Use of biological and sedimentation models for designing Peñíscola WWTP

Environ Technol. 2004 Jun;25(6):681-7. doi: 10.1080/09593330.2004.9619358.

Abstract

This paper presents Peñíscola wastewater treatment plant design. Peñíscola is a tourist city in Castellón (Spain), whose population changes significantly between summer and the rest of the year. The design of the biological and settling treatment units has been confirmed by computer model simulations and provided for biological organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Two different treatment schemes have been proposed in order to optimize the plant performance during both seasonal operations. During low-load season, the plant will be operated under extended aeration conditions, so further sludge stabilization will not be needed. During high-load season, the plant will be operated under conventional process conditions and excess sludge will be aerobically digested. Since the treated water will be reused for irrigation purposes, biological nutrient removal has been considered in this design. Phosphorus released during aerobic digestion must be removed by chemical precipitation in the supernatant from dewatering process. In this way, deterioration of the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process caused by phosphate recirculation can be avoided. Mathematical models have proven to be very useful to make decisions about plant design and operation, mainly in situations with significant variations in the influent load and flow-rate. Several operation conditions have been simulated to obtain optimum operation criteria for both seasons.

MeSH terms

  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Phosphorus / isolation & purification
  • Seasons
  • Spain
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water
  • Water Pollution / prevention & control

Substances

  • Water
  • Phosphorus