Retrofitting low-performance units to abate sewer overflow pollution based on mathematical model and Sobol algorithm

Optimal retrofit of low-performance units(LPUs)is promising to abate overflow pollutant mass loading of sewer systems during wet-weathers.This study presents a combination of mathematical model and Sobol algorithm to help identify LPUs of sewer systems and design retrofitting strategies.Therefore,the solution to minimize the overflow pollutant mass loading from sewers systems can be efficiently obtained.The developed method was demonstrated at a catchment served by one wastewater treatment plant in the Chaohu City,Anhui Province of China,with five pumping stations and a total sewer length of 58.3 km.Within the catchment,there are three rivers and a small lake to receive overflows from the sewer system.Among them,one river that was mostly polluted was selected as the object of overflow pollution abatement during wet weather period.After identifying the LPUs of the sewer system and developing retrofitting strategies using Sobol sequence,the mitigation of overflow pollution during wet weather period was analyzed.Results show that the mass loading of chemical oxygen demand(COD)discharged into the target river could be reduced by 40.6%,by implementing optimal retrofit strategy of LPUs,i.e.,increasing the conveyance capacities of two pumping stations by 2.5–3.2 times and augmenting the diameters of 12 sewers by 1.25–1.29 times.To further coordinate the abatement of overflow pollution and retrofit investment,Sobol sensitivity analysis was conducted to screen the dominant LPUs to update the optimal retrofit strategy.By applying the updated strategy,the overflow COD mass loading per overflow event was close to that of non-updated strategy,while the retrofitting length of sewers was reduced by 40%.Therefore,on the basis of the presented method,decision-makers can flexibly develop retrofitting strategies of sewer system to abate overflow pollution during wet weathers in a cost-effective way.