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Assessment of the Efficiency, Environmental and Economic Effects of Compact Type On-Site Wastewater Treatment Plants—Results from Random Testing

Author

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  • Agnieszka Karczmarczyk

    (Department of Environmental Development, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02–776 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Bus

    (Department of Environmental Development, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02–776 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Anna Baryła

    (Department of Environmental Development, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02–776 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

This study presents the results of random testing of selected on-site wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) constructed in Poland in Masovia Voivodship in the years 2011–2016. The vast majority of tested on-site WWTPs were compact (container) type treatment plants, based on low rate activated sludge (AS), sequencing batch reactors (SBR), or a hybrid (activated sludge supported with biological film, AS + BF) method. Compact type plans are becoming more and more popular in single households in Poland, due to the option of co-financing. According to certificates provided by producers and distributors, container on-site wastewater treatment plants are efficient in BOD 5 removal, with the expected removal rate being over 80%. The aim of this study was (1) to analyze BOD 5 in effluents sampled from randomly selected on-site WWTPs, (2) to evaluate predicted and real environmental effects of the implementation of on-site WWTPs in selected communes within Masovia Voivodship, and (3) to calculate unit environmental and economic effects of container on-site WWTPs in three different technologies. Results of this study show that in most cases, there is a gap between the declared and the real BOD 5 removal efficiency. There is also a difference between the performance of different container type technologies. The lowest real environmental effect was obtained for AS technology, and the highest for the hybrid one. The predicted environmental effect has only been almost achieved in the case of hybrid systems. Based on net present value (NPV) benefits, technologies can be set up as follows: AS > SBR > AS + BF, making the AS method the most effective technology from the point of view of the economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Agnieszka Karczmarczyk & Agnieszka Bus & Anna Baryła, 2021. "Assessment of the Efficiency, Environmental and Economic Effects of Compact Type On-Site Wastewater Treatment Plants—Results from Random Testing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:982-:d:482940
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. BOYER, CHRISTOPHER N. & LARSON, JAMES A. & ROBERTS, ROLAND K. & McCLURE, M. ANGELA & TYLER, DONALD D. & SMITH, S. AARON, 2015. "Effects Of Recent Corn And Energy Prices On Irrigation Investment In The Humid Climate Of Tennessee," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(1), pages 105-122, February.
    2. Donata Dubber & Laurence Gill, 2014. "Application of On-Site Wastewater Treatment in Ireland and Perspectives on Its Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Rajabu Hamisi & Agnieszka Renman & Gunno Renman, 2019. "Performance of an On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Using Reactive Filter Media and a Sequencing Batch Constructed Wetland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Andrzej Wałęga & Krzysztof Chmielowski & Dariusz Młyński, 2018. "Influence of the Hybrid Sewage Treatment Plant’s Exploitation on Its Operation Effectiveness in Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka Bus & Anna Szelągowska, 2021. "Green Water from Green Roofs—The Ecological and Economic Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Adam Masłoń, 2022. "Impact of Uneven Flow Wastewater Distribution on the Technological Efficiency of a Sequencing Batch Reactor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.

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