ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA DE SENSIBILIDADE NA APLICAÇÃO DE SIMULAÇÃO DE QUALIDADE FLUVIAL VISANDO A GESTÃO DINÂMICA DO TRATAMENTO DE EFLUENTES EM DUAS REGIÕES: TROPICAL E FRIA

Abstract

The fluvial model MCSTR simulates transientperturbations in receiving water quality due to pollutantdischarges; for instance, from wastewater treatment plantswhose process is disturbed by the intrusion of storm waters –what is increasingly occurring in Brazil, in spite of theinstitutional separation between drainage and sewers. Themodel took part in a wider project, associated to a treatmentprocessmodel. Once combined, they constitute a frameworkfor forecasting river water quality, allowing for real timeplant management – so helping to optimise fluvial qualitydownstream of discharges. State variables are flow rate andthe concentrations of BOD, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen (asammonia and nitrates) and chlorophyll-a (representingalgae). Initial calibration was on the river Cam, England, in1996. Here, simulation is demonstrated in a tropical scenario(temperature and solar radiation considerably higher than inEngland). Comparing the results, the model, again, showsrelevant to assist in decision making at plant management.Index Terms ⎯ Water quality management; Fluvialpollution; Combined sewage; Sensitivity in water qualitymodelling; Dynamic wastewater treatment operation.