Cloud-Model-Based Feature Engineering to Analyze the Energy-Water Nexus of a Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant

Wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)are important and energy-intensive municipal infrastructures.High energy consumption and relatively low operating performance are major challenges from the perspective of carbon neutrality.However,water-energy nexus analysis and models for WWTPs have rarely been reported to date.In this study,a cloud-model-based energy consumption analysis(CMECA)of a WWTP was conducted to explore the relationship between influent and energy consumption by clustering its influent’s parameters.The principal component analysis(PCA)and K-means clustering were applied to classify the influent condition using water quality and volume data.The energy consumption of the WWTP is divided into five standard evaluation levels,and its cloud digital characteristics(CDCs)were extracted according to bilateral constraints and golden ratio methods.Our results showed that the energy consumption distribution gradually dispersed and deviated from the Gaussian distribution with decreased water concentration and quantity.The days with high energy efficiency were extracted via the clustering method from the influent category of excessive energy consumption,represented by a compact-type energy consumption distribution curve to identify the influent conditions that affect the steady distribution of energy consumption.The local WWTP has high energy consumption with 0.3613 kW·h·m^(-3)despite low influent concentration and volumes,across four consumption levels from low(I)to relatively high(IV),showing an unsatisfactory operation and management level.The average oxygenation capacity,internal reflux ratio,and external reflux ratio during high energy efficiency days recognized by further clustering were obtained(0.2924-0.3703 kg O_(2)·m^(-3),1.9576-2.4787,and 0.6603-0.8361,respectively),which could be used as a guide for the days with low energy efficiency.Consequently,this study offers a water-energy nexus analysis method to identify influent conditions with operational management anomalies and can be used as an empirical reference for the optimized operation of WWTPs.

Levels and distributions of polychlorinated biphenyls in sewage sludge of urban wastewater treatment plants

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs） have been measured in sewage sludge samples from 8 urban wastewater treatment plants in Beijing, China. The PCB congeners were analyzed by isotope dilution high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry method. The concentration of PCBs ranged from 65.6 to 157 ng/g dry weight （dw）, with a mean value of 101 ng/g dw. The dioxin-like PCB WHO-TEQs （World Health Organization-Toxic Equivalents） of the sludge were lower than 1 pg /g dw. Consequently, all the concentrations of PCBs in sludge samples were below the upper limit for land application according to the Chinese legislation law for agriculture use. The PCB homologue profiles in sludge samples were dominated by tri-CBs and tetra- CBs. Similar distributions have been found in one of the Chinese PCB commercial products. The patterns of dioxin-like and indicator congeners observed in this study were quite similar in all samples. The predominant congener for dioxin-like and indicator PCBs were PCB-118 and PCB-28, respectively, while PCB-126 had the highest TEQ value.

Optimum municipal wastewater treatment plant design with consideration of uncertainty

A newly developed model for the optimum municipal wastewater treatment plant(MWTP) design is presented. Through introducing the interval variables, the model attempts to consider the effects of uncertainties caused by the fluctuation of the wastewater quality and quantity during the design of MWTP. The model solution procedure is illustrated in detail, and a numerical example is given to verify the feasibility and advantage of the model. Furthermore, the possibility of the model application is briefly outlined.

Advanced Treatment of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent by Using Biofilms on Filamentous Bamboo

[ Objective ] The study aimed at treating wastewater treatment plant （WWTP） effluent by using bio-film reactor with filamentous bamboo as bio-carrier. [ Method] With the aid of a continuous flow reactor, a bio-film reactor using filamentous bamboo as bio-carrier was used to treat WWTP effluent with low C/N ratio, and the removal effects of CODc,, TN （total nitrogen）, and NO3--N in the wastewater were analyzed.[ Result ] The average removal rates of CODcr, TN, and NO3- -N reached 47.7%, 23.6% and 34.5% when the C/N ratio of influent was around 2. In addi- tion, a stable bio-film was formed very well in the secondary effluent with low C/N ratio and hardly degradable organic pollutants. The pollutants could be removed effectively because of the excellent surface characteristics and compositions of filamentous bamboo. [ Conclusion] The research provides a new method to treat WWTP effluent with low C/N ratio.

