Comparison of guideline- and model-based WWTP design for uncertain influent conditions

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 218 - 227
• Main Authors: Lindblom, Erik U, Samuelsson, Oscar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Case studies; Chemical oxygen demand; Design; Design factors; Effluents; Engineering and Technology; Environmental Biotechnology; guideline; influent concentrations; Influents; Miljöbioteknik; Nitrogen; sensitivity; Sensitivity analysis; Sewage; simulation; Sludge; Teknik; Uncertainty; Uncertainty analysis; Vattenbehandling; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Water Purification - methods; Water Treatment; Sweden
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.426

In this study, two methods for wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) dimensioning were compared: (1) a traditional guideline-based approach, and (2) a mechanistic model-based approach. The design outputs depended on uncertainties in correlated influent concentrations, which emphasises the importance of uncertainty analysis. The results showed that model-based design could simplify and reduce the time required for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis compared to a conventional design approach, in which the equations are solved manually and iteratively. A benefit of the conventional design approach was the simple interpretation of which factors limited the design capacity. In the end, this study shows the potential, as well as the need for, model-based design of WWTPs.