BRITISH STANDARD BS EN

12255-14:2003

Wastewater treatment
plants —
Part 14: Disinfection

The European Standard EN 12255-14:2003 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 13.060.30

12&23<,1*:,7+287%6,3(50,66,21(;&(37$63(50,77('%<&23<5,*+7/$:
BS EN 12255-14:2003

National foreword

This British Standard is the official English language version of

EN 12255-14:2003.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
B/505, Wastewater engineering, which has the responsibility to:

— aid enquirers to understand the text;

— present to the responsible international/European committee any

enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the
UK interests informed;
— monitor related international and European developments and
promulgate them in the UK.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on

request to its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European
publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Catalogue
under the section entitled “International Standards Correspondence Index”, or
by using the “Search” facility of the BSI Electronic Catalogue or of British
Standards Online.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

This British Standard, was Summary of pages

published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN title page,
Strategy Committee on pages 2 to 16, an inside back cover and a back cover.
14 January 2003
The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the
document was last issued.

Amendments issued since publication

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© BSI 14 January 2003

ISBN 0 580 43221 1

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 12255-14
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM December 2003

ICS 13.060.30

English version

Wastewater treatment plants - Part 14: Disinfection

Stations d'épuration - Partie 14: Désinfection Kläranlagen - Teil 14: Desinfektion

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 September 2003.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United
Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

© 2003 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12255-14:2003: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

Contents
page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................3
1 Scope ..............................................................................................................................................................4
2 Normative references ....................................................................................................................................4
3 Terms and definitions....................................................................................................................................4
4 Design .............................................................................................................................................................6
5 Requirements ...............................................................................................................................................13
Bibliography ..............................................................................................................................................................15

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 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

Foreword
This document (EN 12255-14:2003) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 165 “Wastewater
engineering”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or
by endorsement, at the latest by June 2004, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by
June 2004.

This is the fourteenth Part prepared by the Working Groups CEN/TC 165/WG 42 and WG 43 relating to the general
requirements and processes for treatment plants for a total number of inhabitants and population equivalents (PT)
over 50. EN 12255 with the generic title “Wastewater treatment plants” consists of the following Parts:

 Part 1: General construction principles

 Part 3: Preliminary treatment

 Part 4: Primary settlement

 Part 5: Lagooning processes

 Part 6: Activated sludge processes

 Part 7: Biological fixed-film reactors

 Part 8: Sludge treatment and storage

 Part 9: Odour control and ventilation

 Part 10: Safety principles

 Part 11: General data required

 Part 12: Control and automation

 Part 13: Chemical treatment — Treatment of wastewater by precipitation/flocculation

 Part 14: Disinfection

 Part 15: Measurement of the oxygen transfer in clean water in aeration tanks of activated sludge plants

 Part 16: Physical (mechanical) filtration

NOTE For requirements on pumping installations at wastewater treatment plants, provided initially as Part 2: Pumping
installations for wastewater treatment plants, see EN 752-6 Drain and sewer systems outside buildings — Part 6: Pumping
installations.

EN 12255-1, EN 12255-3 to EN 12255-8 and EN 12255-10 and EN 12255-11 were implemented together as a
European package (Resolution BT 152/1998).

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

3
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

1 Scope
This European Standard specifies performance requirements for the disinfection of effluents from wastewater
treatment plants.

The primary application is for wastewater treatment plants designed for the treatment of domestic and municipal
wastewater for over 50 PT.

Differences in wastewater treatment throughout Europe have led to a variety of systems being developed. This
standard gives fundamental information about the systems, this standard has not attempted to specify all available
systems.

Detailed information additional to that contained in this standard can be obtained by referring to the bibliography.

2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. These
normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text, and the publications are listed hereafter. For
dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this European
Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the
publication referred to applies (including amendments).

EN 1085:1997, Wastewater treatment — Vocabulary.

EN 12255-1, Wastewater treatment plants — Part 1: General construction principles.

EN 12255-5, Wastewater treatment plants — Part 5: Lagooning processes.

