Efficiency Assessment of 80MLD Activated Sludge-based Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

The treatment of wastewater is necessary to reduce the intensity of the water scarcity problem worldwide. In developing countries like India, wastewater treatment is also a challenging task due to a lack of essential services (energy, cost, and skilled manpower), which affects the efficiency of treatment plants. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt has been made to assess the efficiency of the sewage treatment plant (STP) located in Naini, Allahabad, India. The results of the current study revealed that the overall efficiency of STP for physical parameters was in the order of TSS (88.43%) > Turbidity (85.18%) > TDS (22.51%). On the other hand, the chemical parameters were in the order of Phosphate (89.47%) > Sulphate (87.12%) > COD (87.04%) > BOD (86.19%) > Nitrate (73.02%). Similarly, the efficiency for heavy metals was in the order of Fe (88.89%) > Cu (60.42%) > Cr (54.93%) > As (45.60%). The treated waste can be reused for irrigating the golf course, greenway, and the park, or for groundwater storage in a safe way. In order to improve the efficiencies of the STPs, the treatment systems must be properly operated and maintained, sources of raw sewage need to be identified, and existing facilities should be upgraded accordingly. In terms of proper operation and maintenance, trained and experienced workers are required within a defined period of time to assess treatment performance.