Simultaneous assessment of purification performances and wastewater byproducts management plans towards a circular economy: Case of Marrakesh WWTP

Abstract

This paper aims to assess purification performances and explore wastewater byproducts valorization strategies from a full scale urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Process performance indicators and effluent discharge parameters were assessed during a review period of one year and compared to WWTP design criteria and applied discharge standards. Treated wastewater, sewage sludge and energy production lines were investigated. Results highlight that Marrakesh WWTP performed adequately depending its design characteristics and generally fulfilled applied discharge standards depending established requirements. Sludge line constitute an important component of Marrakesh WWTP, it allows clean energy production, which contributes up to 50% of its electrical self-sufficiency.

Keywords

• Urban wastewater
• Treatment efficiency
• Discharge
• Reuse
• Energy recovery
• Solar drying