EN 12255-10, Wastewater treatment plants — Part 10: Safety principles.

EN 12255-12, Wastewater treatment plants — Part 12: Control and automation.

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this European Standard, terms and definitions given in EN 1085:1997 and the following apply.

3.1
residual concentration
concentration of a disinfectant in the final effluent of the wastewater treatment plant

3.2
UV radiation (UV dose)
the received UV-dose over the duration of the UV irradiation along the pathway of an infinitesimal small water
volume expressed in J/m²

3.3
UV intensity
quotient of the energy flux of the UV radiation received on the surface of an infinitesimal small area divided by the
size of the area. The unit of UV intensity is W/m²

3.4
UV-reactor
a closed vessel reactor or an open channel section with an assembly of UV-lamps irradiating the water passing
through the UV-reactor

4
 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

3.5
bioassay
method to determine the effective UV radiation of an UV system using a calibrated test organism. Calibration of test
organisms is done in a laboratory device with an UV radiation of a homogeneous and measured intensity (see [15],
[20])

3.6
ozone demand
amount of ozone required to attain a certain residual ozone concentration in the effluent of a treatment stage. The
ozone demand includes the ozone consumption due to the decay of the ozone and due to reactions of ozone with
any of the pollutants in the water

3.7
chlorinator
equipment for dosing chlorine gas into water

3.8
contact basin
tank for providing the required detention time for certain reactions to take place

3.9
membrane
semipermeable material used as filter media in membrane filtration processes. Membranes normally are flat
sheets, tubes or hollow fibres composed of a thin semipermeable layer on a structural material

3.10
module
unit containing an assembly of membranes and systems for distributing the raw water inflow, and systems for
collecting permeate and the concentrate

3.11
permeate
fluids passing through the membrane in membrane filtration processes

3.12
concentrate
fluids enriched with substances not passing the membranes in membrane filtration processes

3.13
flux
membrane surface area specific rate of fluids passing through the membrane in membrane filtration processes
normally indicated in l/(m²
h). The flux is mainly determined by the wastewater quality, the type of membrane used,
the mode of filtration and the transmembrane pressure

3.14
transmembrane pressure
pressure difference between concentrate and permeate side of the membrane

3.15
cross flow filtration
filtration with a significant flow parallel to the membrane surface, which is intended to prevent substances from
accumulating on the surface of the membrane

3.16
dead end filtration
filtration without a significant flow parallel to the membrane surface

3.17
perpendicular mixing
mixing vertical to floating direction

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EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

4 Design

4.1 General

Disinfection processes are used to improve the microbiological quality of effluents, if required, e.g. because of sensitive
uses of the receiving waters downstream. A disinfection of effluents from wastewater treatment plants can be
required to contribute to public health to prevent a contamination by human pathogens of:

 waters used for bathing and other recreational activities involving immersion;

 shellfisheries;

 treated wastewater to be reused for unrestricted irrigation or as process water or grey water;

 sources used for potable water supply.

A disinfection of effluents from wastewater treatment can be attained by two possible mechanisms:

 inactivation of micro-organisms rendering micro-organisms incapable of reproduction;

 removing the micro-organisms from an effluent (e.g. by filtration) but not necessarily inactivating them.

Processes most commonly used for disinfecting wastewater by removing inactivating micro-organisms are:

 Ultraviolet (UV)-radiation;

 Chlorination;

 Ozonation.

Processes most commonly used for disinfecting wastewater by removing respectively reducing micro-organisms
are:

 membrane filtration;

 effluent maturation ponds;

 soil filtration.

4.2 Planning

4.2.1 General

Disinfection, if required, should be the last stage in the wastewater treatment process. Poor performance by
upstream processes will affect the performance of the disinfection process. If an effluent has to be stored prior to
discharge – e.g. in case of discharge to tidal water or irrigation – it should be preferably disinfected after storage
directly prior to discharge in order to limit regrowth hazards.

