An Innovative Condition Assessment Method for Wastewater Treatment Facilities to Promote Long-Term Sustainability in Management and Operations

Abstract

Conventionally, the success of a wastewater treatment plant is evaluated by the quantity of chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved organic matter (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and other consequences of wastewater treatment that are removed during the treatment process and thereafter. Environmental engineers consider a number of parameters at the plant's discharge, including pH, NH4-N, NTotal, fecal coliform, and others. The traditional approach to performance assessment fails because it does not directly compare the effluent's distribution of these characteristics throughout the output stage of the process to the standards or specification limits issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). To fill this knowledge gap, we propose and implement the probability-based Process Capability Indices (PCIs) and Multi - variate Process Flow Indices (MPCIs) in this research. These indices measure the effectiveness of a wastewater treatment process by contrasting the observed results with the predicted ones. PCIs have been widely used as a baseline against which manufacturing processes may be evaluated and tweaked to increase efficiency. The focus of this effort is on PCIs and MPCIs from the standpoint of environmental engineers, with the hope that their use would grow. Using capacity indicators accurately measures the effectiveness of the process of wastewater treatment, which is essential for reducing pollution and permitting the reuse of treated water. This study provides an analysis of the treating wastewater process's capacity by applying appropriate capability indices, using additional information acquired from case studies via literature research. Findings suggest that appropriate capacity indices may allow for more precise assessments of sewage treatment system performance than are presently possible.