Capital and Operating Cost Evaluation of CAS vs. MBR Treatment

This study details the development and refinement of an Excel® based tool to compare the capital and operating cost of equivalent size greenfield wastewater treatment facilities using membrane bioreactors (MBR) and conventional activated sludge (CAS) based on identical influent loading conditions, variable temperature and flow peaking factors, and varying levels of effluent treatment objectives. The resulting capital and operating cost tables developed using this tool indicate which system is most cost-effective for each scenario evaluated. The tool can also be used to easily compare the 20-year Present Worth cost impacts of changing input variables such as the cost of concrete, land, chemicals, or electricity.