Environmental Technology

ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tent20

The performance evaluation of wastewater

service: a protocol based on performance
indicators applied to sewer systems and
wastewater treatment plants

Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Sara Todeschini, Alessandro Abbà, Paola

Ricciardi, Marco Carnevale Miino, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada,
Fabio Conti, Giacomo Cillari, Silvia Calatroni, Giuseppe Lumia & Giorgio
Bertanza

To cite this article: Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Sara Todeschini, Alessandro Abbà, Paola
Ricciardi, Marco Carnevale Miino, Vincenzo Torretta, Elena Cristina Rada, Fabio Conti, Giacomo
Cillari, Silvia Calatroni, Giuseppe Lumia & Giorgio Bertanza (2022) The performance evaluation
of wastewater service: a protocol based on performance indicators applied to sewer systems
and wastewater treatment plants, Environmental Technology, 43:22, 3426-3443, DOI:
10.1080/09593330.2021.1922509

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2021.1922509

Published online: 21 May 2021. Submit your article to this journal

Article views: 282 View related articles

View Crossmark data Citing articles: 4 View citing articles

Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tent20
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
2022, VOL. 43, NO. 22, 3426–3443
https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2021.1922509

The performance evaluation of wastewater service: a protocol based on

performance indicators applied to sewer systems and wastewater treatment
plants
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli a,b, Sara Todeschini a,b, Alessandro Abbà c, Paola Ricciardi a,
Marco Carnevale Miino a, Vincenzo Torretta d, Elena Cristina Rada d, Fabio Contid, Giacomo Cillari a
,
Silvia Calatronia, Giuseppe Lumiaa and Giorgio Bertanza c
a
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; bInterdepartmental Centre for Water Research, University
of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; cDepartment of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy;
d
Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

This research aimed to identify a tool to objectively analyse the performance and the Received 8 January 2021
environmental contextualisation of sewer systems (SwSs) and wastewater treatment plants Accepted 20 April 2021
(WWTPs). This procedure performs assessment by calculating performance indices which could
KEYWORDS
be subsequently applied to SwSs and WWTPs with different characteristics. The proposed tool Benchmarking;
can be applied conveniently over the years by managers of integrated urban water Environmental quality;
management systems for the analysis of different realities also allowing the evaluation of the Performance indicators;
effects of upgrades carried out during the management phases. The proposed analysis allows Sewer system; Sustainable
the optimisation of SwSs and can profitably guide the choice and the priority among possible management
interventions for the sewerage infrastructure and WWTPs providing a verification and evaluation
protocol as well as a financial planning tool.

1. Introduction
may have significant impacts on WWTP performance
This work aims to analyse the optimisation of inte- [6,7].
grated urban water management (IUWM) system. In In recent years, the issues concerning the conveyance
order to reach this goal, evaluate the performance of and disposal of wastewater (WW) have become increas-
each phase constituting the IUWM system is necessary ingly important [8–10], mainly due to progressive urban-
[1,2]. Focusing the attention on the sewer systems isation of the territories, climate changes and by the use
(SwSs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the of inadequate SwSs and WWTPs [11,12]. In past, the main
analysis of the performance is fundamental for planning concern was represented by the sizing of the service.
and managing these systems [3] and to prevent the Today more attention is paid to the users demands
depletion of resources [4,5]. Moreover, several authors and expectations, and to the strong environmental
recently highlighted that the performance of SwSs impact arising from a poor management of these

CONTACT Marco Carnevale Miino [email protected] Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia,
via Ferrata 3, Pavia 27100, Italy
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3427

