A review of the control of biological waste treatment in stabilization ponds

Abstract

Most biological systems function effectively without human interference. The stabilization pond is an ecosystem governed by the nature of the communities that it supports and the prevailing environmental conditions in which it is maintained. The interrelationships that bond microscopic fauna and flora with the chemistry of their circumstances can be manipulated to ensure breakdown of organic refuse and to eliminate parasites and other hazards. They ensure effective treatment of organic wastes generated by humankind and their normal functions. At the same time there are opportunities to capitalize on the byproducts of the process. Monitoring rates of change using biological and chemical techniques provide useful information for adjusting retention times or creating additional pond basins to enhance the treatment process. Information used for managing the ponds provides a potential database for integration of pond systems with membrane filter systems and future initiatives necessary to ensure clean water supplies and to safeguard the fundamental resource.