Disc Filtration for Tertiary Wastewater Treatment
Ultra-compact, gravity-fed polishing for suspended solids and particulate phosphorus.
Disc filters are among the most space-efficient tertiary treatment technologies available. They use rotating discs covered with fine mesh or woven media to capture suspended solids from secondary effluent, typically achieving less than 10 mg/L TSS with a footprint as small as 15 m² per 10,000 m³/d. They operate at near-zero energy (gravity feed), require minimal operator attention, and can be installed outdoors without a building. Combined with upstream chemical phosphorus precipitation, disc filtration is often the fastest and simplest path to EU compliance for existing plants.
Key Numbers
Technology Profile
Disc Filtration
highRotating disc filter with fine-mesh or woven media for gravity-fed tertiary polishing. Captures TSS and particulate phosphorus with near-zero energy input.
- Smallest footprint of all filtration technologies
- Near-zero energy (gravity feed)
- No building required — outdoor installation
- Automatic self-cleaning backwash
- Modular — scalable from 1,000 to 100,000+ m³/d
- Low operator attention
- TSS and particulate P only — no dissolved P removal
- Chemical dosing needed for TP compliance
- Not suitable for high-solids influent (>50 mg/L TSS)
- Media sensitivity to abrasive particles
Engineering Insight: Disc Filter + Chemical P = Fastest Compliance Path
For Existing Plants
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Last reviewed: August 2026. Regulatory requirements may vary by national implementation. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or engineering advice.