Investigation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Processes Efficiency Using Statistical Tools

Dariusz Młyński, Anna Młyńska, Krzysztof Chmielowski and Jan Pawełek
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Dariusz Młyński: Department of Sanitary Engineering and Water Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Cracow, 30-059 Cracow, Poland
Anna Młyńska: Department of Water Supply, Sewerage and Environmental Monitoring, Faculty of Environmental and Power Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Krzysztof Chmielowski: Department of Sanitary Engineering and Water Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Cracow, 30-059 Cracow, Poland
Jan Pawełek: Department of Sanitary Engineering and Water Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Cracow, 30-059 Cracow, Poland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: The paper presents modelling of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operation work efficiency using a two-stage method based on selected probability distributions and the Monte Carlo method. Calculations were carried out in terms of sewage susceptibility to biodegradability. Pollutant indicators in raw sewage and in sewage after mechanical treatment and biological treatment were analysed: BOD 5 , COD, total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). The compatibility of theoretical and empirical distributions was assessed using the Anderson–Darling test. The best-fitted statistical distributions were selected using Akaike criterion. Performed calculations made it possible to state that out of all proposed methods, the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for distribution proved to be the best-fitted. Obtained simulation results proved that the statistical tools used in this paper describe the changes of pollutant indicators correctly. The calculations allowed us to state that the proposed calculation method can be an effective tool for predicting the course of subsequent sewage treatment stages. Modelling results can be used to make a reliable assessment of sewage susceptibility to biodegradability expressed by the BOD 5 /COD, BOD 5 /TN and BOD 5 /TP ratios. New data generated this way can be helpful for the assessment of WWTP operation work and for preparing different possible scenarios for their operation.

Keywords: wastewater treatment plant (WWTP); sewage; pollutant indicators; simulation; biological treatment; mechanical treatment; biodegradability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10522-:d:462875

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