Upgrading small WWTPs in the autonomous province of Trento (Italy) by alternating oxic/anoxic process: a demonstration study

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Nardelli ◽  
G. Gatti ◽  
F. Cecchi ◽  
E. M. Battistoni

The paper deals with the real application of a strategy, based on process control automation and remote on-line supervision, for the wastewater treatment in a piedmont. Three existing small wastewater treatment plants were selected to be upgraded and to be included into a network remotely supervised. Further, the potentialities of the process control automation were enhanced by the appropriate upgrading of the whole plant. A consolidated alternating nitrification and denitrification process was applied for the biological treatment. The selected plants well represent the area of Autonomous Province of Trento because they are characterized by remarkable seasonal fluctuation. After five months of experimentation data processed show the real stable high quality of the treated effluent in terms of total nitrogen content. Moreover, the power requirements are significantly reduced according the correct energy policy. The performances of the new biological process applied and the economical balance, put in evidence the gain by chosing the AC technology for upgrading small WWTPs.

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1571-1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Battistoni ◽  
F. Fatone ◽  
P. Pavan ◽  
R. Beltritti ◽  
M. Raviola

The paper deals with the real application of a strategy, based on process control automation and remote on-line supervision, for the wastewater treatment in a piedmont. Seven existing small wastewater treatment plants were selected to be upgraded and to be included into a network remotely supervised. A consolidated bending point based alternating process was applied for the biological treatment. Further, the potentialities of the process control automation were enhanced by the appropriate design of the whole plant. The examination of a case study included into the network shows the real stable high performances of the plant in terms of total nitrogen removal. Moreover, the power requirements are significantly reduced according to a correct energy policy.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
L. Van Vooren ◽  
P. Willems ◽  
J. P. Ottoy ◽  
G. C. Vansteenkiste ◽  
W. Verstraete

The use of an automatic on-line titration unit for monitoring the effluent quality of wastewater plants is presented. Buffer capacity curves of different effluent types were studied and validation results are presented for both domestic and industrial full-scale wastewater treatment plants. Ammonium and ortho-phosphate monitoring of the effluent were established by using a simple titration device, connected to a data-interpretation unit. The use of this sensor as the activator of an effluent quality proportional sampler is discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Obenaus ◽  
Karl-Heinz Rosenwinkel ◽  
Jens Alex ◽  
Ralf Tschepetzki ◽  
Ulrich Jumar

This report presents the main components of a system for the model-based control of aerobic biological wastewater treatment plants. The crucial component is a model which is linked to the actual processes via several interfaces and which contains a unit which can immediately follow up the current process state. The simulation calculation of the model is based on data which are yielded by on-line measuring devices. If the sensors should fail at times, there are available a number of alternative concepts, some of which are based on the calculations of artificial neural networks or linear methods.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibeke R. Borregaard

In the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants to include biological nutrient removal the space available is often a limiting facor. It may be difficult to use conventional suspended growth processes (i.e. activated sludge) owing to the relatively large surface area required for these processes. Recent years have therefore seen a revived interest in treatment technologies using various types of attached growth processes. The “new” attached growth processes, like the Biostyr process, utilise various kinds of manufactured media, e.g. polystyrene granules, which offer a high specific surface area, and are therefore very compact. The Biostyr plants allow a combination of nitrification-denitrification and filtration in one and the same unit. The results obtained are 8 mg total N/l and an SS content normally below 10 mg/l. The plants in Denmark which have been extended with a Biostyr unit have various levels of PLC control and on-line instrumentation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 195-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Puñal ◽  
J. Rodríguez ◽  
E.F. Carrasco ◽  
E. Roca ◽  
J.M. Lema

A diagnosis system for anaerobic wastewater treatment processes is presented. The system is able to recognise the state and trend of the operation and suggest the appropriate control action. The on-line variables measured were gas flow rate and composition (methane and carbon monoxide), feed and recycling flow rates, temperature and pH, while the manipulable inputs are feed, recycling and buffer-addition flow rates. The diagnosis system comprises a structured rule base, incorporating expert knowledge using fuzzy logic features. The structure of the system is based on the classification of information related to the process in three categories: i) the state of the process, ii) its trend and iii) the recommended set-point values for the inputs manipulated: feeding, buffer and recycling pumps. The system was applied to diagnose the operation of a 1.1 m3 hybrid UASB-UAF treating wastewater from a fibreboard production factory under different conditions (overload and underload), corresponding to some of the typical causes of destabilisation in anaerobic wastewater treatment plants. These situations require control action in order to maintain the stability and the treatment capacity of the reactor. The application of the system developed for the purpose of managing the situation proved to be reliable for supplying the actual state and trend of the process, as well as the adequate set point values to recover stable operation and/or to avoid further destabilisation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1783-1786
Author(s):  
MI Ugwoke ◽  
DA Machido ◽  
MB Tijjani

