Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) do not fully remove micropollutants. Enhanced treatment of sewage effluents is being considered or implemented in some countries to minimize the discharge of problematic micropollutants from WWTPs. Representative enhanced sewage treatment technologies for micropollutant removal were reviewed, including their current status of research and development. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as ozonation and UV/H2O2 and adsorption processes using powdered (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC) were mainly discussed with focusing on process principles for the micropollutant removal, effect of process operation and water matrix factors, and technical and economic feasibility. Pilot- and full-scale studies have shown that ozonation, PAC, and GAC can achieve significant elimination of various micropollutants at economically feasible costs(0.16-0.29 €/m3). Considering the current status of domestic WWTPs, ozonation and PAC were found to be the most feasible options for the enhanced sewage effluent treatment. Although ozonation and PAC are all mature technologies, a range of technical aspects should be considered for their successful application, such as energy consumption, CO2 emission, byproduct or waste generation, and ease of system construction/operation/maintenance. More feasibility studies considering domestic wastewater characteristics and WWTP conditions are required to apply ozonation or PAC/GAC adsorption process to enhance sewage effluent treatment in Korea.

Due to the large-scale production and use of synthetic chemicals in industralized countries, various chemicals are found in the aquatic environment, which are often termed as micropollutants. Effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as one of the major sources of these micropollutants. In this article, the current status of occurrence and removal of micropollutants in WWTPs and their management policies and options in domestic and foregin countries were critically reviewed. A large number of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals are found in WWTPs’ influent, and are only partially removed by current biological wastewater treatment processes. As a result, some micropollutants are present in WWTPs’ effluents, which can negatively affect receiving water quality or drinking water source. To better understand and assess the potential risk of micropollutants, a systematic monitoring framework including advanced analytical tools such as high resolution mass spectrometry and bioanalytical methods is needed. Some Western European countries are taking proactive approach to controlling the micropollutants by upgrading WWTP with enahnced effluent treatment processes. While this enahnced WWTP effluent treatment appears to be a viable option for controlling micropollutant, its implementation requires careful consideration of the technical, economical, political, and cultural issues of all stakeholders.

The ecosystem in the Gwangju Stream has taken a wide range of disturbance such as the discharging water of sewage treatment plant, the lake water and the river water from different water system over the past decade. This study was figured out some significant influence factors by analyzing the relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in the urban stream. Abiotic components included 15 water quality variables which were measured in five sampling sites along the stream from October 2014 to July 2015, whereas the benthic macroinvertebrates found in those sites were used to estimate various biotic indices representing the ecological status of the community. The results of correlation analyses indicated that abiotic factors by human activities affected on the inhabitation of benthic macroinvertebrates more than biotic factors. The results of cluster analyses and ANOVA tests also showed that biotic and abiotic characteristics were clearly different in season. The main influence factors of cluster analysis by sites were NH3-N, EPT(I) and DO. It was considered that more various statistical analyses would be necessary to find some different relationships and influence factors between biotic and abiotic variables in the urban stream.

The sewage and wastewater (SAW) are a well-known major source of eutrophication and greentide in freshwaters and also a potential source of thermal pollution; however, there were few approaches to thermal effluent of SAW in Korea. This study was performed to understand the behavioral dynamics of the thermal effluents and their effects on the water quality of the connected streams during winter season, considering domestic sewage, industrial wastewater and hot spring wastewater from December 2015 to February 2016. Sampling stations were selected the upstream, the outlet of SAW, and the downstream in each connected stream, and the water temperature change was monitored toward the downstream from the discharging point of SAW. The temperature effect and its range of SAW on the stream were dependent not only on the effluent temperature and quantity but also on the local air temperature, water temperature and stream discharge. The SAW effects on the stream water temperature were observed with temperature increase by 2.1~5.8℃ in the range of 1.0 to 5.5 km downstream. Temperature effect was the greatest in the hot spring wastewater despite of small amount of effluent. The SAW was not only related to temperature but also to the increase of organic matter and nutrients in the connected stream. The industrial wastewater effluent was discharged with high concentration of nitrogen, while the hot spring wastewater was high in both phosphorus and nitrogen. The difference between these cases was due to with and without chemical T-P treatment in the industrial and the hot spring wastewater, respectively. The chlorophyll-a content of the attached algae was high at the outlet of SAW and the downstream reach, mostly in eutrophic level. These ecological results were presumably due to the high water temperature and phosphorus concentration in the stream brought by the thermal effluents of SAW. These results suggest that high temperature of the SAW needs to be emphasized when evaluating its effects on the stream water quality (water temperature, fertility) through a systematized spatial and temporal investigation.

