COMBINED TREATMENT OF OLIVE MILL EFFLUENT AND MUNICIPAL WASTE-WATER IN A SMALL TOURIST COMMUNITY

A technologically simple, cost-effective solution was provided to upgrade an existing municipal wastewater treatment plant in the tourist village of Casteldaccia, Italy, to support the seasonal loading of wastes from the olive oil industry. During the summer months, when the population of the village is about 15,000, the traditional activated sludge treatment plant will handle 100% of the municipal wastes. During the eight months winter period, the municipal BOD loading is lower by a factor of two. During this time, the excess treatment capacity of the plant will accommodate the effluent from the local olive mills. The storage of this waste water, in a series of aeration tanks, permits its release as a steady flow to the activated sludge plant.