Comparative Study of Conventional and Modern Sewage Treatment Technologies

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive comparative evaluation of six major sewage treatment technologies—Activated Sludge Process (ASP), Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR), Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR), Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket with Extended Aeration (UASB+EA), Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), and Bio-Digester & Bio-Remediation (BDBR)—based on key performance indicators including biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), faecal coliform removal, total nitrogen (T-N) removal efficiency, land area requirement, capital costs, energy consumption, and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. The analysis reveals that while technologies like SBR and MBR show superior treatment efficiencies in terms of BOD, TSS, and nutrient removal, their energy demand and capital investment are significantly higher. In contrast, conventional methods such as ASP and UASB+EA, although cost-effective and simple in design, fail to meet stricter effluent quality norms without post-treatment polishing. MBBR presents a balanced option in terms of footprint and performance but still requires downstream filtration. The BDBR technology emerges as a highly promising alternative, offering excellent effluent quality with BOD and TSS values consistently below 10 mg/L and total nitrogen removal up to 80%, while simultaneously minimizing land requirement, capital investment, energy costs, and operational complexity. Its decentralized applicability, reduced dependency on skilled labor, and capability for biogas generation position it as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient solution, especially for small to medium-sized communities. Thus, the performance comparison highlights that while each technology has its merits, BDBR offers the most optimal combination of environmental and economic viability, making it the most suitable choice for municipal wastewater management in developing regions.

Introduction

Summary

Water is essential for life and socio-economic development, but rapid urbanization and population growth have led to a surge in sewage generation, especially in urban India. Untreated or poorly treated sewage contributes to environmental degradation, waterborne diseases, and biodiversity loss. Efficient sewage treatment is thus vital for public health and environmental sustainability.

Conventional vs Modern Sewage Treatment Technologies

India’s sewage treatment has traditionally relied on conventional systems like Activated Sludge Process (ASP) and oxidation ponds, which are space- and energy-intensive, often failing to meet modern discharge norms. Modern technologies—such as Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR), Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR), Membrane Bioreactors (MBR), and natural systems like Phytorid—offer better treatment efficiency, compact design, and sustainability.

The Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) sets national guidelines for STP design and operation, emphasizing decentralization, nutrient removal, and water reuse. Programs like AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) aim to upgrade urban infrastructure, including STPs.

Literature Review Highlights

1. Anubhav Sharma et al. (2023)
   Compared ASP, SBR, and MBBR technologies. Found MBBR most efficient in pollutant removal and energy use. Emphasized need for real-time monitoring and automation.

2. Harpreet Kaur et al. (2022)
   Highlighted inadequacies of traditional systems and promoted SBR for its high efficiency, compact design, and regulatory compliance.

3. D. S. Thanki et al. (2021)
   Supported SBR for high-quality effluent and space efficiency. Stressed sustainability, service benchmarks, and regulatory compliance.

4. Rama Narayan Sabat et al. (2020)
   Found SBR superior in BOD, COD, TSS, and nutrient removal. Advocated for advanced technologies aligned with environmental norms.

5. Mohd. Najibul Hasan et al. (2019)
   Evaluated STPs across North India. Found hybrid UASB+DHS and aerobic systems like SBR/MBBR effective. Highlighted energy recovery in anaerobic systems.

6. Dharam Vir Singh et al. (2020)
   Emphasized sustainable STP designs using MBBR and SBR. Showcased reuse of treated water and sludge, aligning with circular economy goals.

7. Ankit Sharma et al. (2019)
   Assessed an SBR-STP with SCADA/PLC automation. Found it effective and suitable for reuse and manure generation. Highlighted benefits of automation.

8. Sudha Sippi et al. (2025)
   Developed a ranking system using MCDM (TOPSIS) to evaluate STP performance based on effluent quality. Showed small STPs often outperform large ones.

9. Mukesh Ruhela et al. (2020)
   Studied an SBR-STP's impact on Dal Lake. Found partial pollutant removal but lake remained polluted. Recommended operational improvements.

10. Nimeshchandra V. Vashi (2019)
    Documented STP upgrades in Surat using SBR, IFAS, UF, and RO. Enabled industrial reuse, reduced freshwater demand, and improved effluent quality.

Proposed Methodology

Selected six STP technologies for performance comparison:

• ASP, SBR, MBBR, MBR, UASB+EA, Bio-digester & Bioremediation.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Effluent quality (BOD, COD, TSS, nutrients, pathogens)

• Energy use, sludge production

• Cost (CAPEX & OPEX)

• Land requirement, operational complexity

• Biogas recovery, environmental impacts

Conclusion

Upon extensive comparative analysis of key sewage treatment technologies, it is evident that the Bio-Digester & Bio-Remediation (BDBR) system stands out as the most appropriate and efficient solution among the evaluated alternatives. The data indicates that BDBR achieves excellent removal efficiencies for BOD, TSS, and nitrogen, with minimal area requirement and the lowest energy consumption, offering a sustainable advantage over conventional and advanced treatment systems. While technologies like MBR and SBR deliver high effluent quality, they are constrained by significant capital investment and energy demand, which may limit their practical applicability in low-resource settings. ASP and UASB+EA, though economical in terms of setup costs, fail to meet effluent quality standards without supplementary filtration stages, increasing long-term expenses. In contrast, the BDBR system, through its modular and decentralized approach, not only ensures superior treatment performance but also supports energy recovery via biogas production and reduces environmental impact through the reuse of treated water. Its low O&M cost, minimal reliance on skilled manpower, and compatibility with fluctuating influent conditions further strengthen its suitability for widespread adoption in urban and semi-urban regions. Therefore, this study concludes that the BDBR technology, rooted in anaerobic digestion and bioremediation principles, provides a well-balanced and future-ready solution for modern sewage management, aligning with goals of environmental sustainability, economic feasibility, and public health protection.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mrs. Sonali Meshram , Ms. Pranjali Karhade . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.