Integrating Reliability and Energy Efficiency Assessments for Pinpointing Actionable Strategies for Enhanced Performance of Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants

Joana Cassidy (), Tatiana Silva, Nuno Semião, Pedro Ramalho, Ana Rita Santos, João Faria Feliciano, Catarina Silva and Maria João Rosa
Additional contact information
Joana Cassidy: AGS—Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, S.A., Quinta da Fonte Office Park–Edifício Q54-D. José–Piso 2, 2770-203 Paço de Arcos, Portugal
Tatiana Silva: AGS—Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, S.A., Quinta da Fonte Office Park–Edifício Q54-D. José–Piso 2, 2770-203 Paço de Arcos, Portugal
Nuno Semião: AGS—Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, S.A., Quinta da Fonte Office Park–Edifício Q54-D. José–Piso 2, 2770-203 Paço de Arcos, Portugal
Pedro Ramalho: AGS—Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, S.A., Quinta da Fonte Office Park–Edifício Q54-D. José–Piso 2, 2770-203 Paço de Arcos, Portugal
Ana Rita Santos: AGS—Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, S.A., Quinta da Fonte Office Park–Edifício Q54-D. José–Piso 2, 2770-203 Paço de Arcos, Portugal
João Faria Feliciano: AGS—Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, S.A., Quinta da Fonte Office Park–Edifício Q54-D. José–Piso 2, 2770-203 Paço de Arcos, Portugal
Catarina Silva: Urban Water Division, Hydraulics and Environment Department, LNEC—National Civil Engineering Laboratory, Av. Brasil 101, 1700-066 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria João Rosa: Urban Water Division, Hydraulics and Environment Department, LNEC—National Civil Engineering Laboratory, Av. Brasil 101, 1700-066 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: By leveraging performance assessment systems (PASs) and incorporating targeted strategies, utilities can enhance the overall effectiveness, reliability, efficiency, and environmental performance of their wastewater treatment facilities. This work presents the results obtained from a comprehensive analysis of treatment reliability and energy performance of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The results allowed identifying, for each WWTP, improvement needs related to the aeration energy requirements, as well as to determine the effluent concentration targets required to achieve higher reliability levels while potentially reducing running costs. By analysing reliability combined with energy efficiency, this methodology allowed identifying the WWTPs’ performance-limiting stages or dysfunctions that affect both effectiveness and efficiency, to estimate the investment needs and prioritize the rehabilitation or even retrofitting of facilities’ assets.

Keywords: wastewater treatment; reliability; energy efficiency; performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12965-:d:1227146

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