PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR WWTP MODEL CALIBRATION AND ASSOCIATED DATA GATHERING REQUIREMENTS

When applying simulation to wastewater treatment plant design and operation, some degree of model calibration is required. The paper provides an overview of calibration procedures that were developed as part of a recent Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) project on Standardization and Demonstration of Methods for Measuring Wastewater Characteristics for Activated Sludge Modeling. Data needs for model calibration are identified, including wastewater characterization. It is suggested that, in most municipal treatment applications, the most important kinetic parameter requiring calibration is the nitrifier maximum specific growth rate. A tiered approach to model calibration is described in order of increasing complexity and budget. The approach is illustrated in a step-wise procedure applied to a hypothetical nutrient removal plant. A checklist is proposed for a comprehensive data gathering program that distinguishes between the requirements for different types of treatment plants.