SEXTANG : système expert d'aide à l'exploitation des stations d'épuration par étangs aérés facultatifs

Abstract

When completed, the actual program of municipal wastewater abatment of Quebec will comprise, among many treatment stations, approximately 400 facultative aerated lagoons. This type of station needs some supervision to maintain a good performance. Failure to adequately supervise the process could result in partly treated waters, not meeting environmental regulations, being released, SEXTANG is a prototype of expert system developed to assist operators of these stations in their every day duties and to identify the causes of misfunctions and propose solutions. Four different functions are available: (i) diagnosis and solutions to identified problems, (ii) data record and processing of current parameters, (iii) sludge management, and (iv) information on environmental regulations, SEXTANG presents also a user friendly interface with functions like an explanation of questions asked by the system, a dictionary of wastewater treatment terminology, and the access, at any time during a consultation, to the values and answers given by the operator since the beginning of the consultation. Key words: expert system, wastewater treatment, facultative aerated lagoons, computer-assisted operation.