Optimizing Hydraulic Retention Time and Area of Biological Settling Ponds for Super-Intensive Shrimp Wastewater Treatment Systems

Biological settling ponds are a practicable approach for treating super-intensive shrimp aquaculture wastewater almost all producers in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). The optimization of hydraulic retention time (HRT) biological plays crucial role establishing stability outflow quality and suitability pond area (SPA). This study aims to suggest appropriate HRT SPA treatment systems based on National Standard (QCVN 02-19:2014/BNNPTNT) best practices (BAP) standards guidelines. We investigated 20 typical farms VMD collected effluent samples from siphoning process, daily water exchange, effluent-treatment ponds. results showed that average each farm produced at approximately 218 m3 ha−1 day−1. contaminant loads TSS, COD, TKN, TP were commensurate 177, 113, 9.86, 4.19 kg day−1, respectively. Based relationship between TSS concentrations, biological-surveyed ponds, 13.4-day 1934-m2 suggested optimize systems. Our recommendation further work is continuously rates functional (anaerobic, facultative, maturation) ameliorate engineering configuration recommended pond.