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Set 564: Water And Sanitation Engineering Ii Question Paper

Set 564: Water And Sanitation Engineering Ii

Course:Construction Engineering

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2008

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2007/2008
INSTITUTE OF OPEN LEARNING
SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING)

SET 564: WATER AND SANITATION ENGINEERING II

DATE: Monday 7th July 2008 TIME: 10.30am – 12.30pm

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer any THREE (3) questions. Show all your working clearly

Question 1
(a)
The process of anaerobic fermentation of complex organic wastes to methane and
carbon dioxide is thought to go through a number of steps. Briefly describe these steps
that constitute the mechanism of anaerobic digestion.

[8 marks]
(b)
Explain why the decomposition of an organic waste to methane represents actual waste
stabilization.

[2 marks]
(c)
Explain how temperature effects the anaerobic process.

[2 marks]
(d)
There are many materials, both organic and inorganic, which may be toxic or inhibitory
to the anaerobic waste treatment process. Suggest four possible ways of controlling
this toxicity. (One sentence answers preferable).

[4 marks]
(e)
List four classes of materials that may be responsible for toxicity in (d) above.

[4 marks]
Question 2
(a)
Flow equalization or balancing is one form of wastewater pre-treatment. Give a
summary of the benefits of flow balancing or equalization.

[6 marks]
(b)
List two other wastewater pre-treatment processes other than flow equalization.

[2 marks]
(c)
The primary treatment of wastewater largely takes the form of clarification or
sedimentation. Explain the main objective of primary treatment and outline other
benefits that can be derived from this process.

[7 marks]
(d)
Explain how the process of sedimentation is carried out in a wastewater treatment plant.

[2 marks]

(e)
Sometimes the process of primary sedimentation is enhanced by addition of chemicals.
Explain why this may be necessary and give the nature of the chemical additives.

[3 marks]

1

Question 3
(a)
Explain what municipal solid waste (MSW) means.
(b)
Explain the importance of the following MSW properties in solid waste management or
treatment.
? Density and moisture content
? Particle size distribution
? Field capacity.

[7 marks]
(c)
Explain the importance of transfer stations in MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) storage
and transportation.

[3 marks]
(d)
Outline the advantages and disadvantages of source separation of MSW. [4 marks]
(e)
Contrast manual to mechanical sorting as means of MSW separation.
[4 marks]

Question 4
(a)
Explain why the anaerobic process was traditionally limited to treatment of
concentrated sludges.
(b)
The following are first stage sludge treatment processes. Give a very brief account of
each.
? Conditioning
? Thickening
? Dewatering

[6 marks]

(c)
Give a fairly detailed account of each of the following second stage sludge treatment
technologies:
? Wet air oxidation
? Pyrolysis

[10 marks]

Question 5
(a)
Give a brief description of a trickling filter.

[6 marks]
(b)
What is the effect of temperature or trickling filtration?
(c)
What are the two major problems associated with trickling filters?
[4 marks]
(d)
Explain the circumstances that would influence the choice of the recirculation ratio in
trickling filtration.

[6 marks]

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Set 564: Water And Sanitation Engineering Ii Question Paper

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