When planning disinfection systems consideration shall be given to:

a) level of disinfection required;

b) stability and efficiency of disinfection process;

c) technological level of disinfection process;

d) operational requirements;

e) safety hazards;

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 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

f) environmental impacts, e.g.:

 effects on the quality of the effluents (reduction of BOD5,COD, SS, Ptot);

 deleterious effects of residual disinfectants;

 production of toxic or bioaccumulating by-products;

g) power requirements.

4.2.2 Level of disinfection

Disinfection processes shall reduce or inactivate human pathogens to a level that the risk of the disinfected
wastewater being a source of infections is minimised. Disinfection processes are not intended to remove all micro-
organisms, or even remove all human pathogens.

The level of disinfection is specified by national and local authorities.

The specification of the level of disinfection shall include procedures for sampling, analysis and evaluation.
Statistical criteria for complying with the level of disinfection required shall be named explicitly e.g. for dry weather
and storm water conditions.

4.3 Process Design

4.3.1 General

A disinfection system has to be designed and sized to ensure that

 the required treatment (minimum disinfectant dose) is applied to all wastewater;

 the required level of disinfection is maintained at the maximum effluent flow rate and disinfectant demand
(worst case condition).

With respect to the high required reduction rate no short circuiting, by-passing, or incomplete treatment is
permitted. The required treatment has to be applied to all wastewater because the microbiological quality of
disinfected wastewater reacts very sensitively to any wastewater not being disinfected properly.

NOTE This is due to the fact that the required reduction of indicator organisms is usually in the magnitude of 99,9 % to
99,99 %. A leakage or short circuiting of 0,01 % to 0,1 % of the wastewater or a reduced reduction rate of only 99 % in 1 % to
10 % of the wastewater due to incomplete treatment can cause germ counts that already exceed the effluent standards.

4.3.2 UV radiation

UV disinfection is the application of UV radiation artificially generated in UV lamps in UV reactors to the wastewater
to be disinfected. An appropriate dose of UV radiation will cause an irreversible inactivation of micro-organisms with
no other significant effects on the wastewater.

NOTE The disinfection by UV radiation is due to a photochemical effect. UV radiation of germicidal wavelength causes the
formation of dimers of neighbouring thymine bases in nucleic acids. These dimers disturb the replication of the nucleic acids and
cause an irreversible inactivation of the micro-organisms, if due to the UV dose the formation of dimers is too numerous to be
repaired by the cells repair mechanisms.

UV radiation systems for wastewater disinfection can be classified as follows:

 type of UV reactor (open channel gravity flow systems, closed vessel systems);

 type of UV-lamps (low pressure or medium pressure mercury discharge lamps);

 configuration of UV-lamps (in wastewater immersed lamps housed in quartz glass sleeves, non-contact
systems).

7
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

UV radiation systems can consist of one or more UV reactors. UV reactors can be in series or parallel. Designing
and sizing a UV radiation system for wastewater disinfection, the following site specific parameters shall be taken
into consideration:

 minimum UV dose;

 peak flow;

 minimal UV transmittance of effluent.

The minimum UV-dose is the UV irradiation required to reduce the concentration of micro-organisms in an effluent
to the requested level of disinfection. The minimum UV dose is independent of the UV radiation system used for
the disinfection. The minimum UV dose is only determined by

a) the level of disinfection required specified in terms of

 relevant indicator and/or pathogen organisms concentrations;

 sampling and analysis procedures (photo-reactivation);

 statistical criteria for approval.

b) characteristics of the wastewater

 suspended solids concentration;

 concentrations of micro-organisms before disinfection.

The required minimum UV-dose can be estimated on the basis of experimental data determined by collimated
beam tests, pilot plant studies, or experience from other installations.

On the basis of the minimum UV dose, peak flow, and minimum UV transmittance a UV radiation system can be
designed and sized appropriate to deliver the required minimum UV dose to all wastewater to be disinfected.
Design and sizing of UV radiation systems are system specific. Contractors should provide a verifiable UV dose
calculation based on a bioassay study or on an UV intensity distribution calculation combined with a detention time
distribution study (tracer study).

