What is a waste stabilization pond and how does it work?
A waste stabilization pond is an artificial or man-made lagoon or pond into which raw sewage (household waste) is discharged. Treatment of the sewage is accomplished by bacteria and algae working together to break down the organic waste. The heavy solids settle to the bottom where they are decomposed by bacteria. The lighter, suspended material is broken down by bacteria in suspension. In this process, carbon dioxide is given off. Dissolved nutrient materials, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, plusthe carbon dioxide in the presence of light are utilized by algae to make more algal cells. The by-product of this process is oxygen whihc is utilized by the bacteria to repeat the cycle of breaking down the sewage. A pond will have a green color when a flourishing algae population has been established. A properly designed and maintained lagoon, to all appearances, looks like a very pleasant body of water.
