Tuesday, 17 May 2022 11:51

The Most Critical Operational Challenges Facing WWTPs

Rate this item
(1 Vote)
WWTP WWTP pixabay

Every form of life depends on water to survive. When we use water in household and industrial activities, it gets contaminated with various chemical and biological substances that render it unsuitable for direct discharge into the environment.

To treat household and industrial wastewater and make it environmentally friendly, we build wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As the population grows and various economic and regulatory factors impact these treatment plants, designing, building and operating them becomes more challenging. This article will outline some of the operational challenges and how we can meet those challenges. Transcend Water has developed the Transcend Design Generator software, with which the users can design wastewater treatment plants worldwide. This SaaS app helps water engineers in their efforts to design plants that meet these operational challenges.

Energy Consumption

Wastewater treatment processes use as much as 2-3% of a developed country’s total energy usage. Energy consumption is one area where treatment plants can reduce their environmental impact. 

Blowers in many parts of a WWTP are the greatest power consumers in the plant. Blowers with variable speed drives can reduce power consumption when the demands are lower, especially during the night.

The amount of power required for a treatment plant depends on the nature of the feedwater and what must be removed from it, which in turn impacts the process selection.

Some of the ways to reduce the power consumption are:

  • Using fine screens in the primary treatment stage. If the screens are kept clean, they require very little power to move the water through them, and they remove some of the contaminants that can otherwise complicate further treatment processes.
  • Proper equipment (blower) selection, maintenance and operation
  • Sludge thickening (reducing the liquid volume in sludge while not solidifying it) reduces sludge handling energy costs.

WWTPs as Power Plants?

Many biological and chemical components removed during wastewater treatment processes can be used as fertilizers and industrial feedstocks. While this doesn’t directly reduce the energy consumption of the treatment plant, it can save on the energy consumption of alternate ways of producing these materials. Aerobic digesters can generate some of the plant's energy needs by consuming sludge.

Research Is underway that may lead to treatment processes that generate power. Feedwater contains heat, it has mass, and it has kinetic energy when it’s moving. Some of these characteristics can be useful in producing power.

Staffing Considerations

Operations personnel have responsibilities for the physical condition of parts like pipes, pumps, valves, etc. They also monitor chemical processes and instrumentation, assuring that the plant effluent meets the prescribed standards 24/7.

These responsibilities require a broad range of expertise in the plant staff. Operators with the necessary knowledge, training, and sense of responsibility are expensive and sometimes hard to find.

While human oversight is always necessary for a treatment plant, many processes can be automated and automatically monitored to reduce the human operators’ workload and therefore, the required number of staff.

Disposal of Excess Sludge

WWTPs necessarily produce sludge containing the contaminants removed from feedwater. Some sludge is reused as a stimulant for parts of the process, but there is always more sludge than the plant can use.

Many of the sludge components can be beneficial in agriculture with proper processing. Some wastewater treatment processes can be modified to produce less sludge. 

While using sludge in agriculture and reducing total sludge production can help, some unusable sludge must always be disposed of with minimal environmental impact. Depending on how far it must be transported and the availability of suitable disposal arrangements, this can add significantly to the cost of the WWTP operation.

Space Considerations

WWTPs are large. When the growing population increases the wastewater volume to be treated, the space requirements also tend to grow. Further tightening the squeeze, less land may be available when more people are looking for a place to park themselves.

Technologies are in development that can reduce the space requirements for treating wastewater. While these processes may sometimes be more expensive, smaller plants consume less steel, concrete and other materials, reducing capital costs.

A few operators, mainly in Asia, have resorted to building underground WWTPs to reduce the surface footprint. Expensive, but one does what must be done.

More people generate more wastewater, and they tend to concentrate in urban areas where space becomes a premium.

WWTP operators constantly search for wastewater treatment processes that use less energy, human capital, and space and produce as little waste as possible to be disposed of. Designing plants that accomplish these conservations is a constant challenge.