services [13]. In fact, even if the role of WWTPs is well the performances of WWTPs are present. ISPRA report
recognised, it should be noted that the processes n.93/2009 suggested other PIs for performing a quanti-
involved in WW treatment use resources and release tative assessment concerning to the operation of the
emissions [14,15]. Therefore, a performance assessment WWTP [29]. Collivignarelli et al. [30] proposed manage-
system (PAS) to provide a cost-effective and sustainable ment performance indicators such as life cycle assess-
management of WWTPs is strongly encouraged. More- ment (LCA), operational performance indicators and
over, a PAS should be designed to the ‘plan-do-check- environmental condition indicators which cover a
act’ approach, which aims to continuously improve the number of aspects in relation to each phase of the
service quality, and to allow benchmarking with similar IUWM system [31]. Performance assessment has been
stakeholders [16]. Recently, researchers have empha- applied both to the technologies characterising the
sized the importance of evaluating the performance of water line, and to the ones which compose the sludge
sewer and treatment systems to optimize processes line of a WWTP. The analysis deepens crucial aspects
towards environmental protection and cost reduction for the functionality of a WWTP such as treatment per-
[17,18]. The monitoring and the assessment of physical, formance, sludge management, energy and reagents
operational, environmental, management and economic consumption, and management costs [30]. Moreover,
performance of the system is crucial for the detection of to assess the impact of a WWTP into an urbanised
critical issues and opportunities for improving the ser- context, evaluate also the effect from a social point of
vices to customers, communities, and environment. In view (e.g. odour and noise emissions) is strongly
this context, protocols for standardised performance suggested [32].
assessment were formulated to enable utilities to track Considering the problematic aspects of WW in chemi-
their performance, identify data gaps, and prioritise cal and microbiological terms [33–35], PIs allow optimis-
areas for improvement [19,20]. At first, a standardised ing the management of the WWTPs, as already proposed
performance assessment framework for WW services for drinking water treatment plants [36,37]. Together
was introduced by the International Water Association with the execution of hydrodynamic tests, beneficial
(IWA). Matos et al. [21] proposed performance indicators troubleshooting actions can be identified and carried
(PIs) covering all fundamental aspects of sewer and WW out with considerable advantages on the overall per-
services. Accordingly, the CARE-S project collected and formance of the processes. In fact, hydrodynamic tests
described several PIs that should be adopted by IUWM allow to identify and locate of hydrodynamic anomalies
utilities for operational and management decisions and (dead volume and flow rate bypass) in biological reactor
use focusing on rehabilitation planning. Many inter- which reduce pollutants removal yields and increase
national organisations such as the United States Environ- management costs [38]. Only once WWTPs have been
mental Protection Agency [22], the Office of Water optimised, they can be included into a circular
Services [23], the AECOM [24] and the American Water economy model through the reuse of the residues
Works Association [25] proposed different PIs about arising from treatment. Moreover, other advantages
many feature of SwS and WWTPs. can be highlighted. Considering the problem of
The PIs represent an essential tool to carry out quan- growing sewage sludge production [39,40], optimise
titative and qualitative analysis of a service. They are the management of WWTPs is the first step to effectively
generally defined as a relationship between two, or minimise it (according to the European legislation [41])
more, distinct variables, which can be dimensionless and improve its quality [40]. This is an extremely impor-
(e.g. %) or dimensional (e.g. m3 year−1) or they may be tant point due to ever more stringent limit for its reuse
a result of a combination of two or more base PIs. PIs [42–44]. PIs can be also used (i) for historical compari-
operate or relate to a variety of spatial and temporal sons, (ii) to define the progress produced by a
scales, providing key information needed to define the manager, or (iii) even in the evaluation of the
efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of services efficiency of a service related to different interventions
by a company [26]. [45]. Moreover, with the aging of SwSs and WWTPs, PIs
Regarding SwS, PIs can be organised into six groups: can be adopted to track changes over the lifecycle of
environmental, physical, operational, quality of service, the system highlighting critical issues and strengths,
personnel and economic and financial. The Italian Regu- supporting sustainable adaptation solutions and stra-
latory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment tegic management schemes [46,47].
(ARERA) enacted several resolutions including Resol- This study deals with the performance assessment of
ution 917/2017/R/idr [27] and Resolution 918/2017/R/ a real WW system, describing the features of both the
idr [28], establishing rules and procedures necessary SwS and WWTP through several well-established PIs
for the update of the pricing where indices regarding and some new formulated indicators. The work allows
3428 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system,

