Dynamic simulation for upgrading of wastewater treatment plants : An assessment of treatment plant performance with regard to the ec-directive concerning urban wastewater treatment

The use of dynamic simulation to assess the ability of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Germany to comply with German legislation and the EC directive for urban wastewater treatment was investigated. The EC directive and the German law differed from each other in the requirements for removal of substances and the methods of sampling to monitor a plant concerning these requirements. The dynamic simulation used the IAWQ Activated Sludge Model (ASM) No.1. The wastewater treatment plant in North-Rhine Westphalia was to be expanded to ensure sufficient nitrogen removal by nitrification and denitrification. The simulation showed that, for effluent concentrations of ammonia and total nitrogen, the plant would be able to meet both German legislation and the EC directive.