Hydraulically integrated solids/liquid separation system and method for wastewater treatment

A method of treating wastewater, comprising

• (a) admitting wastewater into a wastewater treatment container having a top, a bottom, and a height dimension therebetween and filling the wastewater treatment container to a level with wastewater;
• (b) mixing and/or aerating the wastewater in the wastewater treatment container with a mixing/aeration system positioned below the level of wastewater in the wastewater treatment container and including an inlet for receiving retentate wastewater and an outlet for discharging retentate wastewater into the wastewater treatment container;
• (c) treating the wastewater in the wastewater treatment container;
• (d) providing the wastewater from the wastewater treatment container to a solids/liquids separation system at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to affect separation of solids and the liquid in the wastewater stream within the solids/liquids separation system, the solids/liquid separation system having a retentate outlet;
• (e) recycling the retentate from the solids/liquid separation system to the inlet of the mixing/aeration system;
• and
• (f) drawing off treated effluent from the solids/liquid separation system.

A method of treating wastewater, the method comprising:

• (a) admitting wastewater into a wastewater treatment container having a top, a bottom, and a height dimension therebetween and filling the wastewater treatment container to a level with wastewater;
• (b) mixing and/or aerating the wastewater in the wastewater treatment container with a mixing/aeration system positioned below the level of wastewater in the wastewater treatment container and including an inlet for receiving retentate wastewater and an outlet for discharging retentate wastewater into the wastewater treatment container;
• (c) treating the wastewater in the wastewater treatment container using at least one of the wastewater treatment methods selected from the group of wastewater treatment methods consisting of aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion, anoxic digestion, phosphorous removal, chemical treatment, nitrification and denitrification;
• (d) pumping the wastewater from the bottom of the wastewater treatment container via a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
• (e) providing the wastewater from the wastewater treatment container to a solids/liquids separation system in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to affect separation of solids and the liquid in the wastewater stream within the solids/liquids separation system, the solids/liquid separation system having a retentate outlet;
• (f) recycling the retentate from the solids/liquid separation system to the inlet of the mixing/aeration system;
• and
• (g) drawing off treated effluent from the solids/liquid separation system.