For a safe disinfection and a good efficiency of a UV radiation system the hydraulic design and the efficiency of the
UV-lamps are most important. For the UV-lamp-ballast-systems contractors should provide an expertise on
efficiency and out-put drop over time from an independent source. The hydraulic design of UV radiation system
should ensure that

 no wastewater to be disinfected can by-pass the UV radiation system at any time;

 all the cross sections of the UV reactors are irradiated (no shadowed areas);

 hydraulic flow is as close to perfect plugflow as practicable;

 hydraulic flow is as close to perfect perpendicular mixing as practicable.

Efficiencies of UV radiation systems claimed by contractors can be verified by

 bioassay studies (see [15], [24]);

 pilot plant studies;

 full scale experience.

For systems with submerged UV-lamps a cleaning routine for the quartz glass sleeves of the UV-lamps has to be
established. For systems with low pressure mercury discharge UV-lamps cleaning frequencies of less than once

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 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

every two weeks can be expected. For systems using medium pressure mercury discharge UV-lamps cleaning
might be required much more frequently.

UV-lamps should be replaced at intervals recommended by the manufacturers.

4.3.3 Ozonation

An ozonation system for wastewater disinfection includes:

 ozone generator;

 contactor;

 reactor;

 ozone destructor for waste gas.

Ozone is an extremely reactive and unstable gas that can not be stored and has to be produced on site.

Ozone is toxic. Ozonation can lead to the formation of other by products (chlorates, bromates and organic peroxides).
In designing an ozonation plant all relevant safety regulations for generating and handling ozone have to be
respected.

Ozone is very corrosive. All parts that get in contact with ozone have to be ozone resistant. Especially all sealants
have to be ozone resistant.

Of great importance for the efficiency of the ozonation process is the ozone transfer into the effluent. This is done
in a contactor. The following types of contactors are commonly used:

 diffused bubble (co-current and counter current);

 positive pressure injection;

 negative pressure injection (venturi);

 mechanical agitation;

 packed tower.

The efficiency of the ozone transfer into the effluent can be improved by a multistage counter current contacting of
the ozone and the effluent.

The reactor should provide sufficient detention time for the disinfection reactions of the ozone to be completed.
Flow conditions in the reactor should be as near to plug flow as is practicable. Short circuiting shall be avoided.
Contactor and reactor can be integrated systems.

With respect to its toxicity any residual ozone in the waste gas has to be destroyed. All ozone bearing parts of an
ozonation plant shall be a closed vessel system only vented through an ozone destructor. Ozone concentration in
waste gas has to be monitored and shall not exceed 0,02 mg/m³. In the case of an elevated ozone concentration
(> 0,02 mg/m³) being detected the ozone generators shall shut down automatically. Systems used for ozone
destruction in the waste gas include

 thermal destruction (T> 350 °C, tR > 2 s);

 catalytic destruction (i.e. Palladium/CuO-MnO, T= 60 °C to 80 °C);

 active carbon (active carbon is oxidised and consumed by the ozone destruction).

The ozone dosage required for disinfection will depend on the level of disinfection required and the ozone demand
of the effluent. The ozone dosage necessary to meet the ozone demand will be site specific and should be
determined by experiments, if possible, before design is undertaken. Contact times should be assessed using a
9
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

pilot plant with the same type of contactor as will be used for the full-scale installation. Residual concentration of
3
ozone in the wastewater should be in the range of 0,1 g/m to 1 g/m³.

4.3.4 Chlorination

The use of chlorine disinfection will result the formation of toxic by products such as AOX, THMs, PCB, etc. The
environmental impact of these by products shall be taken into account when considering the reuse of chlorinated
effluents.

Chlorinators for the disinfection of wastewater are technologically similar to the systems used for the chlorination of
potable water and include appropriate systems for

 storage of disinfectant chemicals;

 preparation and dosing of disinfectant solutions;

 mixing of wastewater and disinfectant solution;

 disinfection reactions being completed in reaction tanks commonly referred to as contact basins;

 the dechlorination before discharge.

