Page 7 - Simplified Wastewater Treatment Fundementals\Primary Treatment

Primary Treatment

Primary Clarifiers come in 2 common shapes; circular and

rectangular.

Circular primary clarifiers receive influent wastewater into the

center of the clarifier, allowing for the flow to reach the top and

to disperse outwards across the entire surface area. Sludge

precipitation and grease flotation follows.

A circular primary clarifier will have a single weir around the

perimeter of the clarifier. A circular clarifier collects sludge and

grease with a collector drive equipped with bottom plows and

surface skimmers.

Bottom sludge is collected into a center sump and pumped to

sludge thickening or digestion. Surface grease is skimmed into

a surface scum box and pumped to digestion.