Benchmarking of WWTP design by assessing costs, effluent quality and process variability

This paper illustrates the results of a systematic methodology to evaluate system design/upgrade options. In contrast to conventional practice, this approach allows the choice between the most appropriate trade-off between cost of measures and effluent quality, and to assess the reliability of a process layout. It is therefore a flexible instrument to cope with the flexibility and complexity of integrated water management regulations. Results show good agreement of the simulations with extensive benchmarking studies on actual plants. For that reason, the suggested methodology can provide valuable support also to such practices.