A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants
The treatment performance of small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is not well understood, and their ecological impact may be underestimated. Growing evidence suggests they play a critical role in ensuring sustainable wastewater management, meaning they can no longer be neglected. The aim of thi...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-11-01
|
Series: | Water |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/11/2397 |
id |
doaj-524417ee9a8249209037759563d14c46 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-524417ee9a8249209037759563d14c462020-11-25T01:40:26ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412019-11-011111239710.3390/w11112397w11112397A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment PlantsJoshua T. Bunce0David W. Graham1School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKSchool of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKThe treatment performance of small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is not well understood, and their ecological impact may be underestimated. Growing evidence suggests they play a critical role in ensuring sustainable wastewater management, meaning they can no longer be neglected. The aim of this study was to provide new data, understanding, and analytical approaches to improve the management of existing small WWTPs. A one-year sampling campaign was performed in the rural UK, and we found the effluent quality from twelve small versus three larger WWTPs was significantly poorer (<i>p</i> < 0.05) across a range of performance parameters. Specifically, mean removal rates at the small plants were 67.3 ± 20.4%, 80 ± 33.9%, and 55.5 ± 30.4% for soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and NH<sub>4</sub>-N (± standard deviation), respectively, whereas equivalent rates for larger plants were 73.3 ± 17.6%, 91.7 ± 4.6%, and 92.9 ± 3.7%. A random forest classification model was found to accurately predict the likelihood of smaller WWTPs becoming unreliable. Importantly, when condensed to the three most ‘important’ predictors, the classifier retained accuracy, which may reduce the data requirements for effective WWTP management. Among the important predictors was population equivalence, suggesting the smallest WWTPs may require particularly stringent management. Growing awareness of the need for sustainable wastewater and water resources management makes this new approach both timely and widely relevant.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/11/2397decentralizedwastewateroperationsclassification |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Joshua T. Bunce David W. Graham |
spellingShingle |
Joshua T. Bunce David W. Graham A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants Water decentralized wastewater operations classification |
author_facet |
Joshua T. Bunce David W. Graham |
author_sort |
Joshua T. Bunce |
title |
A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants |
title_short |
A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants |
title_full |
A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants |
title_fullStr |
A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Simple Approach to Predicting the Reliability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants |
title_sort |
simple approach to predicting the reliability of small wastewater treatment plants |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Water |
issn |
2073-4441 |
publishDate |
2019-11-01 |
description |
The treatment performance of small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is not well understood, and their ecological impact may be underestimated. Growing evidence suggests they play a critical role in ensuring sustainable wastewater management, meaning they can no longer be neglected. The aim of this study was to provide new data, understanding, and analytical approaches to improve the management of existing small WWTPs. A one-year sampling campaign was performed in the rural UK, and we found the effluent quality from twelve small versus three larger WWTPs was significantly poorer (<i>p</i> < 0.05) across a range of performance parameters. Specifically, mean removal rates at the small plants were 67.3 ± 20.4%, 80 ± 33.9%, and 55.5 ± 30.4% for soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and NH<sub>4</sub>-N (± standard deviation), respectively, whereas equivalent rates for larger plants were 73.3 ± 17.6%, 91.7 ± 4.6%, and 92.9 ± 3.7%. A random forest classification model was found to accurately predict the likelihood of smaller WWTPs becoming unreliable. Importantly, when condensed to the three most ‘important’ predictors, the classifier retained accuracy, which may reduce the data requirements for effective WWTP management. Among the important predictors was population equivalence, suggesting the smallest WWTPs may require particularly stringent management. Growing awareness of the need for sustainable wastewater and water resources management makes this new approach both timely and widely relevant. |
topic |
decentralized wastewater operations classification |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/11/2397 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT joshuatbunce asimpleapproachtopredictingthereliabilityofsmallwastewatertreatmentplants AT davidwgraham asimpleapproachtopredictingthereliabilityofsmallwastewatertreatmentplants AT joshuatbunce simpleapproachtopredictingthereliabilityofsmallwastewatertreatmentplants AT davidwgraham simpleapproachtopredictingthereliabilityofsmallwastewatertreatmentplants |
_version_ |
1725045875688865792 |