The spatial significance of water quality indicators in waste stabilization ponds - limitations of residence time distribution analysis in predicting treatment efficiency

Over the past fifty years, considerable research in waste stabilization pond operation has led to the development of a number of models used to describe the hydraulic regime and predict treatment efficiency. Models range in complexity from plug or completely mixed simplifications to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models which are able to predict flow hydraulics at a local level. Information about the exit age of pond effluent can be used to estimate pollutant decay. However, a mechanistic approach to understanding pond operation highlights the importance of knowing both the time and spatial history of pond effluent. A CFD model of a large pond system was constructed to demonstrate various hydraulic scenarios under different boundary conditions. Two scenarios were compared to visually demonstrate the effects of differing hydraulic conditions. Typical mechanistic models were applied to each condition to quantify biological differences. This simple example indicates that integrating biological and localised flow models will lead to a more holistic understanding of pond operation and treatment efficiency.