What factor is crucial in the sizing of wastewater treatment facilities?

The expected population served and wastewater volume are critical factors in the sizing of wastewater treatment facilities because they determine the amount of wastewater that the facility will need to process. Wastewater treatment plants must be designed to handle the maximum volume of wastewater generated by the population they serve, including peak flows during certain times of the day and year.

Understanding the expected population helps engineers estimate the volume of wastewater generated, including contributions from residential, commercial, and industrial sources. This ensures that the facility is adequately sized to efficiently treat wastewater without causing overloading or insufficient treatment, which can lead to environmental and public health issues.

While other factors, such as the age of existing infrastructure, biological nutrient removal efficiency, and the type of treatment chemicals available, may play a role in specific aspects of operation or upgrades, they do not fundamentally determine the required size of a wastewater treatment facility like population and wastewater volume do. Proper sizing based on these two main factors is essential for sustainable and effective wastewater management.