The aim of the research was to determine the efficiency and reliability of the removal of pollutants
from wastewater by the mechanical–biological treatment plant A2/O. The system disposed of
on average 4,000–5,000 m3
/d of wastewater, of which about 320 m3
/d was industrial wastewater.
The evaluation was based on data from 5 y (2015–2019) of the work of this facility. The following pollution indicators were analyzed: biochemical demand for oxygen (BOD5
), chemical oxygen
demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP). The efficiency of wastewater treatment during the period under study was good. The pollutant reduction
coefficients averaged over the years 2015–2019 were: for TSS – 95%, for BOD5
– 98%, COD – 93%
for TN – 82%, and TP – 88%. The results of the Weibull-based reliability analysis in the case of TSS
and COD indicated that the treatment plant analyzed during the whole test period worked with
high efficiency. The study showed that in the case of BOD5
there were 25 d in the year in which the
limit may be exceeded. Studies have shown that 44% of collected samples of treated wastewater
exceeded total nitrogen concentrations of 15 mg/L. Thus, effluent discharged to the receiver from
the treatment plant analyzed, on approximately 160 d during a year total nitrogen concentrations
are above limit values. On this basis, it can be concluded that the treatment plant under examination
does not comply with the requirements of the Regulation for almost half of the year. The cause of
this condition is the instability of nitrification and denitrification processes which are responsible
for the removal of nitrogen compounds in a biological reactor. In the case of the treatment plant
under consideration, the reliability of the removal of general phosphorus on 55 d/y is reduced, thus
the values obtained during these days are at a level that does not meet the reliability requirements.