Operation costs and consumption of resources at Nordic nutrient removal plants

Abstract

Most large wastewater treatment plants in the Nordic countries have recently been extended for nutrient removal. Different process solutions have been employed. In order to compare consumption of energy, chemicals and manpower and costs, data have been collected from five treatment works with different process solutions. Energy consumption is in the range 31–47 kWh per population equivalent and year, and manpower consumption 50–130 man-years per million population equivalents. Net operation costs are 6–14 Euro per population equivalent and year. The data have been adjusted in order to make them as comparable as possible. The basis for comparison is discussed as well as the costs and resource consumption in relation to plant design and performance.