The Effect of Wastewater Treatment Plants on Retainment of Plastic Microparticles to Enhance Water Quality—A Review

Microplastics, plastic pieces of ≤5 mm in size, are ubiquitous in ther environment and can be found in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This manuscript reviews the literature on the fate of microplastics in wastewater treatment and briefly highlights novel developments in the removal of microplastics from aqueous systems.

Notice on a Case Study on the Utilization of Wind Energy Potential on a Remote and Isolated Small Wastewater Treatment Plant

Small wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are frequently located, by necessity, in remote and isolated sites, which increases the difficulty of its energy supply. Some of them are located near the seaside, in environmental sensible zones, and due to tourism activity of these sites, seasonal effects related with population size fluctuation can occur, which can originate certain inefficiencies concerning WWTP design and energy supply. The objective of this paper is to describe a step by step procedure for evaluation of the wind potential of sites that are dependent of in-situ energy generation, as well as, a case study on the utilization of the potential wind energy in Magoito WWTP (5000 p.e.). The employed methodology comprised the collection of one year of in-situ wind data and its validation by comparison with historical data of about 10 years of a nearby anemometric station. The data provided by the two anemometric stations was statistically treated. It allowed the analysis of the results from the two stations are promissory in terms of wind availability and velocity. Finally, it comprised the simulation of the local wind conditions for a considerable larger area in order to find the best site for locating a wind turbine.

Effectiveness of Centralized Wastewater Treatment Plant in Removing Emerging Contaminants: A Case Study at Kuching, Malaysia

Before the construction of the Kuching Centralized Wastewater Treatment System Package 1 (KCWTSP1), partially treated blackwater and greywater were discharged directly into natural waterways. The accumulated wastewater had polluted Sarawak river, which is regulated and cannot discharge freely into the South China Sea. The polluted Sarawak river has endangered human health, river water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. Hence, the KCWTSP1 commissioned in 2015 serves the purpose of removing pollutants from wastewater before it is discharged into natural waterways. However, the effectiveness of KCWTPP1 is unknown. This paper is aimed to discuss and review the effectiveness of KCWTPP1 in treating wastewater since its inception in 2015. From 2017 to 2020, KCWTPP1 has treated an average of 4,200,000 m3 of wastewater per year. Generally, most of the discharge effluent met Environmental Quality Act (1974) Standard A criteria, except for the oil and grease parameter. Initially, the plant could not treat suspended solids and total phosphorus, but this was greatly improved in subsequent years. Therefore, some improvements are required to treat oil and grease parameters effectively and efficiently to ensure that only Standard A effluent is discharged into the Sarawak River in the future.

Phosphorus Recovery as Struvite from the Supernatant of Anaerobic Digestion in Wastewater Treatment Plant

Phosphorus is an irreplaceable and depletable element. Furthermore, it has an almost one-way circulation on earth, so it is necessary to close the phosphorus cycle loop. Phosphorus could be recovered as struvite, which is a good slow-released fertilizer for agriculture. The supernatant of anaerobic digestion used to treat sludge from wastewater treatment plant is one main source from which phosphorus can be recovered. Studies have proven that phosphorus recovery from digester supematant is a feasible choice to preserve phosphorus rock technically and economically. A modified ＂PHOSNIX＂ P-recovery process was applied under the operating conditions of a 9.0 pH value and a 1.8 mg： P ratio with the influent of the centrate coming from the sludge centrifuge of the Songjiang Wastewater Treatment Plant in Shanghai. More than 80% influent phosphorus was recovered as struvite. Crystal products with good purity and low heavy metal content were gained. The largest crystal had a length of up to 0.26 mm. It was found in our study that the reaction time did not play an important role in crystal growth. Therefore, the optimization of the reaction condition for crystal growth should be examined in future study.

