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Mobility data for reduced uncertainties in model-based WWTP design

Samuelsson, Oscar ; Lindblom, Erik U. LU ; Djupsjö, Kenneth ; Kanders, Linda and Corominas, Lluís (2025) In Water Research X 29.
Abstract

Model-based design is an emerging tool for dealing with the uncertain dynamic loads entering wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). But our understanding about the load-driving population-dynamics is limited. Therefore, we studied if mobility data (mobile telecommunications data) could be used to reduce uncertainties during design. Mobility data from Uppsala, Sweden between 2019–2022 clearly quantified population movement patterns that were useful for simulating load scenarios such as seasonal load-shifts, without data gaps from irregular influent sampling. Further, they showed fair correlations with the daily influent nitrogen load (R2 = 0.49), which resulted in a more precise person load estimate than assuming a static... (More)

Model-based design is an emerging tool for dealing with the uncertain dynamic loads entering wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). But our understanding about the load-driving population-dynamics is limited. Therefore, we studied if mobility data (mobile telecommunications data) could be used to reduce uncertainties during design. Mobility data from Uppsala, Sweden between 2019–2022 clearly quantified population movement patterns that were useful for simulating load scenarios such as seasonal load-shifts, without data gaps from irregular influent sampling. Further, they showed fair correlations with the daily influent nitrogen load (R2 = 0.49), which resulted in a more precise person load estimate than assuming a static population (23 % reduced variance). Unfortunately, BOD load variations showed little correlation with the population variations (R2 = 0.21). Nevertheless, model-based reactor sizing based on mobility data successfully reduced the de-/nitrification volume safety factor with 5 percentage points, which demonstrates their practical usefulness for WWTP design.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Design guideline, Dimensioning, Sizing, Wastewater treatment, Water resource recovery facility
in
Water Research X
volume
29
article number
100418
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105018168500
ISSN
2589-9147
DOI
10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100418
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3083fc8c-8c07-432a-8c4f-db2cb4afcf3f
date added to LUP
2025-11-20 14:55:38
date last changed
2025-11-20 14:56:41
@article{3083fc8c-8c07-432a-8c4f-db2cb4afcf3f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Model-based design is an emerging tool for dealing with the uncertain dynamic loads entering wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). But our understanding about the load-driving population-dynamics is limited. Therefore, we studied if mobility data (mobile telecommunications data) could be used to reduce uncertainties during design. Mobility data from Uppsala, Sweden between 2019–2022 clearly quantified population movement patterns that were useful for simulating load scenarios such as seasonal load-shifts, without data gaps from irregular influent sampling. Further, they showed fair correlations with the daily influent nitrogen load (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.49), which resulted in a more precise person load estimate than assuming a static population (23 % reduced variance). Unfortunately, BOD load variations showed little correlation with the population variations (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.21). Nevertheless, model-based reactor sizing based on mobility data successfully reduced the de-/nitrification volume safety factor with 5 percentage points, which demonstrates their practical usefulness for WWTP design.</p>}},
  author       = {{Samuelsson, Oscar and Lindblom, Erik U. and Djupsjö, Kenneth and Kanders, Linda and Corominas, Lluís}},
  issn         = {{2589-9147}},
  keywords     = {{Design guideline; Dimensioning; Sizing; Wastewater treatment; Water resource recovery facility}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Water Research X}},
  title        = {{Mobility data for reduced uncertainties in model-based WWTP design}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100418}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100418}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}