FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF RECONSTRUCTION OF PLUNGĖ WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

Abstract

The analysis the feasibility of the Plungė wastewater treatment plant reconstruction, data on possible technological solutions were evaluated, changes in wastewater flows before and after reconstruction were determined, and possible upgrades were compared. The analysis of the expansion possibilities of the Plunge WWTP and the prospects for industrial development in the region identified the need to increase the capacity of the WWTP. A comparison of four options for the reconstruction of the Plunge WWTP identified the most attractive alternative in terms of treatment efficiency, investment needs, operational reliability, maintenance and control needs and land area.

The assessment of the technological feasibility of phosphorus recovery from wastewater showed that all three proposed alternatives are not viable, as the investment costs for phosphorus recovery from wastewater are high and the revenue from this activity does not cover the cost requirements. However, the overall environmental benefits of phosphorus recovery (the amount of pollutants removed in the treatment process (kg/year), the amount of wastewater treated (m³/year), and the negative environmental impacts of each pollutant) would be higher in the case of the Plungė WWTP with the use of a phosphorus recovery plant than without the implementation of the process. A comparison of the three options for the installation of the phosphate plant has identified the most attractive alternative in terms of investment costs for the phosphate plant, maintenance and repair costs, reagent costs and electricity costs.