20 Causes of problems in the Sewage Treatment Process

The following lists some Items, Chemicals, or Uses, which may have inhibiting effects on a Sewage Treatment Process, particularly where the treatment system is a small one.

Please Note :- This list is not exhaustive, but it may assist in eliminating or confirming the reasons for failure of a Sewage Treatment System to perform correctly.

1. Photography
   The chemicals used are varied but do contain silver nitrates which can be problematical.
2. Garden Weed Killers
   These contain sodium nitrate, paraquat and arsenic in varying concentrations.
3. Drain Cleaners
   A lot of these have a sulphuric acid base which can stop treatment.
4. Paints & Wood Preservatives
   Some paints are lead based and preservatives contain phenols which severely affect treatment.
5. Floor or Brick Cleaners
   Almost all these have a hydrochloric acid base which can stop treatment.
6. Antifreeze
   This contains ethyl glycol which will affect treatment.
7. Engine Oil & Hydraulic Brake Fluid
   The oils, both vegetable and mineral, provide a masking to biological growth.
8. Bleach
   This contains caustic soda which can stop treatment.
9. Laundries
   These produce high quantities of detergents and surfactants, which have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
10. Dish & Glass Washers
    These contain surfactants, caustic sodas, dyes and alcohols which have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
11. All Purpose Cleaners
    These contain sulphonates and amides which can have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
12. Heavy Duty Cleaners
    These contain sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide which can have severe.
13. Food Processing
    These contain effluents with a very high starch content which have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
14. Textiles
    These contain sodium hydroxide, acids and dyes which have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
15. Laboratories
    These will discharge chemicals of all types which have severe inhibiting effects on inhibiting effects on treatment.
16. Insecticides & Fungicides
    These can contain mercury which will have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
17. Paper & Paper-mills
    These wastes contain bleaches, starches and dyes which have severe inhibiting effects on treatment.
18. Dairy Wastes
    These are high strength wastes which produce oxygen reduction in wastes and will also contain chemicals from cleaning.
19. Greases
    As OIL problems, these will cause blockages and have a masking effect on biological growth.
20. Petro-chemicals & Resins
    These contain carbons and chemicals of all different types & treatment may be difficult.