How Automated Real-Time Controls Can Provide More Consistency In Wastewater Treatment Operations

By Bob Dabkowski and Melody White, Hach Company

Within a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), operators typically face an extremely wide range of different variabilities. Managing these can often seem more art than science and is, in fact, a large part of what operators do — and what can keep them awake at night. This is especially true when the wastewater treatment process requires periodic hand-samplings, time-consuming laboratory analyses and higher than needed “just-in-case” setpoint responses. This paper will suggest ways to combat variability in WWTP operations using real-time automation and controls.