Physical-Chemical Treatment of Hospital
Wastewaters For Potential Reuse
EDWARD S.K. CHIAN, Assistant Professor
HERBERT H.P. FANG, Research Associate
FOPPE B. DeWALLE, Research Associate
Dept. of Civil Engineering
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois 61801
JAMES W. SMITH, Design Engineer
CH2M-Hill, Inc.
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Army is interested in having the capability to use direct recycle and reuse of
wastewater for both field and fixed installations. Reuse of wastewater under combat
conditions provides greater tactical flexibility and reduces the logistical burden of hauling
water. Offsetting water shortages and pollution abatement are the principal driving forces
for reuse at fixed installations. The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development
Command has research contracts addressing these two objectives underway at various
universities and industries.
These studies involve the development of a mission-oriented medical treatment system
known as the Medical Unit, Self-Contained, Transportable (MUST) program. The basic
requirements for the MUST hospital unit specify that all waste materials generated therein
be rendered inert or non-toxic prior to disposal. The ultimate goal for the MUST hospital
system is to comply with the zero discharge of pollutants by 1985 called for by the U.S.
Water Quality Act Amendments of 1972. Therefore, a prototype Water and Waste
Management System developed for MUST hospital is composed of three principal
elements; a utility room element, a water processing element, and a mobile incinerator. The
emphasis of this study is on the development of the water processing element.
The Water Processing Element consists of a Water Treatment Unit (WTU) and a
Water Purification Unit (WPU) as shown in Figure 1. This element is designed to treat all
wastewaters, such as the kitchen, laboratory, shower, operating room and X-ray wastes,
generated within the functional areas of the hospital. However, treatment of human wastes
will not be included in these units. A portable incinerator attached to the toilet unit is used
solely for the disposal of human wastes (1).
The WTU and WPU are each housed in a specially modified MUST service ward
container which can be transported by standard cargo trucks, external helicopter loads,
railroad, ship or cargo aircraft. These units can be operated independently or in
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