Stabilization ponds located in places that present high temperature variations along the day have a tendency to present thermal stratification, a phenomenon that changes the useful volume of the pond. This paper presents experimental results from two stabilization ponds, facultative and maturation, built in the central area of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The observation of the temperature profile showed the occurrence of thermal stratification with the nictimeral cycle in both ponds. Hydrodynamic tests showed a pattern that resembles the behavior of complete mixing reactors with dead zones, resulting in useful volumes close to 60% for the facultative pond and 30% for the maturation pond. The experiments confirm the theoretical results obtained based on a mathematical model to predict thermal stratification.
stabilization ponds; thermal stratification; hydrodynamic test; rhodamine B; sludge accumulation; useful volume