Disinfecting chemicals are toxic and hazardous. The more commonly used in chlorinators are

 Sodium hypochlorite solution;

 chlorine gas;

 chlorine dioxide.

The systems for the storage, preparation, and dosing of the disinfecting chemicals depend on the type of
disinfecting chemicals being used.

Sodium hypochlorite solution can be purchased in concentrations of 5 % to 15 % NaOCl. It can be stored in tanks
and dosed with positive displacement pumps. Attention has to be paid to the loss of activity over time. The rate of
the loss of activity increases with rising temperatures.

Chlorine gas can be stored in pressurised gas tanks. Any rooms possibly affected by chlorine gas in case of
leakage, rupture or misfunctioning have to be controlled by chlorine gas detectors. Chlorine gas can be dosed with
negative pressure injection systems (venturi) into a side stream of the effluent, producing a solution of
hypochlorous acid, which then is mixed with the effluent. Such chlorinators should have the following components:

 a pressure/vacuum regulator;

 a feed rate controller;

 a venturi operated injection device;

 a flow meter.

Chlorine dioxide is an unstable gas that easily can explode. It should not be stored prior to use and should be
generated as required for disinfection. Storage and use of chlorine dioxide in a solution of approximately 5 % is
possible. The manufacturer's instructions shall be considered. There are a number of methods which can be used
to generate chlorine dioxide solution on site. These include the following reactions:

 sodium chlorite and chlorine gas;

 sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid;

 sodium chlorite, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite.

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 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

Chlorine dioxide reactors should be designed to ensure that there is

 an efficient generation of chlorine dioxide from the feed chemicals,

 a low concentration of chlorine in the chlorine dioxide solution.

Chlorine dioxide is an effective bactericide over a wide range of pH values and in many circumstances more
effective than chlorine. Unlike chlorine, it does not react with ammonia to form chloramines and there seems to be
considerably less formation of AOX compounds with chlorine dioxide than with chlorine. It can lead to the formation
of other by products (chlorates, bromates, etc.).

The mixing of the effluent and the disinfectant solution should be very intense and should be completed in a very
short time (within a period of seconds). In line mixing systems or vigorously stirred tank reactors with a short
detention time are appropriate solutions.

Disinfection reactions are completed in contact basins. The objective of the contact basins is to maintain the micro-
organisms in the effluent stream in intimate contact with the disinfecting chemical for the required period. A
disinfection contact tank should be designed to avoid short circuiting and should be as near to a plug flow system
as is practicable. It will normally be a pipeline or a serpentine chamber.

The required dosage of the disinfectant solution depends on the type of disinfectant used and is site specific. The
dosage of the disinfectant chemical should be adjusted to the flow rate and the disinfectant consumption rate of the
wastewater with the objective to attain a stable residual concentration in the contact basin effluent. The site specific
required dosage should be determined by experiments, if possible, before design is undertaken. Residual
concentration for chlorination in the contact basin effluent should be approximately 0,2 mg/l of free chlorine. With a
lower residual concentration disinfection might not be complete, with a higher residual concentration a severe
damage of the bacterial population in the receiving water and excessive concentrations of toxic by-products in the
effluent might be the consequence. Negative effects on the receiving water have been reported for chlorine
concentrations as low as 0,05 mg/l to 0,1 mg/l. In order to reduce the negative effects of chlorinated effluents in the
receiving water chlorinated effluents should be dechlorinated prior to being discharged.

4.3.5 Membrane filtration

The membrane filtration processes used for wastewater disinfection are ultra- and microfiltration. Both membrane
filtration processes use porous membranes as filter media and behave as sieving filters. In membrane filtration the
effluent is forced through the membrane pores under pressure. The transmembrane pressure is normally
generated by a pressure pump on the effluent side, static height difference or a vacuum pump on the permeate
side. Membrane filtration systems include the following elements:

 modules which contain membranes in the form of hollow fibres, tubes, discs or pleated cartridges, flat or spiral
wound sheets and provide adequate systems for distributing the inflowing effluent and for collecting the
concentrate and the permeate;

 pressure or vacuum pumps that provide an appropriate transmembrane pressure;

 systems for backwashing and/or chemical cleaning of the membranes.

