Optimizing Nutrients Removal from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Using Computer Simulation

Advanced wastewater treatments have become an area of global focus for many communities, having in view the new, stricter discharge limits, imposed by the European Union Directives. The aim of this work is to evaluate conditions for a possible implementation of a Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) process in the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) of Targoviste city (Romania). The problems initially identified at the Targoviste WWTP are related to the failure of the final effluent to meet the European regulation requirements, especially for Nitrogen and Phosphorus limits. These problems persist for several years. In order to analyze possibility to improve nutrients removal efficiency, it was realized a computer model of Targoviste WWTP using BioWin3.0 by EnviroSim Associates Ltd (Canada), a simulator software package in which the user can define and analyze behaviour of complex treatment plant configurations with single or multiple wastewater inputs. The simulation process allowed obtaining some data regarding parameters of treatment process in order to increase the efficiency in operation.