also in terms of data gaps, suggesting a comprehensive
protocol for future monitoring and information collec-
tion, pointing out the required wide-ranging approach
for a right diagnosis of the system. The case study can
be also used to explicate the complex interactions that
exist in a WW system, thus enabling water utilities to
determine comprehensive solutions and strategic man-
agement of the service. The final purpose of the case
study is to provide a valid tool for the functionality
assessment of the WW system, and its impact in the sur-
rounding context. Each manager of an IUWM system can
apply this protocol, to verify over the years, the
efficiency of the WW service at local level. Also, the pro-
posed analysis can be used both as verification protocol
Figure 1. Map of the SwS and macro-areas characterisation.
of a service and in planning finance instruments for the
WW system since each specific part requires optimis-
. circular pipes (diameter between 180 and 1400 mm);
ation and the public authority can choose the plants
. rectangular pipes (dimensions between 400 ×
and sewers on which direct major investments.
300 mm and 3000 × 1600 mm);
. vaulted pipes (rectangular base with dimensions
2. Materials and methods between 900 × 1100 mm and 1000 × 1400 mm);
. lowered polycentric pipes (dimensions between
In this case study, a large number of PIs have been cals-
sified, described and calculated to carry out a functional 1550 × 1280 mm and 3150 × 2000 mm);
. ovoid pipes (dimensions between 200 × 300 mm and
check as complete as possible. . The verification protocol
has been applied to an urban SwS and a WWTP located 700 × 900 mm).
in Mortara (Lombardy, Italy).
The urban drainage system includes about 3000 gully
pots and 1250 manhole chambers. During dry weather,
2.1. Case-study description WW is conveyed to the WWTP immediately downstream
The descriptions of urban SwS and WWTP used in this of the system. During wet-weather conditions, 26 com-
study are reported in Section 2.1.1. and 2.1.2., bined sewer overflow (CSO) devices discharge, to receiv-
respectively. ing water bodies, the excess flow rate not sent for
treatment. 16 CSOs are associated with a pumping
2.1.1. Urban sewer system station. Existing CSOs are flow control structures respect-
The studied SwS drains a total area of about 52 km2 with ing the dilution ratio imposed by Lombardy regional
a population of 15,638 inhabitants. It consists of three regulations. Some CSOs are designed based on a
main independent combined sewerage pipes that minimum runoff rate (related to a dilution ratio signifi-
serve three macro-areas: Central area, Eastern area and cantly greater than those one imposed by regulation)
Western area (Figure 1). The urbanisation is essentially to avoid blockage. In the examined SwS, wet-weather
of residential type, with a population density of about detention tanks are not present.
300 inhabitant/km2. The population density is greater
in the central area than in the external areas, where 2.1.2. Wastewater treatment plant
also some productive companies are served by the ana- The analysed WWTP is authorised for the treatment of
lysed SwS. municipal WW (conveyed by the urban SwS) and pre-
The SwS is characterised by an overall longitudinal treated aqueous waste. It encloses an area equal to
development of 61.71 km. The altimetric morphology 27,330 m2. In this plant WW and aqueous waste shall
of the drainage system, as well as the morphology of be subject to different pre-treatments (Figure 2). In
the soil, is mostly flat except for some pipes that detail, WW from urban SwS is subject by coarse screen-
present a positive slope between 0.1‰ and 8.8‰ or a ing, pumping, fine screening, and grit/oil removal tank.
negative slope (due to error during the laying of pipes) Both the pre-treated WW and aqueous wastes were bio-
between −0.2 ‰ and −7.5‰. The types and the dimen- logically treated with a conventional active sludge (CAS)
sions of the pipes used are various: system. This procedure includes two dedicate lines
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3429

Figure 2. Configuration of the WWTP. CS: coarse screening; P: pumping; FS: fine screening; G/O: grit/oil removal tank; DEN: denitrifica-
tion; NIT: nitrification; OX: Oxidation.

