State of Art Australian Wastewater Treatment Design and Operation

Three full-scale Australian wastewater treatment plants are reviewed to present the ‘lessons learnt’ so far in developing an improved design and operating strategy able to efficiently achieve biological nitrogen removal and phosphorus removal. The success of the ‘state of the art’ wastewater treatment plants is based on the development and refinement of existing nutrient removal process models, the improved understanding of the operation of BNR plants, and a fundamental approach to design for microbial behavioural impacts. A number of key design and operating features are identified for the achievement of low effluent nutrient concentration, including optimal bioreactor configuration, adequate internal recirculation, plant DO control and appropriate equipment selection.