ABSTRACT
The planning, design, construction, and operation of wastewater treatment facilities are a complex problem. It involves political, social, and technical issues. This chapter discusses many important design factors that must be considered during the initial planning and design stages of a wastewater treatment project. Basic design factors are initial and design years; service area; site selection; design population; regulatory control and effluent limitations; characteristics of wastewater; degree of treatment; selection of treatment processes; equipment selection; plant layout and hydraulic profile; energy and resource requirements; plant economics; and environmental impact assessment. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) was enacted to ensure that federal agencies consider environmental factors in the decision-making process and utilize an interdisciplinary approach in evaluating these issues. It is important that the design engineer work closely with the federal, state, and local regulatory agencies that have responsibilities for planning, design, and operation of the wastewater treatment facilities.
