What is the Difference Between Oxidation Pond and Oxidation Ditch

The key difference between oxidation pond and oxidation ditch is that oxidation ponds are large, shallow ponds that are designed to treat wastewater through the interaction of sunlight, bacteria, and algae, whereas oxidation ditches are modified activated sludges that involve biological treatment processes utilizing long solids retention times for the removal of biodegradable organics.

Oxidation ponds and oxidation ditches are important methods in wastewater treatment processes. Both are typically secondary treatment methods of wastewater. Each has its unique advantages and disadvantages.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Oxidation Pond
3. What is Oxidation Ditch
4. Oxidation Pond vs Oxidation Ditch in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Oxidation Pond vs Oxidation Ditch

What is Oxidation Pond?

Oxidation ponds are large, shallow ponds that are designed to treat wastewater through the interaction of sunlight, bacteria, and algae. These are also known as lagoons and stabilization ponds. Typically, an oxidation pond uses microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, and sunlight’s energy for the stabilization of wastewater.

Usually, an oxidation pond is constructed 1 – 1.5 meters deep inside the soil and provided with inlet and outlet systems. In early times, symbiotic algae and bacterial growth were useful in treating wastewater under the act of sunlight. Therefore, oxidation ponds are biological systems that are useful for the treatment of wastewater. It is usually the secondary treatment method that allows natural purification and acceleration of the stabilization of wastewater such as domestic sewage, trade waste, and industrial effluents.

Oxidation Pond and Oxidation Ditch in Tabular Form

Figure 01: An Oxidation Pond in a Wastewater Treatment Plant

There are many advantages of oxidation ponds, including cost-effectiveness regarding their construction, maintenance, and energy requirements. An oxidation pond is a completely aerobic pond. Therefore, the stabilization is performed by aerobic bacteria.

However, there is a disadvantage as well; the tank is large, but the depth is small, which requires a large area for the construction of this tank. Moreover, this pond is ineffective in removing pathogenic bacteria.

What is Oxidation Ditch?

An oxidation ditch is a modified activated sludge that involves biological treatment processes utilizing long solids retention times for the removal of biodegradable organics. Typically, an oxidation ditch is a complete mix system; however, these can be modified to approach the plug flow conditions as well.

Oxidation ditches can be described as rotating biological contractors and aerated lagoons, which are different types of secondary treatment of wastewater. The system usually depends on the growth of various microbes that can degrade the organic matter that occurs in the wastewater. An oxidation ditch is made in an oval shape, similar to a racetrack.

There are many advantages of this system: it is easy to maintain, it is hardly affected by load fluctuations and forms a little amount of sludge, can easily be controlled by changing the rotation of the rotor, and requires comparatively a little energy for the operation of the efficiency, etc.

What is the Difference Between Oxidation Pond and Oxidation Ditch?

The key difference between oxidation pond and oxidation ditch is that an oxidation pond is a large, shallow pond designed to treat wastewater through the interaction of sunlight, bacteria, and algae, whereas an oxidation ditch is a modified activated sludge that involves biological treatment processes which are utilizing long solids retention times for the removal of biodegradable organics.

The below infographic presents the differences between oxidation pond and oxidation ditch in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Oxidation Pond vs Oxidation Ditch

The key difference between oxidation pond and oxidation ditch is that oxidation ponds are large, shallow ponds that are designed to treat wastewater through the interaction of sunlight, bacteria, and algae, whereas oxidation ditch is a modified activated sludge that involves biological treatment processes utilizing long solids retention times for the removal of biodegradable organics.