Optimized maintenance model for wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are facing significant deterioration due to aging and improper maintenance. Statistics Canada reported that 22% and 14% of the wastewater treatment plants in Alberta and Ontario, respectively, are in poor and very poor conditions. Because of the non-capital and capital improvement requirements for any WWTP, intervention decision-making tools are paramount. The objectives of this research were to develop an integrated condition rating model for the WWTP and an optimized maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement (MR&R) intervention model. The condition assessment model was applied on case studies and the indices supplied by the operators were used to compare the results of model through the mean absolute error (MAE) calculation, which was minimal. To optimize the intervention decisions for various units of the WWTP, the binary integer programming was used. These models are expected to enhance the evaluation of WWTPs and facilitate intervention plans based on an optimized methodology.