Membrane filtration processes are characterised e.g. by:

 size of the pores in the membranes (microfiltration or ultrafiltration);

 material of the membranes (organic or inorganic);

 type of the modules (hollow fibres, tubes, discs or pleated cartridges, flat or spiral wound sheets);

 mode of operation (dead end or crossflow filtration);

 type of influent (settled effluent or mixed liquor).

Designing and sizing a membrane filtration system the following additional factors shall be considered:

11
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

 flux achievable in operation just before backwashing or cleaning the membrane;

 backwashing and cleaning procedures;

 energy consumption.

Consideration shall also be given to the safe disposal of the concentrate. The concentrate may be returned for
treatment to the secondary treatment process. Design and operation of the secondary treatment process shall then
consider any such additional inputs. Care should be exercised to avoid the build up of solids within such a system
which are removed by the membrane filtration process but are not removed by the secondary treatment process.
The addition of small amounts of coagulant to the concentrate is one method of avoiding this problem.

A routine for cleaning the membrane should be established. Cleaning can be accomplished using back-washing,
air scouring or chemical cleaning. The interval between cleaning will be dependent on the reduction in flux or
alternatively can be based on a fixed time interval. An appropriate cleaning regime should be established during
commissioning. The cleaning regime should be reviewed periodically.

The integrity of the membranes should be tested periodically. A method shall be provided to identify and isolate
membranes that have failed. The membranes should be replaced at intervals recommended by the manufacturers.

4.3.6 Effluent maturation ponds

The basic design requirements for effluent maturation ponds are set out in EN 12255-5. Retention time should be
5 d to 20 d. The design of the ponds should aim at attaining plug flow and avoiding short circuiting. Flow patterns in
effluent maturation ponds can be improved by a high length to width ratio, a meandering design of the ponds or by
dividing the volume into several ponds in series.

NOTE The efficiency of maturation ponds is generally far less than for other disinfection processes due to climate
influences such as solar radiation and temperature.

4.3.7 Soil filtration

Designing and sizing a soil filtration system considerations shall be given to the site specific hydrogeological
situation and to the local percolation properties of the soil. The site should be level or on the crest of a convex
slope. The area should be well drained. Depressions, the bases of slopes and concave slopes should be avoided.
The minimum depth of unsaturated soil between the bottom of the soil field and the bedrock or water table (at its
maximum seasonal height) should be 1,2 m.

The soil characteristics that shall be considered include:

 texture;

 structure;

 permeability;

 layering.

Sandy or loamy soil is best suited for soil filtration. Gravely or clay soil are less-well suited. The structure of the soil
should be strongly granular, blocky or prismatic. Soils which are silty or unstructured should be avoided. The soil
should be bright and evenly coloured. Dull or mottled soils often indicate continuous or periodic saturation and are
unsuitable. Soils which exhibit distinct layers should be subject to careful evaluation to ensure water movement will
not be restricted.

Local regulations concerning the minimum horizontal distance between the soil filter and manmade features and
surface waters shall be applied. Such features will include water supply wells, property boundaries and the
foundations of buildings.

Percolation tests should be carried out prior to design in order to establish the hydraulic loading rate which the site
can sustain. Such data should be used to size the soil filtration system.

12
 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

5 Requirements

5.1 Process control

The requirements of EN 12255-10 and EN 12255-12 shall apply. In wastewater disinfection process control should
be used for:

 preventing health and safety hazards caused by disinfectants due to uncontrolled leakage;

 preventing negative effects of disinfectants in receiving waters due to overdosing;

 safeguarding a disinfectant dosage sufficient to meet the required level of disinfection at all times;

 optimising disinfectant and power consumption.

