Waste Stabilization Ponds: A Highly Appropriate Wastewater Treatment Technology for Mediterranean Countries

Abstract

This chapter describes waste stabilization pond (WSP) systems for wastewater treatment. WSP systems comprise a series of anaerobic and facultative ponds and sometimes maturation ponds. Rock filters can be used instead of maturation ponds and they can be aerated to remove ammonia and to improve biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids removals. Effluent quality is high, and properly designed and well maintained WSP systems produce effluents that can be safely used for both restricted and unrestricted crop irrigation