Abstract
A rapid increase of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has made the disposal of excess sludge from WWTPs a serious
problem. In order to enhance the management of sludge, both development of sludge reduction technologies and sludge
evaluation system are of great importance. Based on the survey data from 696 plants in China in 2009, an empirical model was
developed to simulate the production and discharge of excess sludge, which considered influent, temperature, Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD), Suspended Solids (SS), and Total Nitrogen (TN). Four basic wastewater treatment processes including A2O,
Oxidation Ditch, SBR and Traditional Activated Sludge Process were selected for the model verification and related parameters
and indicators in the model were calculated. The model was applied in a typical plant with process of Oxidation Ditch in South
China. Results indicated that it was available for the simulation of the discharge of excess sludge in actual plant, with exception
of data in August and September, mainly due to the relatively lower BOD in these two months. Generally, the empirical model
established could be applied in the management of excess sludge disposal in WWTPs.