Substantiation of monitoring a wastewater disposal system and technological risk estimation

Summary

Based on the system analysis a technological complex for the municipal wastewater transportation and treatment was examined in terms of using facility-based monitoring at the water and wastewater utilities. The given complex is specified as a distributed system. Low observability of wastewater transport processes was identified, characterizing the wastewater disposal system as a poorly-governed facility. Following physical modeling average values for a range of municipal wastewater quality indicators were simulated under various discharge conditions for residential customers, a dairy, and a cotton mill. The operation of municipal wastewater treatment facilities was simulated using POTENTSIAL software. It was shown that, over a fairly wide range of variations in the flow rate and composition of industrial wastewater in terms of organic matter, ammonium, and phosphate concentration, no critical impact on the treatment level was revealed, while a sharp change in pH of the raw wastewater could disturb the biological treatment process. Based on a predictive approach, a valid scheme and control sequence for the wastewater disposal system as a single technological complex was proposed, that reduces significantly the risk of man-caused emergency situations.

Key words

biological treatment , monitoring , water disposal , municipal wastewater , physical and mathematical simulation , technological risks