Methodology for minimum nitrogen compounds removal efficiencies estimation and wastewater treatment systems pre-selection: a watershed approach

ABSTRACT Nitrogen is a very important parameter for water pollution control since nitrification implies in aquatic environment oxygen consumption and some nitrogen forms are toxic. In the present study, an optimization model was developed and applied aiming at simultaneous organic matter and nitrogen compounds minimum removal efficiencies determination. A water quality model and the Genetic Algorithm Metaheuristic were associated in order to solve the optimization problem. The estimated minimum efficiencies conditioned the sewage treatment systems pre-selection. The study area was the Pardo River watershed (Espírito Santo State, Brazil). The results indicate that the treatment systems need to be more efficient in ammonia removal when the treated effluents disposed in watercourses that present high pH values because ammonia toxicity increases with pH. Considering the boundary conditions assumed in this study, the pre-selection process indicated activated sludge systems, submerged aerated biofilter with nitrification, or with biological nitrogen removal, for Ibatiba city. Simpler systems such as primary treatment with septic tanks, stabilization ponds, UASB reactors and biological filters were pre-selected for Santíssima Trindade and Nossa Senhora das Graças towns.