In this study, we investigated influent and effluent water pollutants in 53 Public Sewage Treatment Works (PSTWs) where industrial wastewater or landfill leachate is combined four times for two years from 2014 to 2015. Also, we analyzed the characteristics of heavy metals and volatile organic carbons at influent and effluent of these PSTWs caused by sewage treatment combined with industrial wastewater or landfill leachate. As a result, six heavy metals such as barium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc, and four volatile organic carbons (VOCs) including phenols, di(2-)ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), formaldehyde and toluene were observed above detection limits in most of PSTWs. Also, it was revealed that six heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium, mercury, cadmium, chromium, nickel and selenium, and four VOCs including 1,1-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, naphthalene, and epichlorohydrin were observed more frequently according to precipitation. As a result of reviewing the monitoring data on “Water Quality Monitoring Networks” in lower watersheds of PSTWs, both heavy metals and VOCs were below detection limits, indicating that the effluent water had little influence on the watershed. Nevertheless for the better management of influent and effluent pollutants in PSTWs, it is necessary to establish the advanced management plans for water pollutants in PSTWs, which include a list of priority substances management, monitoring plans, and guidelines for industrial wastewater and landfill leachate combined in PSTWs.

Pollutants removal and disinfection effect of secondary effluent from final settling tank of sewage treatment plant of W city were investigated in Loop Reactor using ordinary granular activated carbon(GAC) and GAC coated with silver nanoparticles. The results showed that the removal efficiency of CODMn, T-N and T-P using GAC with silver nanoparticles were higher than using the ordinary GAC. The removal efficiency of T-P using GAC with silver nanoparticles is 45.4% and that of T-P using ordinary GAC is 30.9% in the same case of the input amount of 20 g/L of GAC. The total califorms is reduced according to increasing input amount of GAC with silver nanoparticles and ordinary GAC. The disinfection efficiency of total coliforms in case of GAC with silver nanoparticles is much higher than that in case of ordinary GAC. For all experiments using the silver nanoparticles, the total coliforms is under 26 cfu/mL and this shows very excellent disinfection effect.

As the Enforcement Ordinance of Environmental Policy Act was revised in 2013, total organic carbon(TOC) was added as an indicative parameter for organic matter in Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Environmental Criteria. Under these imminent circumstances, a regulatory standard is needed to achieve the proposed TOC limitation control water quality from the public sewage treatment plants(PSTWs). This study purposes to present the determination method for TOC effluent limitation at the PSTWs. Therefore we investigate the TOC effluent limitation of foreign countries such as EU, Germany and USA, and analyse the effluent water qualities of PSTWs. In using these TOC data, we review apprehensively the statistics-based, the technology-based, and the region(water quality)-based determination method of TOC effluent limitation for PSTWs.

In accordance with the Watershed Sewer System Maintenance Plan enforced on February 2, 2013, the different compliance concentration of effluent limit be applied to effluent discharged from public sewage treatment works(PSTWs) in each watershed on the basis of water quality thereof. With the introduction of watershed sewer system, it is necessary to set the compliance concentration of effluent limit for PSTWs situated in the watershed, by region and PSTW size, to achieve water quality criteria for regional watersheds or target water quality under TMDL program. Watershed Environmental Agencies establish the Watershed Sewer System Maintenance Plan and set the compliance concentrations of effluent limit for PSTWs under the plan. The agencies plan to apply tougher effluent BOD concentration limits in Class Ⅰ to Ⅳ areas. Effluent BOD concentration limits will be toughened from 5~10 mg/L to 3 mg/L in class Ⅱ~Ⅲ areas, from 10mg/L to 5mg/L in class Ⅳ areas. Uniform application of effluent BOD concentration limits to PSTWs in the watershed sewer system need to be complemented considering type of sewage treatment technology employed and watershed characteristics. Therefore, this study presents method to determine the compliance concentration of effluent limit from PSTWs in the watershed.

Under Korea’s Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Environmental Policy amended in 2013, total organic carbon (TOC) is newly added as water quality parameter to assess organic pollution in the aquatic ecosystem. To meet the TOC requirement and improve quality of effluent discharged into public watershed, it is also necessary to develop standards for TOC in effluent from public sewage treatment works (PSTWs).In this study, we reviewed the characteristics and removal efficiency of TOC in influent and effluent of PSTWs. The study found that phosphorus treatment process removed not only soluble phosphorus but also a portion of TOC remaining after the secondary treatment process. TOC concentration in effluent from PSTWs operated in tandem with industrial wastewater treatment work was higher due to influx of insoluble substances from the industrial wastewater treatment work.In order to lay a foundation for the management of TOC from PSTWs, it is necessary to carry out research on TOC from different perspectives. For example, studies on the generation mechanism of TOC and the impact of TOC on drinking water resources, assessment of effluent qualities through monitoring, and development of measures to control TOC for the preservation of aquatic ecosystem are needed.