Biofilm producing bacteria are associated with many recalcitrant infections and are highly resistant to antimicrobial agents, hence notoriously difficult to eradicate. This study aimed at determining the biofilm forming capacities of bacterial isolates recovered in the raw wastewater and treated effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plants of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria using Tube Method (TM) and Congo Red Agar (CRA) method; and from the results, among the isolates recovered from the raw wastewater, TM detected 62.5% isolates as positive and 37.5% as negative for biofilm production, CRA detected 37.5% isolates as positive and 62.5% as negative for biofilm production. TM also demonstrated to be more suitable in detecting biofilm producing bacterial isolates from the treated effluent were it detected 50% isolates as positive and 50% as negative. However, CRA detected only 12.5% isolates as positive and 87.5% as negative for biofilm production. We therefore, conclude that the TM is more efficient and reliable for detection of biofilm producing bacteria in the laboratory when compared to CRA method and can be recommended as one of the suitable standard screening method for the detection of biofilm producing bacteria in laboratories.Keywords: Biofilm; Bacteria; Congo red agar and Tube method


2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1440-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peta A. Neale ◽  
Åsa K. Jämting ◽  
Beate I. Escher ◽  
Jan Herrmann

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are increasingly found in a wide range of products and processes, and consequently increasing loads are expected to reach wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To better assess the potential risk of ENMs to the environment via input through WWTP effluents, this review considers ENM detection methods, fate in WWTPs and potential effects on biota exposed to wastewater associated ENMs. Characterising ENMs in complex matrices presents many challenges, especially at low concentrations. Combining separation methods with techniques to assess particle size and chemical composition appears to be the most suitable approach for wastewater. In a range of studies, the majority of ENMs are removed from the aqueous phase by flocculation and sedimentation and remain in the sludge. However, ENM surface coating and the presence of organic matter and surfactants can alter removal. ENMs may affect biota via discharge of treated effluent to the aquatic environment or by application of sewage sludge to soil, although observed effects in laboratory studies only occurred at concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than the expected environmental levels. More realistic experimental designs with improved quantification of ENM properties under the selected test conditions are required to better understand the fate and effect of ENMs associated with WWTPs.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imrose Kauser ◽  
Mark Ciesielski ◽  
Rachel S. Poretsky

Background In the United States, an estimated 14,748 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal service to more than 230 million people. The quality of treated wastewater is often assessed by the presence or absence of fecal indicator bacteria. UV disinfection of wastewater is a common final treatment step used by many wastewater treatment plants in order to reduce fecal coliform bacteria and other pathogens; however, its potential impacts on the total effluent bacterial community are seemingly varied. This is especially important given that urban WWTPs typically return treated effluent to coastal and riverine environments and thus are a major source of microorganisms, genes, and chemical compounds to these systems. Following rainfall, stormflow conditions can result in substantial increases to effluent flow into combined systems. Methods Here, we conducted a lab-scale UV disinfection on WWTP effluent using UV dosage of 100 mJ/cm2 and monitored the active microbiome in UV-treated effluent and untreated effluent over the course of 48 h post-exposure using 16S rRNA sequencing. In addition, we simulated stormflow conditions with effluent UV-treated and untreated effluent additions to river water and compared the microbial communities to those in baseflow river water. We also tracked the functional profiles of genes involved in tetracycline resistance (tetW) and nitrification (amoA) in these microcosms using RT-qPCR. Results We showed that while some organisms, such as members of the Bacteroidetes, are inhibited by UV disinfection and overall diversity of the microbial community decreases following treatment, many organisms not only survive, but remain active. These include common WWTP-derived organisms such as Comamonadaceae and Pseudomonas. When combined with river water to mimic stormflow conditions, these organisms can persist in the environment and potentially enhance microbial functions such as nitrification and antibiotic resistance.


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