Wastewater Treatment Optimization Model for Developing World. I: Model Development

Abstract

This paper concerns techniques of systems analysis and operations research used to select the optimal—or most appropriate—wastewater treatment in the developing world. Existing treatment optimization models apply techniques of linear programming, dynamic programming and nonlinear mathematical programming but do not deal with the influences of sociocultural and environmental conditions. In this paper subjective or intangible factors are included with technical and economic considerations. Twenty parameters identified include technical, economic, environmental and sociocultural factors. A model including these 20 parameters is developed to rank a definite number