Transcend Water is up to this challenge with their design generator, which provides water engineers with the tools to efficiently design the best plants for the applications they’re working on. Visit their website to learn more and see how this tool can work for your wastewater treatment challenge.

  • TRANS-EUROLOGIS - Leading Innovation in Transport and Logistics
    TRANS-EUROLOGIS - Leading Innovation in Transport and Logistics

    In a globalized world where the swift movement of goods is integral to economic stability, the transport and logistics industry plays a crucial role in ensuring that supply chains remain efficient and cost-effective. One company that exemplifies the dynamism and innovation in this sector is TRANS-EUROLOGIS, a German-based transport and logistics provider that has established itself as a leading player in the market.

    Written on Wednesday, 25 September 2024 15:44
  • Eco-Friendly Ways to Remove Pet Stains from Carpets
    Eco-Friendly Ways to Remove Pet Stains from Carpets

    Accidents happen. It's a fact of life for pet owners. While our furry companions bring us endless joy, sometimes they leave unwelcome surprises in their wake. Fear not, fellow pet parents! There are ways to tackle pet stains and odours without resorting to harsh chemicals. This guide explores the power of eco-friendly cleaning solutions, offering effective strategies to keep your home fresh and stain-free, all while being kind to the environment.

    Written on Wednesday, 31 July 2024 10:37
  • Flyfish Review - Simplifying Payments with the Best Features of This Service Provider
    Flyfish Review - Simplifying Payments with the Best Features of This Service Provider

    To many business people especially those who wish to maintain good business relationships with their customers and business associates, the management of business finances can be discouraging. Flyfish can also offer complete corporate payroll services to help lighten this burden.

    Written on Tuesday, 23 July 2024 17:49
  • PNG Group Review (png-group.net) - Learning the Benefits of This Trading Platform
    PNG Group Review (png-group.net) - Learning the Benefits of This Trading Platform

    PNG Group Review

    Selecting the optimal platform for your cryptocurrency trading endeavors can feel overwhelming, given the array of considerations involved, ranging from fees and account types to interface usability. Hence, it's essential to choose a brokerage firm precisely. To streamline this decision-making process, let's conduct a thorough review of the PNG Group trading platform.

    Written on Monday, 15 July 2024 08:33
  • AlphaAITrade Review – A Trading Platform for all Proficiency Levels of Traders
    AlphaAITrade Review – A Trading Platform for all Proficiency Levels of Traders

    The AlphaAITrade broker platform caters to the trader's needs and ensures a smooth trading journey for them. The traders have the chance to upgrade their trading tactics together with gaining an edge in the trading market. They retain access to the right metrics and characteristics that result in analytical and reasonable trading decisions.

    Written on Thursday, 27 June 2024 11:21
  • Deep House Cleaning Team - Perfect Cleanliness for Your Space
    Deep House Cleaning Team - Perfect Cleanliness for Your Space

    When it comes to deep cleaning, the Deep House Cleaning Team is your top choice for achieving a spotless environment without the hassle and time commitment of doing it yourself. We cater to those who appreciate cleanliness and comfort in their spaces.

    Written on Monday, 24 June 2024 09:18
  • Exploring Career Paths with a Lorry Licence
    Exploring Career Paths with a Lorry Licence

    Obtaining a lorry licence opens up a world of opportunities for individuals looking to pursue a career in transport and logistics. Whether you're interested in local deliveries or long-distance haulage, there's a job role to match your skills and preferences. In this blog post, we'll explore the various job options available for holders of C1, C1+E, and C licences, providing insights into the current industry trends and demand.

    Written on Monday, 24 June 2024 08:36
  • What are Petri dishes used for in laboratories?
    What are Petri dishes used for in laboratories?

    When we hear about research laboratories, we often imagine scientists in white smocks, working with various chemical substances and microscopes. One of the key elements in the equipment of each laboratory are Petri dishes, and although they may seem ordinary plastic containers at first glance, they have very important functions as part of scientific research.

    Written on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 21:19