Rationale for constant flow to optimize wastewater treatment and advanced water treatment performance for potable reuse applications

Population growth, the impacts of climate change, and the need for greater water security have made the reuse of wastewater, including potable use, increasingly desirable. As interest in potable reuse of wastewater increases, a variety of processes have been proposed for advanced water treatment following conventional wastewater treatment. In all cases, the operation and performance of advanced water treatment facilities (AWTFs) is improved when the treated wastewater feed is of the highest quality that can be achieved and the advanced water treatment (AWT) processes are operated at a constant flow. One proven method of optimizing the performance of wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) is constant flow operation with no extraneous return flows other than internal process recycle flows, such as return settled solids. A number of approaches can be used to achieve constant flow including flow equalization, divided treatment trains, and satellite treatment. The ways in which constant flow wastewater treatment benefits both WWTFs as well as the AWTFs are considered with special emphasis on the ability to achieve predictable log removal credits (LRCs) for specific microorganisms. Actual performance data from constant flow WWTFs are used to illustrate how LRCs are determined. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Constant flow WWTFs should be considered to produce the highest quality secondary effluent for AWT. Flow equalization, divided treatment trains, and satellite treatment can be used to achieve constant flow to optimize wastewater treatment in small and medium size WWTFs. Flow equalization can be used to maximize the amount of wastewater that can be recovered for potable reuse. Important benefits of constant flow for wastewater treatment facilities include economic and operational savings, stable and predictable treatment performance, energy savings, ability to optimize performance for the removal of specific constituents, and the ability to assign pathogen log removal credits (LRCs). Important benefits of constant flow and optimized WWT for AWTFs include economic and operational savings; less pretreatment needed, including energy and chemical usage; elimination of the need to cycle treatment processes; and added factor of safety with respect to the required pathogen LRCs. In large WWTFs, constant flow for AWTFs will typically be achieved by effluent diversion; depending on the effluent quality additional pretreatment may be needed. The design and implementation of WWTFs and AWTFs for potable reuse should be integrated for optimal performance and protection of public health.