Design and Performance of Grey Water Treatment Plant

Abstract

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) systems, and Constructed Wetlands (CWs) to enhance efficiency of organic and inorganic pollutant removal. MBBR system consists of an aeration tank it is similar to a activated sludge tank with plastic media which surface biofilm can grow. Initially grey water feed to AOP system then MBBR and finally pass through wetland construction. AOP and MBBR is a recent and beneficial biofilm technology which has many properties which includes anti-load ability, High treatment efficiency. AOP and MBBR technology became more popular and widely utilized worldwide due to fact that need for clean water keeps to rapidly increase with increase in population of the world grows year by year. Greywater from Bathroom Water used in hand washing and bathing generates around 50-60% of total greywater and is considered to be the least contaminated type of greywater. Greywater is specifically washing water like bath, dish and laundry water excluding toilet wastes and free of garbage-grinder residues. Gray water shows the Initial characteristics TDS, pH and SS are 900 mg/l, 8.5 and 413 mg/l. After treating with AOP shows the TDS, pH and SS are 750 mg/l, 8.3 and 327 mg/l, after MBBR treatment TDS, pH and SS are 400 mg/l, 8.3 and 104 mg/l and Final wet land construction treatment TDS, pH and SS are 118 mg/l, 8.3 and 50 mg/l.

Introduction

1. Introduction to Greywater

• Greywater refers to wastewater from baths, laundry, and sinks—excluding toilet waste.

• It is considered a potential resource for irrigation in agriculture and landscaping.

• If untreated, greywater can pollute water bodies but is also rich in nutrients beneficial for vegetation.

2. MBBR Technology

• Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) is an efficient biological treatment process.

• Invented in the 1980s, MBBR uses an aeration tank with plastic media to support microbial growth.

• Widely adopted in over 50 countries, it is now used in municipal and industrial systems.

3. Greywater Composition

• Bathroom greywater: 50–60% of total greywater; contains soaps, shampoos, and pathogens.

• Laundry greywater: 25–35%; includes detergents and fabric residues.

4. Experimental Setup

• Raw Materials: Greywater sample, MBBR media, H?O?, acids/alkalis.

• Apparatus: Aeration pump, bioreactor tanks, measuring instruments.

• Procedure: Greywater passes through three treatment stages:

  1. AOP (Advanced Oxidation Process)

  2. MBBR Biological Treatment

  3. Wetland Filtration

5. Results and Discussion

• Initial water quality:

  • TDS: 900 mg/L

  • pH: 8.5

  • SS: 413 mg/L

• Post-treatment values:

  • After AOP: TDS 750 mg/L, SS 327 mg/L

  • After MBBR: TDS 400 mg/L, SS 104 mg/L

  • After Wetland: TDS 118 mg/L, SS 50 mg/L

• Overall reduction:

  • TDS reduced by 86.88%

  • SS reduced by 87.89%

6. Observations

• Treatment efficiency improves with increased contact time (3, 6, 9 hours).

• MBBR significantly reduces organic and suspended solids.

• The final wetland stage acts as a polishing filter, further reducing pollutants.

7. Graphical Analysis

• Graphs illustrate the progressive reduction in TDS and SS across the three treatment stages:

  • AOP: Initial drop

  • MBBR: Major reduction

  • Wetland: Final refinement

Conclusion

Greywater is specifically wash water like bath, dish and laundry water excluding toilet wastes and free of garbage-grinder residues. MBBR technology became more popular and widely utilized worldwide due to fact that need for clean water keeps to rapidly increase with increase in population of the world grows year by year. the % reduction of TDS and SS from gray water using AOP, MBBR and wetland construction treatment. Graph shows the % reduction in TDS and SS using AOP, MBBR and wetland construction treatment are 16.66%, 55.55%, 86.66% and 20.82%, 74.81%, 87.89% resp.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mr. Santosh Sabale, Mahendra Shinde, Pratik Fasate, Siddhesh Zolekar . 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.