Energy recovery and efficiency improvement for an activated sludge, agro-food WWTP upgrade

Abstract Wastewater treatment's primary purpose is to protect surface water quality, aquatic life, beneficial and recreational uses of waterways, and primarily comply with local water emission standards. Lately, additional requirements were added for these facilities, concerning minimization of a series of sidestream environmental impacts (i.e., odours, generated waste by-products, etc.), air emissions, including CO2, methane and nitrogen greenhouse gases (GHGs), and mitigation of various other likely impacts resulting from energy and chemical use in treatment processes. This paper describes a case study in Northern Europe, where critical analysis of an industrial wastewater treatment plant's present conditions, during an evaluation of upgrade possibilities to improve regulatory compliance, led to a sustainable intervention proposal. According to the formulated proposal, process improvement, energy recovery, and overall savings and GHG emissions reduction could be simultaneously achieved with a series of relatively simple interventions

Cost-effective removal of COD in the pre-treatment of wastewater from the paper industry

The present paper reveals results of research for cost-effective removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) contained in industrial paper mill effluent. Not only process efficiency but also wastewater treatment costs are discussed. Different pre-treatment processes are applied aiming to investigate the COD removal before discharge to the municipal sewage network. The objective of this paper is to find the optimal operating conditions for the coagulation process. The effects of key operational parameters, including the type of coagulant, initial pH, temperature and coagulant dose, on COD percentage removal were investigated. The laboratory experiments confirmed the high efficiency of chemically enhanced mechanical treatment towards COD. The data obtained show that even low dose of chemicals provides sufficient COD reduction. The initial pH of the wastewater had a significant impact on the COD removal. Under the optimal operational conditions (pH = 7.5, T = 18 °C) the treatment of wastewater from paper industries by coagulation has led to a reduction of 70% COD for wastewater discharged. In terms of the investigated paper industry wastewater, polyaluminium chloride appears to be most suitable for treatment of high COD concentration. However, in an economic evaluation of requirements for wastewater treatment, operating costs and associated saving were such that PAX was more favourable.Fil: Boguniewicz Zablocka, Joanna. Opole University Of Technology; PoloniaFil: Klosok Bazan, Iwona. Opole University Of Technology; PoloniaFil: Naddeo, Vincenzo. Universita di Salerno; ItaliaFil: Mozejko, Clara Alexandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología; Argentin

New paradigms in urbanized river basins planning for water resources conservation and sustainability

In order to achieve a sustainable degree of water resources usage, new paradigms in urbanized basins planning must be adopted. Worldwide urbanized areas total population has overcome in 2010, its rural counterpart. While urbanization can be a powerful driver of sustainable development, as the higher population density enables governments to more easily deliver essential infrastructure and services in urban areas at relatively low cost per capita, these benefits do not materialize automatically and inevitably. Water bodies are usually severely hit and impaired by poorly planned urbanization. Old water resources planning paradigms must be abandoned and new ones, which include the connection of 'green cities' and their infrastructure with new modes of drainage and landscape planning and improved consideration of receiving waters, ought to be adopted. These must not only be environmentally and ecologically sound, but also functionally and aesthetically attractive to the public. New eco-cities shall no longer rely on excessive water volumes withdrawn from often distant surface and groundwater sources, with a once-only use of the resource, and large water losses due to leaks and evapotranspiration. Long-distance transfer of wastewater and high energy usage and emissions for its treatment should be avoided by distributed and decentralized integrated water/wastewater management. Effluent-domination shall no longer be a characteristic of urbanized river basins. The paper examines some of the paradigms that have been proposed for improving integrated water resources management in urban basins and illustrates some recent examples whether already implemented or still at the proposal stage

Planning the optimal solution for wastewater management in rural areas - case study

Water management and associated wastewater management is an inseparable element of life and development of modern societies. Collection and treatment of wastewater has a significant impact on the environment and economy, both at the local and global level. It is therefore necessary to proceed to activities that ensure proper wastewater management, especially in rural and low-density areas, where it is necessary to search for optimal solutions with regard to sewage systems, including wastewater treatment plants. One of the solution for wastewater treatment from houses without access to sewerage collection system is the construction of on-site wastewater treatment plants. Construction of on-site wastewater treatment plant poses a number of challenges for municipalities and potential investors and has been discussed by many. Aim of this paper is to draw the current status and perspectives of on-site wastewater treatment systems in Poland, with focus on selected case study from rural areas. The paper presents a way to solve the problem of wastewater management in the municipality of Pietrowice Wielkie using local biological wastewater treatment plants. The article presents technological, technical and economical aspects of the above-mentioned solutions and analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the system proposed by the municipality

Planning the optimal solution for wastewater management in rural areas - case study

Water management and associated wastewater management is an inseparable element of life and development of modern societies. Collection and treatment of wastewater has a significant impact on the environment and economy, both at the local and global level. It is therefore necessary to proceed to activities that ensure proper wastewater management, especially in rural and low-density areas, where it is necessary to search for optimal solutions with regard to sewage systems, including wastewater treatment plants. One of the solution for wastewater treatment from houses without access to sewerage collection system is the construction of on-site wastewater treatment plants. Construction of on-site wastewater treatment plant poses a number of challenges for municipalities and potential investors and has been discussed by many. Aim of this paper is to draw the current status and perspectives of on-site wastewater treatment systems in Poland, with focus on selected case study from rural areas. The paper presents a way to solve the problem of wastewater management in the municipality of Pietrowice Wielkie using local biological wastewater treatment plants. The article presents technological, technical and economical aspects of the above-mentioned solutions and analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the system proposed by the municipality