For preventing health and safety hazards caused by disinfectants due to uncontrolled leakage all rooms with
installations containing hazardous chemicals have to be equipped with specific detectors safeguarding that any
toxic concentration of these chemicals (see 5.3) will cause a shut down and an alarm. Also all waste gas streams
form these installations have to be monitored in the same way.

Overdosing of chemical disinfectants is mostly associated with negative effects in receiving waters and can often
be avoided by controlling the disinfectant dosage by monitoring the residual disinfectant concentration in the
effluent. This method should be applied in chlorination and ozonation processes. This method reacts to variations
in the disinfectant demand no matter if they are due to a change of the flow rate or of the disinfectant consumption
in the wastewater. For this control to work properly, the sensors monitoring the residual concentrations have to be
maintained and calibrated on a regular basis. The control system should be backed up by a flow proportional
dosage in case of a breakdown of the sensor systems for monitoring the residual concentrations. If the specific
disinfectant demand of the wastewater varies only in a limited range a flow proportional dosage of the disinfectant
might be appropriate. If due to pumping also the flow is constant a manual control can be sufficient.

In chemical disinfection processes the same control that prevents overdosing is used for safeguarding a sufficient
disinfectant dosage for meeting the required level of disinfection at all times. In UV radiation systems the UV
intensity should be monitored at an appropriate reference point in each UV reactor for safeguarding a sufficient UV
dosage. If the required UV intensity is not reached the sleeves of the UV-lamps shall be cleaned or UV lamps have
to be renewed. In membrane filtration systems process control has to safeguard that there is no leakage from the
effluent side to the permeate side. In some cases turbidity or particle counters can be appropriate systems for
identifying a leakage in a membrane filtration system.

In chemical disinfection systems by controlling the disinfectant dosage already the most economic operation is
attained. In UV radiation systems with more than one UV-reactor proportional to the flow UV-reactors can be
switched on and off. This is commonly referred to as flow pacing. In flow pacing it has to be taken into
consideration that a frequent switching on and off of UV lamps shortens the UV lamps life expectancy. In UV
radiation systems with medium pressure mercury discharge UV-lamps the UV-lamps can be dimmed.

5.2 Structures

The requirements of EN 12255-1 shall apply. Structures shall be designed to be corrosion resistant. This
particularly applies to disinfection processes when the disinfectant or its by-products are corrosive.

All confined spaces shall be provided with adequate ventilation.

5.3 Health and safety

The requirements of EN 12255-10 shall apply. International, national or local safety regulations might require
additional safety measures and process controls.

The design and operation of a disinfection system shall ensure that there is no threat posed to the health and
safety of the general public or the plant operators. All plant operators shall be trained in the health and safety
aspects of the disinfection system which they are operating.

13
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

In some disinfection processes health and safety aspects deserve special consideration due to the involvement of:

 the generation and/or application of chemicals particularly toxic to man;

 high voltage equipment;

 UV radiation;

 in effluent submerged fragile electric equipment.

Chemicals used in disinfection processes and which are particularly toxic to man include:

 chlorine gas;

 chlorine dioxide gas;

 ozone gas.

Risks to health and safety associated with the generation and/or application of toxic chemicals in disinfection
processes include:

 exposure to toxic gases;

 exposure to toxic or corrosive liquids;

 explosions caused by storage of gases under pressure;

 fire and explosions caused by the build up of flammable gases;

 fire and explosions caused by the storage of powerful oxidants or oxygen.

Appropriate safety standards shall be applied in order to minimise the risk of these potential hazards.

Disinfection processes with a generation and/or application of gases particularly toxic to man shall be designed and
operated such that the occupational exposure limits to these gases are not exceeded. The building in which these
gases are used, generated, or stored shall be monitored regularly and appropriate equipment shall be supplied to
deal with releases of gas. Safety equipment (gas masks, etc.) has to be available on site. Evacuation procedures
shall be prepared and rehearsed on a regular basis.

UV radiation can irritate eyes and skin. UV radiation systems shall be designed such that no UV irradiation can
directly penetrate eyes or skin. Lightlocks and electrical breakers are appropriate systems for preventing direct UV
irradiation of eyes and skin.

