBLIC DURING IRRIGATION |
• (ii) SPORTSFIELDS WHERE LIMITED CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE SURFACE
EG. GOLF COURSES, CRICKET, HOCKEY AND SOCCER FIELDS, ETC. |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION AND NO POOL FORMING
• NO PUBLIC OR PLAYERS DURING IRRIGATION
• PUBLIC AND/OR PLAYERS ADMITTED ONLY AFTER EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION AND NO POOL FORMING
• NO PUBLIC AND/OR PLAYERS DURING IRRIGATION |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO PUBLIC AND/OR PLAYERS DURING IRRIGATION |
•FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• SPRINKLER IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE ON ITS' MERITS
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION AND NO POOL FORMING
• NO PUBLIC AND/OR PLAYERS DURING IRRIGATION
• PUBLIC AND/OR PLAYERS ADMITTED ONLY AFTER EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING |
• (iii) SPORTSFIELDS WHERE CONTACT IS OFTEN MADE WITH THE SURFACE, EG. RUGBY FIELDS, ATHLETICS TRACKS, ETC. • SCHOOLGROUNDS • PUBLIC PARKS-SPECIAL CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS EXCLUDED (SEE 1 |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
•FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE • SPRINKLER IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE ON ITS' MERITS
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION AND NO POOL FORMING |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION AND NO POOL FORMING |
• ANY TYPE OF IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE |
• ONLY FLOOD IRRIGATION PERMISSIBLE
• SPRINKLER IRRIGATION NOT PERMISSIBLE
• NO OVER-IRRIGATION AND NO POOL FORMING |
• NO PUBLIC OR PLAYERS DURING
• PUBLIC AND/OR PLAYERS ADMITTED ONLY AFTER EFFECTIVE DRAINING AND DRYING |
DIRECTIVES FOR OTHER USES OF TREATED EFFLUENTS |
C |
OTHER USES OF EFFLUENTS |
PS – PRIMARY AND SECONDARY |
PST - PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY |
STD – GENERAL STANDARD |
SP-STD – ADVANCED PURIFICATION |
OD – OXIDATION POND SYSTEM |
• INDUSTRIAL AND SUNDRY USES NOT MENTIONED BEFORE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES ONLY |
• EACH CASE WILL BE TREATED ON ITS MERITS
• THE EMPHASIS WILL BE ON THE E.COLI COUNT
• IN GENERAL THE EFFLUENT MUST BE FREE FROM PARASITIC OVA, PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS, TOXIC SUBSTANCE, ETC. |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES ONLY |
• FOOD INDUSTRY (ALSO COOLING WATER) |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• MINES AND INDUSTRIES: ORE TREATMENT, DUST CONTROL ETC. |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES ONLY |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS PROVIDED HUMAN CONTACT IS EXCLUDED. |
• PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES ONLY |
• ALL TAPS AND WATER DRAW-OFF POINTS IN THE EFFLUENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MUST BE PROVIDE WITH CLEARLY LEGIBLE NOTICES IN ENGLISH, AFRIKAANS AND ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES, INDICATING THAT THE WATER IS NOT SUITABLE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. |
• HUMAN WASHING PURPOSES |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS
• CLEARLY LEGIBLE NOTICES MUST BE DISPLAYED INDICATING THAT THE WATER IS NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR FOOD PREPARATION |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• FLUSH TOILETS |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS
• IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE USE OF EFFLUENT FOR UNAUTHORISED PURPOSES, NO OTHER DRAW-OFF BIB-COCKS SHALL BE AFFIXED TO EFFLUENT MAINS |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• DUST CONTROL ON ROADS |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE
• EXCESSIVE SPRAYING AND POOL FORMING MUST BE AVOIDED
• NO SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND WATER MAY BE POLLUTED |
• PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NO SMELL NUISANCE MAY BE CREATED
• ANY DIRECT HUMAN CONTACT WITH THE SPRAY MUST BE PREVENTED AS FAR AS IS PRACTICABLE
• STEPS MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT NO EFFLUENT IS USED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES
• CONTAINERS USED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF EFFLUENT MUST NOT BE USED THEREAFTER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF DRINKING WATER BEFORE THEY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY CLEANED OUT AND DISINFECTED |
GENERAL REMARKS: IT IS COMPULSORY THAT THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES BETAKEN WITH EACH OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED USES IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE USE OF THE TREATED EFFLUENT FOR DRINKING OR DOMESTIC PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, IT IS ALSO COMPULSORY THAT THE MATERIAL AND/OR THE COLOUR OF THE EFFLUENT PIPELINE BE SUCH AS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL CROSS-COUPLING WITH DRINKING WATER PIPELINES. SEE ALSO (b) UNDER THE HEADING "IRRIGATION - GENERAL REMARKS AND PRECAUTIONS ON PAGE 7. |
METHODS OF DISPOSAL AND DISCHARGE OF TREATED EFFLUENTS |
D |
METHODS OF DISPOSAL AND DISCHARGE OF EFFLUENTS |
PS – PRIMARY AND SECONDARY |
PST - PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY |
STD – GENERAL STANDARD |
SP-STD – ADVANCED PURIFICATION |
OD – OXIDATION POND SYSTEM |
1) DISCHARGE INTO RIVERS AND WATER COURSES, EXCLUDING ESTUARIES, DAMS AND LAGOONS - SEE 2 |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS WITH DUE REGARD TO LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE DILUTION FACTOR IN THE RIVER OR STREAM, RAINFALL ETC.
• THE PERMISSIBILITY OF DISCHARGE MUST BE DETERMINED WITH DUE REGARD TO THE USE OF THE RIVER WATER DOWNSTREAM
• THE DISCHARGE POINT MUST BE DETERMINED WITH DUE REGARD TO THE POSITION OF WATER ABSTRACTION POINT(S) FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES LOWER DOWN THE RIVER
• THE EFFLUENT MUST CONTAIN NO HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN CONCENTRATIONS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH |
• PERMISSIBLE, PROVIDED THE EFFLUENT CONTAINS NO HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN CONCENTRATIONS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
2) DISCHARGE INTO ESTUARIES, DAMS, LAKES, LAGOONS OR OTHER MASSES OF WATER (SEA EXCLUDED-SEE 3) |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS IF REASONABLE ASSURANCE EXISTS THAT THE QUALITY AND VOLUME ARE SUCH AS NOT TO CAUSE NUISANCES OR HEALTH HAZARDS
• ONCE MIXED WITH THE EFFLUENT THE WATER MUST NOT BECOME LESS SUITABLE FOR DOMESTIC USE AND/OR RECREATION
• THE EFFLUENT MUST CONTAIN NO HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN CONCENTRATIONS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH |
PERMISSIBLE, PROVIDED THE EFFLUENT CONTAINS NO HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN CONCENTRATIONS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH |
• PERMISSIBLE |
• NOT PERMISSIBLE |
3)DISCHARGE INTO THE SEA |
• ONLY PERMISSIBLE BEYOND THE SURF ZONE
THE DISCHARGE POINT MUST BE DETERMINED WITH DUE REGARD TO THE QUALITY AND VOLUME OF EFFLUENT, THE SEA CURRENTS, THE DISTRIBUTION AND DILUTION OF EFFLUENT, AND THE PROXIMITY OF PRESENT AND FUTURE BATHING AREAS. |
• PERMISSIBLE DISCHARGE INTO THE SURF ZONE MUST BE DETERMINED WITH DUE REGARD TO THE PROXIMITY OF PRESENT AND FUTURE BATHING AREAS AND THE EFFECT ON THE QUALITY OF SEAWATER IN SUCH AREA |
• PERMISSIBLE |
• PERMISSIBLE ON MERITS AS FOR PS AND PST |
IN MOST CASES THE INFLUENCE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DISCHARGES IS NOT DIRECTLY PREDICTABLE. IT WOULD THEREFORE USUALLY BE REQUIRED THAT THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS BE MADE TO DETERMINE SUCH INFLUENCE WITH REASONABLE CERTAINTY. |