Performance Evaluation Of Sewage Treatment Plants (Stps) In Northern India

Abstract

The present study focuses on the evaluation of the performance of seventeen full-scale sewage treatment plants (STPs) with capacities varying from 3 MLD to 182 MLD, employing diverse technologies.   The methods assessed were the conventional activated sludge process (ASP), biofilm process (MBBR), biological nutrient removal processes (MBR, A/O, and SBR), chemical process (DENSADEG), natural process (WSP), and anaerobic process (UASB).   The total clearance rates of STPs were 69–98% for BOD, 73–97% for COD, 70–98% for TSS, 55–96% for NH4-N, 54–90% for TN, and 36–92% for TP.   The MBR-based STP was the best at getting rid of all kinds of waste: BOD (97%), COD (97%), TSS (98%), NH4-N (95%), TN (90%), and TP (85%).  The UASB with FPU-based STPs was similarly good at getting rid of BOD, COD, and TSS, with efficiencies of 70%, 73%, and 80%, respectively.   Each form of STP used roughly 0.17 m2 of land per person equivalent (p.e.), except for the WSP, which needed the highest space for all types of plants.   The MBR-based STP had the highest operating and maintenance (O&M) cost, which was INR 214 per person per year.  This is remarkably comparable to the STP that used densadeg and biofor, which cost INR 83 per person per year to run and maintain.   The MBR used the most electricity to run the STP, but the WSP didn't need any.  The range was from 0 to 26.41 kWh per person per year.   The average cost of putting in a STP was INR 1428 per person, while the most expensive cost of putting in an MBR was INR 7137 per person.