Environmental Assessment of AI-Hilla City Wastewater Treatment Plants

Iraq is one of the countries that is suffering from water shortage problems and, for this reason, wastewater treatment plants become a necessity to minimize this problem. In this study, the impact of A1-Hilla WWTP （wastewater treatment plant） on the environment has been studied. This was achieved using SimaPro software package. This software is a powerful tool for analyzing the environmental impact on products during their whole life cycle. A huge amount of knowledge about the environment is built into the program and database, enabling to analyze a product with a minimum of specialized knowledge. The results of LCA （life cycle assessment） showed that the impact and damage on the environment by A1-Hilla WWTP was 41 bad points for each 1 m3 of treated wastewater. The most environmental impacts potentially were global warming, respiratory inorganics and non-renewable energy. The study also showed that most of the effects were the result of the use of cement, steel and electricity consumption.

Impact of wastewater treatment plant effluent discharge on the antibiotic resistome in downstream aquatic environments:a mini review

Antimicrobial resistance(AMR)has emerged as a significant challenge in human health.Wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs),acting as a link between human activities and the environment,create ideal conditions for the selection and spread of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)and antibioticresistant bacteria(ARB).Unfortunately,current treatment processes are ineffective in removing ARGs,resulting in the release of large quantities of ARB and ARGs into the aquatic environment through WWTP effluents.This,in turn,leads to their dispersion and potential transmission to human through water and the food chain.To safeguard human and environmental health,it is crucial to comprehend the mechanisms by which WWTP effluent discharge influences the distribution and diffusion of ARGs in downstream waterbodies.In this study,we examine the latest researches on the antibiotic resistome in various waterbodies that have been exposed to WWTP effluent,highlighting the key influencing mechanisms.Furthermore,recommendations for future research and management strategies to control the dissemination of ARGs from WWTPs to the environment are provided,with the aim to achieve the“One Health”objective.

A global perspective on microbial risk factors in effluents of wastewater treatment plants

Effective monitoring and management of microbial risk factors in wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)effluents require a comprehensive investigation of these risks.A global survey on microbial risk factors in WWTP effluents could reveal important insights into their risk features.This study aims to explore the abundance and types of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs),virulence factor genes(VFGs),the vector of ARG/VFG,and dominant pathogens in global WWTP effluents.We collected 113 metagenomes of WWTP effluents from the Sequence Read Archive of the National Center for Biotechnology Information and characterized the microbial risk factors.Our results showed that multidrug resistance was the dominant ARG type,while offensive virulence factors were the most abundant type of VFGs.The most dominant types of ARGs in the vector of plasmid and phage were both aminoglycoside resistance,which is concerning as aminoglycosides are often a last resort for treating multi-resistant infections.Acinetobacter baumannii was the most dominant pathogen,rather than Escherichia coli,and a weak negative correlation between Escherichia coli and two other dominant pathogens(Acinetobacter baumannii and Bacteroides uniformis)suggests that using Escherichia coli as a biological indicator for all pathogens in WWTP effluents may not be appropriate.The Getah virus was the most dominant virus found in global WWTP effluents.Our study presents a comprehensive global-scale investigation of microbial risk factors in WWTP effluents,providing valuable insights into the potential risks associated with WWTP effluents and contributing to the monitoring and control of these risks.

Changes of composition and antibiotic resistance of fecal coliform bacteria in municipal wastewater treatment plant

The dynamics of the composition and antibiotic resistance of the fecal coliform bacteria(FCB)in a typical wastewater treatment plant(WWTP)were investigated concerning the seasonal changes.Results showed that WWTP could remove the FCB concentration by 3∼5 logs within the effluent of 10^(4)∼10^(5)CFU/L,but the antibiotic resistant rate of FCB species increased significantly after WWTP.The dominant FCB changed from Escherichia coli in the influent(∼73.0%)to Klebsiella pneumoniae in the effluent(∼53.3%)after WWTP,where the Escherichia coli was removed the most,while Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most persistent.The secondary tank removed the most of FCB(by 3∼4 logs)compared to other processes,but increased all the concerned antibiotic resistant rate.The potential super bugs of FCB community showing resistance to all the target antibiotics were selected in the biological treatment unit of WWTP.The FCB showed the highest multiple antibiotic resistance(92.9%)in total which even increased to 100%in the effluent.Klebsiella has the highest antibiotic resistant rate in FCB,with a multiple antibiotic resistance rate of 98.4%.These indicated that the Klebsiella pneumoniae not just Escherichia coli should be specially emphasized after WWTP concerning the health risk associated with FCB community.

