Multicriteria performance analysis of an integrated urban wastewater system for energy management

Abstract

The optimization and management of an integrated urban wastewater system is a complex problem involving many processes and variables. The possible control options are defined by several management strategies that may differently impact the economic, operational or environmental performance of the system. The present paper aims to contribute to the environmental and energy sustainability of urban wastewater systems by means of a multicriteria performance analysis. The paper begins with a complete analysis of the system performance in several fields of interest (energy, environment, quality of service, operation, economy and financial resources), and it highlights the management strengths and weaknesses in each subsystem. The analysis was carried out by means of a prototype, developed during the ALADIN project, which enables understanding the system, planning effective improvement actions and assessing their possible effects in each part of the urban water cycle. To demonstrate the potential of such an approach, it was tested on an actual integrated urban wastewater system in Sicily.