The performance evaluation of wastewater service: a protocol based on performance indicators applied to sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Sara Todeschini, Alessandro Abbà, Paola Ricciardi, Marco Carnevale Miino, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada, Fabio Conti, Giacomo Cillari, Silvia Calatroni, Giuseppe Lumia, Giorgio Bertanza
Abstract
This research aimed to identify a tool to objectively analyse the performance and the environmental contextualisation of sewer systems (SwSs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This procedure performs assessment by calculating performance indices which could be subsequently applied to SwSs and WWTPs with different characteristics. The proposed tool can be applied conveniently over the years by managers of integrated urban water management systems for the analysis of different realities also allowing the evaluation of the effects of upgrades carried out during the management phases. The proposed analysis allows the optimisation of SwSs and can profitably guide the choice and the priority among possible interventions for the sewerage infrastructure and WWTPs providing a verification and evaluation protocol as well as a financial planning tool.