Importance and Practice of Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Abstract

The main goal of the design, construction and operation of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is to ensure effluent quality by meeting the parameter values determined by legislation. Wastewater treatment plant is typically related to high cost of construction and equipment as well as for monitoring process, maintenance and operation in regular working mode. It causes economic and social pressure, even in developed countries. Therefore, engineers, water utility company and plant operation staff are looking for optimization, creative, cost-effective and environmental corresponding solution for appropriate technology and equipment. Operation activities are there to provide that a WWTP produces the desired quality and quantity of treated water and meets the standards, while maintenance are the activities to ensure regular and efficient work of equipment to achieve the sustainable operational objectives. For example, small, simple treatment plant with low capital costs may have high operational expenses and therefore will have higher total cost compare with an alternative technology. WWTPs in underdeveloped countries and developing countries are usually confronted with problems in operation and maintenance after testing period, when water utility company and local community must secure sufficient funds to cover high operation costs. That is the starting point for cutting down operation and maintenance protocol and costs. The consequences are often serious and significantly affect the increase in costs for the purpose of repairing the damage and demand a lot of efforts to bring back a WWTP into the normal operation. This paper is an overview of importance and practice for monitoring process, basic requirements of operation control and maintenance with review of situation with WWTPs in BiH and example of the Sarajevo WWTP “Butila”.