The place where water is channeled from a settling basin is known as the runoff point.
A sedimentation basin is a type of structure, usually a man-made pond or pond that is designed for the purpose of removing sediment and other particles from the water through the action of gravity. They can vary greatly in size depending on the amount of sediment in the water, the average size of the particles, the volume of water to be treated, and the rate at which the water flows through the system. Sedimentation basins are used by many types of facilities, including mining companies, fish farms, and waste treatment facilities.
Scientists and engineers use a specific set of equations to design a settling basin, taking into account variables such as particle size, flow rate, and concentration of foreign material. Each sedimentation basin has certain characteristics that are common to all of these structures. Some of these features serve a specific function, while others are basic structural elements.
Each settling tank must have an entry and exit point. Water enters the basin at the inlet point and clean water leaves the system at the outlet. The basin itself is divided into zones. The entrance zone is close to the entrance and is usually a zone of agitation. The outlet zone is the area near the runoff and is usually a long levee, or dam, just below the standard surface level of the catchment itself.
Between the inlet and outlet zones, and making up most of the basin, are the sedimentation zone and the sludge zone. They both occupy the same horizontal area, but the silt zone is at the bottom and the sedimentation zone is at the top. Sediment and other particles come out of the water and accumulate in these areas. The sludge zone must be carefully monitored, and the basin must be closed and cleaned when the sludge accumulates to a certain level, which depends on the size and design of each basin. Treating and removing sediment in settling ponds is often just one step in water treatment, as no settling pond can completely remove 100% of all foreign bodies.
The removal of sediment and other particles from the water is a common need in many operations. Waste treatment, aquaculture and mine monitoring systems are just a few of the places where a sedimentation basin can be found. In a small aquaculture system, the pond can be as small as a large bathtub, but in mine waste or sludge treatment facilities, it can be very large, with ponds the size of Olympic swimming pools not uncommon. Some can be even bigger.