INNOVATIVE SELECTION PROCESS OF EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS USING THE UNRANKED-PAIRED COMPARISON TECHNIQUE

The City of Elkhart, Indiana, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) utilizes gaseous chlorine for effluent disinfection. Several motivations, including safety and security issues, warranted an evaluation of alternative disinfection methods. A disinfection alternatives evaluation study was initiated and concluded that ultraviolet (UV) disinfection was the most favorable alternative to the existing chlorination system. Elkhart personnel then utilized an innovative selection process involving the unranked-paired comparison technique (Dean and Nishry, 1965) for selecting and subsequently, procuring, a UV disinfection system. Use of this technique minimized subjectivity in the selection process and, optimistically, resulted in the selection of the UV disinfection system that would best meet the specific requirements and constraints of the Elkhart WWTP and its personnel.