14
 EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

Bibliography

The following documents contain details which can be used within the framework of this standard.

This list of documents which are published and used by the members of CEN was correct at the time of publication
of this European Standard but should not be considered to be exhaustive.

European Standard

[1] EN 170, Personal eye protection — Ultraviolet filters — Transmittance requirements and recommended
use.

[2] EN 938, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Sodium chlorite.

[3] EN 939, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Hydrochloric acid.

EU-Directive

[4] 76/160/EEC, Council Directive of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of bathing water, Official Journal
L31.8 (1975). Changed by 91/692/CEE of 23 December 1991.

National requirements

Austria

[5] ÖNORM M 5873-1, Anlagen zur Desinfektion von Wasser mittels Ultraviolett-Strahlen - Anforderungen und
Prüfung – Anlagen mit Quecksilberdampf-Niederdruckstrahlern.

[6] ÖNORM M 5878, Anforderungen an Ozonungsanlagen zur Wasseraufbereitung.

[7] ÖNORM M 5879-1, Anforderungen an Chlorungsanlagen zur Wasserbehandlung - Chlorgas-Anlagen.

[8] ÖNORM M 5879-2, Anforderungen an Chlorungsanlagen zur Wasserbehandlung; Anlagen zur Desinfektion
und Oxidation durch Chlorverbindungen und deren Lösungen.

[9] ÖNORM M 5879-3, Anforderungen an Chlorungsanlagen zur Wasserbehandlung - Chlorgas-Anlagen.

Germany

[10] DIN 19606, Chlorinators for water treatment; equipment, installation and operation.

[11] DIN 19627, Ozone-plants for water treatment.

[12] ATV M 205, Desinfektion von biologisch gereinigtem Abwasser, (1998). 1)

1) Available at: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Abwassertechnik e. V. (GFA), Postfach 1165, 53758 Hennef

15
EN 12255-14:2003 (E)

[13] DVGW W 224, Chlorine dioxide in water treatment. 2)

2
[14] DVGW W 293, UV-systems for the disinfection of drinking-water (10/94). )
2
[15] DVGW W 294, UV-systems for the disinfection in drinking water supplies — Requirements and testing. )
2
[16] DVGW W 623, Dosage-installation for disinfectant and oxidising agent; dosage-installation for chlorine. )
2
[17] DVGW W 624, Feeders for disinfectants and oxidation agents — Feeders for chlorine dioxide. )
2
[18] DVGW W 625, Plants for the production and dosage of ozone. )

[19] ZH 1/474, Richtlinien für die Verwendung von Ozon zur Wasseraufbereitung.

[20] Pfeiffer, W.; Ultraviolet disinfection technology and assessment; European Water Management, Vol. 2,
No. 1 (1998) — special issue on parasites and pathogens.

[21] Bernhardt et al, Desinfektion aufbereiteter Oberflächenwässer mit UV-Strahlen — erste Ergebnisse des
Forschungsvorhabens, gwf - Wasser - Abwasser 133. (1992), Nr. 12, S. 632-643.

[22] Safert et al, Membranfiltration zur Keim- und P-Elimination im Ablauf kommunaler Kläranlagen, in:
Rautenbach et al, Möglichkeiten und Perspektiven der Membrantechnik bei der kommunalen
Abwasserbehandlung und Trinkwasseraufbereitung, A8, 1-14, Aachen (1997).

France

[23] Fascicule 81, titre II: Fascicule interministériel applicable aux marches publics de travaux de génie civil (CCTG)
– Conception et exécution des installations d’épuration d’eaux usées.

USA

[24] EPA, Ultraviolet Disinfection Technology Assessment, EPA, 832-R-92-004, USA, (1992).

[25] EPA, Design Manual — Municipal Wastewater Disinfection, EPA/625/1-86/021, USA, (1986).

2) Available at: Wirtschafts- und Verlagsgesellschaft Gas und Wasser mbH

16
BS EN
12255-14:2003
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