본 연구는 하수처리장 방류수가 하천 유기물 오염에 미치는 영향을 파악하기 위하여 구미시 관내에 위치한 구미 4단지, 구미, 구미 원평하수처리장 방류수와 처리장 상∙하류 하천을 조사하였다. TOC 중 DOC가 70% 이상 으로 대부분 용존성으로 존재하였고, TOC에 대한 BOD, CODMn의 산화율은 각각 13~43%, 37~73%로 나타났다. 하지만 현재 사용되고 있는 BOD, CODMn이 총 유기탄소 에서 차지하는 비율이 약 50% 이하로 나타나, 유기물을 대표하는 데 어려움이 있을 것으로 보이며, 향후 TOC로 지표를 전환하는 방향도 모색해 보아야 할 것으로 판단 된다. DOC 분해실험 결과 DOC 중 R-DOC가 70% 이상 으로 난분해성 유기물이 대부분을 차지하는 것으로 나타 났다. 하수처리장 방류수의 유기물이 하천에 미치는 영향 을 보면, 낙동강 하류에서 구미 4단지, 구미, 구미 원평하 수처리장 방류수의 총 TOC 부하량이 차지하는 비율은 15%로 나타났다. 총 비율은 15%로 비교적 많은 부분을 차지하지는 않았지만 이 중 생분해성 유기물보다 난분해 성 유기물이 더 많은 부분을 차지하는 것으로 나타나, 상 수 처리 시 소독부산물의 전구물질이 증가하는 원인으로 작용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

This study investigated water quality of effluents and stream from the sewage treatment plants located at Gumi Complex 4, Gumi, and Wonpyeong in Gumi. Downstream region was found to increase the concentration of nutrients for sewage treatment plant effluent. Both phosphorus and nitrogen were accounted most as soluble form. In particular, the high ratio of dissolved effluent of sewage treatment plants were investigated. In the streams, Phosphorus concentration was high during rainy season and nitrogen concentration was high in the dry season. Sewage treatment plant effluent was relatively less microbial activity and nutrient concentrations were higher in the winter. TN/TP ratio was the highest in the upstream region and the lowest in the sewage treatment plant effluent. The effect of the nutrient matter from a discharge of a sewage treatment plant on rivers varied depending on the size of the river and the treatment plant. However, the influence of the concentration was greater than that of flowrate. Sewage treatment plant effluent loads phosphorus, nitrogen accounted for 8% and 6% respectively at the point N3 of the Nakdong river.

The objectives of this paper are the characterization of the pretreatment of wastewater by microfiltration (MF) membranes for river maintenance and water recycling. This is done by investigation of the proper coagulation conditions, such as the types and doses of coagulants, mixing conditions (velocity gradients and mixing periods), pH, etc., using jar tests. The effluent water from a pore control fiber (PCF) filter located after the secondary clarifier at Kang-byeon Sewage Treatment Plant (K-STP) was used in these experiments. Two established coagulants, aluminum sulfate (Alum) and poly aluminum chloride (PAC), which are commonly used in sewage treatment plants to treat drinking water, were used in this research. The results indicate that the optimal coagulation velocity gradients (G) and agitation period (T) for both Alum and PAC were 200-250 s-1 and 5 min respectively, but the coagulation efficiencies for both Alum and PAC were lower at low values of G and T. For a 60 min filtration period on the MF, the flux efficiencies (J/J0 (%)) at the K-STP effluent that were coagulated by PAC and Alum were 92.9 % and 79.9 %, respectively, under the same coagulation conditions. It is concluded that an enhanced membrane process is possible by effective filtration of effluent at the K-STP using the coagulation-membrane separation process.

Using high voltage electric fields induced by high voltage AC (10-12 kV/cm, 20 kHz) and pulsed (20-30 kV/cm, 40 Hz) electric field generator as a semipermanent and environment-friendly disinfecting apparatus, the disinfection effect of coliform group in the effluent of sewage plant was investigated. The effects of electric field strength, treatment time, discharge area of a discharge tube, water quality factors (electric conductivity, pH and SS) on its death rate were examined. The death rate of coliform group was increased with increasing electric field strength and treatment time. For AC and pulsed electric field generator, the critical electric field strength was 6 kV/cm and 2 kV/cm, respectively, and the critical treatment time was 5 min and 2 min, respectively, regardless of electric field strength. Comparing the death rate of coliform group by AC and pulsed electric fields used in this study, its death rate was higher for the latter than the former, but did not increase linearly with increasing electric field strength. The results obtained for the effects of discharge area, electric conductivity, pH and SS on the death rate of coliform group using AC electric field (12 kV/cm, 20 kHz) were as follows: its death rate showed the trend to increase linearly with increasing discharge area; for the effect of electric conductivity, its death rate was increased with increasing electric conductivity, regardless of ionic species, increased with increasing cationic valency, but was similar between the same cationic valency; the pH 5～9 used in this study did not affect its death rate; its death rate was decreased with increasing SS concentration.