question_answer 72)

  (a) What would happen if a large volume of untreated sewage is discharged into a river? (b) In what way anaerobic sludge diagestion is important in sewage treatments?                

Answer:

                  (a) If untreated sewage is discharged directly into rivers it will lead to serious pollution of the waters with organic matter and pathogenic bacteria, Protozoa and many other diseases. This water, if used, will cause outbreaks of water borne diseases. (b) In anaerobic sludge digestion, an aerobicbacteria, digest the aerobic bacteria and the fungi in the sludge and the remaining organic matter. During this digestion, bacteria produce a mixture of gases such as methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. These gases (biogas) can be used as source of energy as it is inflammable.