Water or wastewater system and method for removing bod and suspended solids through an activated sludge process and a ballasted flocculation process

A wastewater treatment facility, comprising:

• an activated sludge system having at least one reactor and a clarifier;
• a first influent inlet for directing a first wastewater stream to the activated sludge systems;
• a ballasted flocculation system having at least one mixing zone and a settling zone;
• a second influent inlet for directing a second wastewater stream to the ballasted flocculation system;
• a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the ballasted flocculation system;
• and
• a line interconnected between the activated sludge system and the mixing chamber for directing mixed liquor or activated sludge from the activated sludge system to the mixing chamber.

A method of treating wastewater comprising:

• a. directing at least a portion of the wastewater to be treated to an activated sludge system;
• b. mixing return activated sludge with the wastewater to form mixed liquor;
• c. directing at least a portion of the mixed liquor to a clarifier that forms a part of the activated sludge system and which produces a first clarified effluent;
• and
• d. directing at least a portion of the mixed liquor to a ballasted flocculation system that produces a second clarified effluent.

A method of utilizing a biological system and a ballasted flocculation system to treat wastewater, comprising:

• a. directing a first stream of wastewater through the biological system and biologically treating the first stream of wastewater to produce a first clarified effluent;
• b. directing a second stream of wastewater through a ballasted flocculation system and producing a second clarified effluent from the ballasted flocculation system;
• and
• c. utilizing sludge from the biological system to treat the second stream of water or wastewater such that the second stream of wastewater passing through the ballasted flocculation system is biologically treated.

A wastewater treatment system, comprising:

• an activated sludge system including at least one reactor, a clarifier and a return activated sludge line for conveying return activated sludge from the clarifier to the reactor to form mixed liquor;
• a ballasted flocculation system having one or more tanks and a settling zone;
• and
• a mixed liquor or activated sludge supply line for transferring mixed liquor or activated sludge directly or indirectly to the ballasted flocculation system.

A combined biological and ballasted flocculation system for treating wastewater, comprising:

• a. a biological treatment system comprising an inlet, at least one treatment zone, and a first effluent line;
• b. a ballasted flocculation system disposed in a non-series relationship with the biological treatment system, and including an inlet, one or more tanks, a settling zone, and a second effluent line;
• and
• c. a transfer line leading from the biological treatment system for transferring sludge from the biological treatment system to the ballasted flocculation system such that wastewater passing through the ballasted flocculation system is subjected to biological treatment because of the sludge transferred from the biological treatment systems.