9,237 research outputs found
Integrated, Decentralized Wastewater Management for Resource Recovery in Rural and Peri-Urban Areas
No full textCollection and treatment of wastewater have a huge impact on the environment and economy, both at the local and global levels. Eco-innovation may play a paramount role in the reduction of the environmental impact of such systems, and in their greater sustainability in economic, environmental, and social terms. Decentralization appears as a logical solution to tackle sustainability problems of wastewater management systems, as it focuses on the on-site treatment of wastewater and on local recycling and reuse of resources contained in domestic wastewater (in primus, water itself). This paper analyses the needs, technological options and contribution to water management of decentralized systems. Decentralized solutions in general will tend to be compatible with local water use and reuse requirements, where locally treated water could support agricultural productivity or (in more urban areas) be used as a substitute for drinking-quality supply water for compatible uses. In analyzing sustainability of technology, different dimensions should be taken into account (in particular, local issues). There is no fixed or universal solution to the technological issue; to the contrary, all relevant studies demonstrated there are varying degrees of sustainability in the way a technology is selected and operated, to avoid exporting problems over time or space
Application of stochastic modeling techniques to wastewater treatment processes real-time operation and control
No full textThe issue of real-time control of wastewater treatment facilities and sewerage systems has become a promising and active area of research in the last few years. However, in order to control and operate a wastewater treatment plant, a good representing model becomes necessary. Such a model should allow prediction of the future status of the system, and should also be able to adapt itself to the changing conditions in which the system operates. A wastewater treatment plant is a system whose behaviour is in part conditioned by its immediate past history: this is called a dynamic system. Dynamic systems modelling can be successfully achieved by means of stochastic processes, with a technology known as Time series analysis . This dissertation determines that is possible to develop a modeling of wastewater treatment operation based on stochastic relationships. In addition, this work investigates how these models can be usefully employed in the perspective of achieving real-time control of such facilities, and the practical implications the models can have on current design and engineering practices. In particular, this work shows that steady-state relationships between variables are not suitable, in general, to significatively represent time-variant processes. Models identified through time series analysis can be compared with traditional deterministic models expressed in differential equations. The identification of these models is relatively simple, and they can be easily updated to closely follow smooth variations in the behavior of the system. The resulting models are site-specific; that is, they are a functional consequence of the performance records of each treatment plant. This accounts for those unique conditions which are necessarily not considered in the general kinetic theory of the processes. This type of technique can be further implemented in control procedures that can be interactively used at a friendly level by skilled staff of treatment facilities, or even be completely automated, as already proven by applications in several areas of industry. This work outlines the requirements for such an implementation, and discusses the repercussions of the availability of real-time control technology on wastewater treatment facilities design
Strategic environmental assessment: a critical review of procedural soundness and reliability
No full textThe Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is both a technical and administrative procedure with (mandatory) extensive application throughout Europe, holding a primary role in sustainable territorial development. Objectives of the SEA process are to: provide a high level of protection for the environment, and promote sustainability of development by contributing to the integration of appropriate environmental considerations in the adoption and implementation of specific plans and programs. In general, results of SEA application are quite positive, but some aspects may still be subject to a constructive critique, with considerable space for procedural improvement. Purpose of this work is to analyze a few case studies, which refer to the situation in Italy and, specifically, in the Lombardy Region, after a significantly extended period of SEA application, and evaluate their outcomes, suggesting possible ameliorations. Lombardy makes a good benchmark for examination, being a complex territory, characterized by the highest concentrations of population, industrial activities, and economic interests in Italy. Case studies' evaluation reveals some critical issues that may have a negative influence on the correct application of the SEA process (and not just in Italy, as these considerations can be extended at the international level), and consequently on the resulting governance of the territory, and on the determination of foreseen effects related to development goals. Among critical issues, frequent oversight of important aspects concerning sustainability, incorrect definition of players and stakeholders, variations and differences of the applied techniques, debatable role of both the public administration and the public, varying costs of the procedure, to state a few, could be mentioned. Furthermore, a critical need is the definition of specific standards and parameters in the presence of activities that may present risks of relevant accidents
TIPOLOGIA DEGLI SCARICHI PUNTUALI E DIFFUSI-RELAZIONE TRA SCARICHI E QUALITA' E IDROLOGIA DEL RICETTORE
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High Energy Radiation Treatment for the removal of emerging and refractory contaminants from water and wastewater
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ENHANCEMENT OF COMPOSTING EFFICIENCY THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATION: A CASE STUDY AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
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