(named A and B) treating in parallel the 60% and the efficiency. Pumping capacity utilisation and auto-
40% of the total inlet flow, respectively. mation and the degree of piezometric overload in
Biological treatment consists of a pre-denitrification the sewer are also included.
unit and an oxidation-nitrification unit. The sewage . Environmental indicators that evaluate the perform-
sludge extracted from the biological reactors goes on ance of the sewer Company about the environmental
the sludge treatment section. The clarified effluent is impact of the SwS to the receiving ecosystem. The
conducted to the disinfection phase where sodium characteristics of the wet weather discharges and
hypochlorite is dosed. the presence of sediment in the sewer are assessed
The sludge treatment section consists of a thickening though environmental indicators.
section (which includes the dosage of cationic polyelec- . Operational indicators that aim to assess the perform-
trolyte for the treatment of sludge); a subsequent mech- ance of a sewer Company related to its operation
anical dewatering section (filter press) and sludge activities and maintenance programmes. This assess-
storage. Finally, the outgoing sludge is disposed in ded- ment includes inspection, cleaning and maintenance
icate tanks for their additional treatment aimed at recov- of the sewer, pumping stations, CSOs, tanks, gully
ery on agricultural soils, while the supernatant pots and manhole chamber as well as an estimate
originating from the dewatering process is sent to the of inflow, infiltration and exfiltration.
entry of the WWTP. Both water and sludge lines have . Quality of service indicators that assess the level of
been considered in this study. service provided to customers as well as customers
satisfaction. Service connections efficiency, com-
plaints, flooding, third party damage and traffic dis-
2.2. Performance indicators
turbances due to WW activities are analysed.
The descriptions of PIs applied in this study to SwS and . Economic and financial indicators that aim to evaluate
WWTP used in this study are reported in Section 2.2.1. the financial status of a Company and the economic
and 2.2.2., respectively. effort to support infrastructure maintenance. This
area includes the composition of the management
2.2.1. Performance indicators of the sewer system cost and the capital cost as well as the investments.
As a result of a bibliographic analysis [21,25,48,49], 74 PIs . Personnel indicators that assess the effectiveness and
related to the physical characteristics of a SwS and to its the efficiency of a WW Company’s employee, consid-
operational and management aspects were identified ering qualifications, activities, functions and working
(Table 1). In order to provide a broad overview of the accident.
performance of SwS, the PIs listed in Table 1 have
been organised into 6 main categories: The investigated PIs have been assessed considering a
period of one year according to the recommendations
. Physical indicators that aim to evaluate if the SwS still of the scientific literature. The range of the different
have enough capacity to operate correctly and safely, classes for each PI has been proposed based on both
ensuring that the service goals can be achieved. reference values suggested in technical manuals or
Maximum and minimum velocity related to the risk assumed in analogous investigations [21,25,48,49] and
of abrasion or deposition at the bottom of the pipes the peculiar characteristics of the examined urban catch-
are considered as well as the infrastructure backlog ment (i.e. surface natural slope, minimum and maximum
3430 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

Table 1. List of the PIs used in the analysis of the SwS obtained from [21,25,48,49] with adopted range of the different classes (UV:
unsatisfactory values; MUV: moderately unsatisfactory values; SV: satisfactory values). The ranges of the different classes have been
proposed based on both reference values suggested in technical manuals or assumed in analogous investigations [21,25,48,49] and
the peculiar characteristics of the examined urban catchment, sewerage system, and receiving WWTP and water body.
Range of values
Name Parameters Calculation method Unit of measure UV MUV SV
PHYSICAL INDICATORS
(
Vi · L i )
Flow velocity efficiency in Flow velocity in pipes (Vi) IsPh1 = [%] 0–60 61–85 86–100
dry weather Length of sewer pipe’s (Li) L/Vmin
Minimum flow for self-cleaning (Vmin)
Total sewer length (L)
(
ti · Li )
Critical shear stress Critical shear stress (τi) IsPh2 = [%] 0–60 61–85 86–100
efficiency in dry weather Minimum shear stress for self-cleaning L/tmin
(τmin)
Pipes at risk of deposit Length of sewer at risk of deposits (Ld) IsPh3 = Ld /L [%] 40–100 15–39 0–14
Pipes at risk of abrasion Length of sewer at risk of abrasions (La) IsPh4 = La /L [%] 30–100 10–29 0–9
Infrastructure backlog Length of sewer in bad internal condition IsPh5 = Lb /L [km/km] 0.45–1 0.16– 0–0.15
efficiency (Lb) 0.44
Surcharging in gravity Length of sewer subject to surcharge in dry IsPh6 = LSd /L [%] 20–100 10–19 0–9
sewers in dry weather weather (LSd)
Surcharging in gravity Length of sewer subject to surcharge in IsPh7 = LSw /L [%] 50–100 19–49 0–19
sewers in wet weather wet weather (LSw)
High sewer surcharging Length with high degree of surcharge (LSh) IsPh8 =

