Measurment campaigns on municipal wastewater treatment plants

A method for analyzing and designing measurment campaigns on municipal wastewater treatment plants

With the increasing demand for enhanced biological nutrient removal many existing municipal wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland have to be expanded. Reliable and sufficient data are an important resource for the design and operation of these plants. Hidden systematic errors reduce the value of routine analysis and optimization studies. Based on existing models for activated sludge systems the influence of random and systematic errors on the predicted performance will be shown.

The major task of the project is the development of a statistical concept for identification of systematic deviations in the measurements. It will be based on the mass balances for nitrogen, phosphorus and COD. Finally an optimized measurement program for the control of municipal wastewater treatment plants will be proposed.