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants in China:A plant-level and technology-specific study

Wastewater treatment is an important source of greenhouse gases(GHGs).Yet large uncertainties remain in the quantification of GHG emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants(MWWTPs)in China.A high-resolution and technology-specific emission inventory is still lacking to support mitigation strategies of MWWTPs.Here we develop a plant-level and technology-based MWWTP emission inventory for China covering 8703 plants and 19 treatment technology categories by compiling and harmonizing the most up-to-date facility-level databases.China's methane(CH_(4))and nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emissions from MWWTPs in 2020 are estimated to be 150.6 Gg and 22.0 Gg,respectively,with the uncertainty range of-30%to 37%and-30%to 26%at 95%confidence interval.We find an emission inequality across cities,with the richest cities emitting two times more CH_(4)and N_(2)O per capita from municipal wastewater treatment than the poorest cities.The emitted CH_(4)and N_(2)O are dominated by Anaerobic/Anoxic/Oxic-,Sequencing Batch Reactor-,Oxidation Ditch-,and Anoxic/Oxic-based MWWTPs of less than 20 years old.Considering the relatively young age structure of China's MWWTPs,the committed emissions highlight the importance of reducing on-site GHG emissions by optimization of operating conditions and innovation management.The emission differences among our estimates,previous studies,and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines are largely attributed to the uncertainties in emission factors,implying the urgent need for more plant-integrated measurements to improve the accuracy of emission accounting.

Mitigating microbiological risks of potential pathogens carrying antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in receiving rivers:benefits of wastewater treatment plant upgrade

Wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)with additional tertiary ultrafiltration membranes and ozonation treatment can improve water quality in receiving rivers.However,the impacts of WWTP upgrade(WWTP-UP)on pathogens carrying antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)and virulence factors(VFs)in rivers remain poorly understood.In this study,ARGs,VFs,and their pathogenic hosts were investigated in three rivers impacted by large-scale WWTP-UP.A five-year sampling campaign covered the periods before and after WWTP-UP.Results showed that the abundance of total metagenome-assembled genomes(MAGs)containing both ARGs and VFs in receiving rivers did not decrease substantially after WWTP-UP,but the abundance of MAGs belonging to pathogenic genera that contain both ARGs and VFs(abbreviated as PAVs)declined markedly.'Genome-resolved metagenomics further revealed that WWTP-UP not only reduced most types of VFs and ARGs in PAVs,but also effectively eliminated efflux pump and nutritional VFs carried by PAVs in receiving rivers.WWTP-UP narrowed the pathogenic host ranges of ARGs and VFs and mitigated the cooccurrence of ARGs and VFs in receiving rivers.These findings underline the importance of WWTPUP for the alleviation of pathogens containing both ARGs and VFs in receiving rivers。

Microplastics in municipal wastewater treatment plants: a case study of Denizli/Turkey

Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm are microplastics.They are among the significant pollutants that recently attracted attention.Great quantities of microplastics enter the sewage system daily and reach wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs).As a result,WWTPs are potential microplastic sources.Hence,they create a pathway for microplastics to reach aquatic environments with treated wastewater discharge.Studies on microplastic characterization in WWTPs have gained momentum in academia.This study investigates the abundance,size,shape,color,polymer type,and removal efficiencies of microplastics in a municipal wastewater treatment plant(WWTP)in Denizli/Turkey.The results showed that the dominant microplastic shape in wastewater samples was fibers(41.78%–60.77%)in the 100–500μm(58.57%–80.07%)size range.Most of the microplastics were transparent-white(32.86%–58.93%).The dominant polymer types were polyethylene(54.05%)and polyethylene vinyl acetate(37.84%)in raw wastewater.Furthermore,the microplastic removal efficiencies of the Denizli Central WWTP as a whole and for individual treatment units were evaluated.Although the microplastic pollution removal efficiency of the Denizli Central WWTP was over 95%,the microplastic concentration discharged daily into the receiving environment was considerably high(1.28×1010 MP/d).Thus,Denizli Central WWTP effluents result in a high volume of emissions in terms of microplastic pollution with a significant daily discharge to theÇürüksu Stream.

Photosensitivity sources of dissolved organic matter from wastewater treatment plants and their mediation effect on 17α-ethinylestradiol photodegradation

Dissolved organic matter(DOM)from each treatment process of wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)contains abundant photosensitive substances,which could significantly affect the photodegradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol(EE2).Nevertheless,information about EE2 photodegradation behavior mediated by DOM from diverse WWTPs and the photosensitivity sources of such DOM are inadequate.This study explored the photodegradation behavior of EE2 mediated by four typical WWTPs’DOM solutions and investigated the photosensitivity sources of DOM in the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic(A2/O)process.The parallel factor analysis identified three varying fluorescing components of these DOM,tryptophan-like substances or protein-like substances,microbial humuslike substances,and humic-like components.The photodegradation rate constants of EE2 were positively associated with the humification degree of DOM(P<0.05).The triplet state substances were responsible for the degradation of EE2.DOM extracted from the A2/O process,especially in the secondary treatment process had the fastest EE2 photodegradation rate compared to that of the other three processes.Four types of components(water-soluble organic matter(WSOM),extracellular polymeric substance,humic acid,and fulvic acid)were separated from the A2/O process DOM.WSOM had the highest promotion effect on EE2 photodegradation.Fulvic acid-like components and humic acid-like organic compounds in WSOM were speculated to be important photosensitivity substances that can generate triplet state substances.This research explored the physicochemical properties and photosensitive sources of DOM in WWTPs,and explained the fate of estrogens photodegradation in natural waters.

Characterization and source analysis of indoor/outdoor culturable airborne bacteria in a municipal wastewater treatment plant

The potential health risks of airborne bacteria emission from a wastewater treatment process have been concerned. However, few studies have investigated the differences in community structure between indoor and outdoor bacteria. In this work, the characterization of airborne bacteria was studied in a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Beijing, China. Two indoor（i.e., fine screen room and sludge dewatering house） and two outdoor（i.e., aeration tank and control site） sampling sites were selected. An Andersen six-stage impactor was used for collecting culturable airborne bacteria in the air, and Illumina MiSeq sequencing was conducted to track the emission source of the culturable airborne bacteria. The results indicate that, compared with the outdoor aeration tank site, the concentrations of culturable airborne bacteria in the indoor fine screen room with poor ventilation were more than ten times higher and the particle size was about twice as large. The community structures of indoor and outdoor culturable airborne bacteria were obviously different. Enterobacteriaceae and opportunistic pathogens were detected in indoor culturable airborne bacteria, with wastewater and sludge dewatering machine identified as the primary sources. Conversely,Enterobacteriaceae and opportunistic pathogens were not detected in outdoor culturable airborne bacteria. Outdoor high wind speed might have resulted in rapid dilution and mixing of culturable airborne bacteria generated from the aeration tank with the ambient air. The results of the present research suggest that covering pollution sources, increasing ventilation rates, and using protective measures for personnel should be implemented to decrease the exposure risk to indoor culturable airborne bacteria.

