MINIMIZING TREATMENT COSTS IN MULTIPLANT SETTINGS
Methods for deriving least cost operating schedules for wastewater treatment facilities are developed and compared. The simplicity of two of the methods makes them especially attractive when such schedules are sought for small groups of polluters. Iterative policy derivation is shown for such a group operating under continuously variably processes, as well as an extension to the case of communities operating facilities having only discrete treatment configuration options. The methods are proposed as tools to facilitate local management of municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Treatment cost savings are achieved through the proxy retional treatment contracts advocated by this approach. A case study of phosphorus removal in Wisconsin's Lake Michigan Watershed is presented.