Characterization of the airborne bacteria community at different distances from the rotating brushes in a wastewater treatment plant by 16S rRNA gene clone libraries

Biological risks of bioaerosols emitted from wastewater treatment processes have attracted wide attention in the recent years. However, the culture-based analysis method has been mostly adopted for detecting the bacterial community in bioaerosols, which may result in the underestimation of total microorganism concentration as not all microorganisms are cultivable. In this study, oligonucleotide fingerprinting of 16S rRNA genes was applied to reveal the composition and structure of the bacterial community in bioaerosols from an Orbal oxidation ditch in a Beijing wastewater treatment plant （WWTP）. Bioaerosols were collected at different distances from the aerosol source, rotating brushes, and the sampling height was 1.5 m which is the common respiratory height of a human being. The bacterial communities of bioaerosols were diverse, and the lowest bacterial diversity was found at the sampling site just after the rotating brush rotating brush. A large proportion of bacteria in bioaerosols were affiliated with Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Numerous bacteria present in the bioaerosols also emerged in water, indicating that the bacterial community in the bioaerosols was related to that of the aerosols＇ sources. The forced aeration of rotating brushes brought about observably distinct bacterial communities between sampling sites situated before and after the rotating brush. Isolation sources of closest relatives in bioaerosols clone libraries were associated with the aqueous environment in the WWTP. Common potential pathogens in bioaerosols as well as those not reported in previous research were also analyzed in this study. Measures should be adopted to reduce the emission of bioaerosols and prevent their exposure to workers.

Characteristic and correlation analysis of influent and energy consumption of wastewater treatment plants in Taihu Basin

The water quality and energy consumption of wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)in Taihu Basin were evaluated on the basis of the operation data from 204 municipal WWTPs in the basin by using various statistical methods.The influent ammonia nitrogen(NH3-N)and total nitrogen(TN)of WWTPs in Taihu Basin showed normal distribution,whereas chemical oxygen demand(COD),biochemical oxygen demand(BOD5),suspended solid(SS),and total phosphorus(TP)showed positively skewed distribution.The influent BOD5/COD was 0.4%-0.6%,only 39.2%SS/BOD5 exceeded the standard by 36.3%,the average BOD5/TN was 3.82,and the probability of influent BOD5/TP>20 was 82.8%.The average energy consumption of WWTPs in Taihu Basin in 2017 was 0.458 kWh/m^3.The specific energy consumption of WWTPs with a daily treatment capacity of more than 5×10^4 m^3 in Taihu Basin was stable at 0.33 kWh/m^3.A power function relationship was observed between the reduction in COD and NH3-N and the specific energy consumption of pollutant reduction,and the higher the pollutant reduction is,the lower the specific energy consumption of pollutant reduction presents.In addition,a linear relationship existed between the energy consumption of WWTPs and the specific energy consumption of influent volume and pollutant reduction.Therefore,upgrading and operation with less energy consumption of WWTPs is imperative and the suggestions for Taihu WWTPs based on stringent discharge standard are proposed in detail.

Composition,dispersion,and health risks of bioaerosols in wastewater treatment plants:A review

Bioaerosols are defined as airbome particles(0.05-100 um in size)of biological origin.They are considered potentially harmful to human health as they can contain pathogens such as bacteria,fungi,and viruses.This review summarizes the most recent research on the health risks of bioaerosols emitted from wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)in order to improve the control of such bioaerosols.The concentration and size distribution of WWTP bioaerosols;their major emission sources,composition,and health risks;and considerations for future research are discussed.The major themes and findings in the literature are as follows:the major emission sources of WWTP bioaerosols include screen rooms,sludge-dewatering rooms,and acration tanks;the bioaerosol concentrations in screen and sludge-dewatering rooms are higher than those outdoors.WWTP bioacrosols contain a variety of potentially pathogenic bacteria,fungi,antibiotic resistance genes,viruses,endotoxins,and toxic metal(loid)s.These potentially,pathogenic substances spread with the bioaerosols,thereby posing health risks to workers and residents in and around the WWTP.Inhalation has been identified as the main exposure route,and children are at a higher risk of this than adults.Future studies should identify emerging contaminants,establish health risk assessments,and develop prevention and control systems.