LSh /L [%]
[%] 20–100 10–19 0–9
Pump power utilised in SwS Pump nominal power (Pp) (PP · HP ) 71–100 51–70 0–50
IsPh9 =
Pumps working hours during the PTP · HAp
assessment period (Hp)
Total pumps nominal power (PTP)
Hours of the assessment period (HAp)
Flooding in gravity sewers Length of sewer subject to flooding (Lf) IsPh10 = Lf /L [%] 11–100 2–10 0–1
in wet weather
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
Overflow discharge N° of occurred overflow discharge (NOd) IsEn1 = NOd /Ap /ODT [No/overflow >60 31–59 0–30
frequency Assessment period (AP) device/year]
Total number of overflow devices (ODT)
Duration of overflow Total working hours (HOd) IsEn2 = Hod /Ap /ODT [hour/overflow >600 301–599 0–300
discharge device/year]
OPERATIONAL INDICATORS
Sewer inspection Length of sewers inspected (Li) IsOp1 = Li /Ap /L [%/year] 0–9 10–29 30–100
Sewer cleaning Length of sewers cleaned (Lc) IsOp2 = Lc /Ap /L [%/year] 0–9 10–29 30–100
Manhole chamber N° manhole chambers inspected (MCi) IsOp3 = MCi /Ap /MCT [%/year] 0–9 10–29 30–100
inspection Total number of manhole chambers (MCT)
Gully pot inspection N° gully pot inspected (GPi) IsOp4 = GPi /Ap /GPT [%/year] 0–29 30–59 60–100
Total number of gully pots (GPT)
Gully pot cleaning N° gully pots cleaned (GPc) IsOp5 = GPc /Ap /GPT [%/year] 0–29 30–49 50–100
VT,i + VCSO,i
Tanks and CSOs inspection Volume of tanks (VT,i) and CSOs (VCSO,i) IsOp6 = [%/year] 0–0.39 0.40– 0.70–1
frequency inspected Ap /(VT,T + VCSO,T ) 0.69
Total volume of tanks (VT,T) and CSOs (VCSO,
T)
Pumping station inspection N° of inspections of pumping stations (PSi) IsOp7 = PSi /Ap /PST [%/year] 0–49 50–79 80–100
frequency Total number of pumping stations (PST)
SwS flow metres calibration N° of permanent flow metres calibrations IsOp8 = FMc /Ap /FMT [%/year] 0–49 50–79 80–100
(FMc)
Number of permanently installed flow
metres (FMT)
Sewer rehabilitation Length of sewers rehabilitated (Lrh) IsOp9 = Lrh /Ap /L [%/year] *
Sewer renovation Length of sewers renovated (Lrn) IsOp10 = Lrn /Ap /L [%/year] *
Sewer replacement Length of sewers replaced (Lre) IsOp11 = Lre /Ap /L [%/year] *
Sewer and joints repair N° of sewer and joint repairs (Lrp) IsOp12 = Lrp /Ap /L · 100 [No/100 km *
sewer/year]
Manhole chambers N° manhole chambers replaced, IsOp13 = MCr /MCT [%/year] *
replaced, renovated, renovated, rehabilitated, or repaired
rehabilitated, or repaired (MCr)
Pump refurbishment Total nominal power of refurbished pumps IsOp14 = PP,rf /Ap /PTP [%/year] *
(PP,rf)
Total nominal power of pumps (PTP)
Pump replacement Total nominal power of replaced pumps IsOp15 = PP,re /Ap /PTP [%/year] *
(PP,re)
Sewer blockages N° of blockages in sewers (BkS) IsOp16 = BkS /Ap /L · 102 [No/100 km > 60 20–59 0–19
sewer/year]
IsOp17 = ILBk /Ap /L · 10 2
> 30 10–29 0–9

(Continued)
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3431

Table 1. Continued.
Range of values
Name Parameters Calculation method Unit of measure UV MUV SV
Individual sewer blockage N° of individual location where blockages [No/100 km
locations occurred (ILBk) sewer/year]
Pump station blockages N° of pumping station blockages (PSBk) IsOp18 = PSBk /Ap /PST · 102 [No/pumping 0–2 3–4 >4
station/year]
Flooding from sanitary N° of flooding from sanitary sewers (FlSS) IsOp19 = FlSS /Ap /L · 102 [No/100 km 0 1–5 >5
sewers sewer/year]
Flooding from combined N° of flooding from combined sewers (FlCS) IsOp20 = FlCS /Ap /L · 102 [No/100 km > 10 6–10 0–5
sewers sewer/year]
Surface flooding N° of surface flooding incidents (FlIn) IsOp21 = FlIn /Ap /L · 102 [No/100 km > 10 6–10 0–5
sewer/year]
Sewer collapses N° of sewer collapses (CllS) IsOp22 = CllS /Ap /L · 102 [No/100 km >40 20–40 0–19
sewer/year]
Pump failures N° of hours when each pump was out of IsOp23 = HPoo /Ap /PT [hour/pump/ >48 25–48 0–24
order (HPoo) year]
Power failures N° of hours when each pumping stations IsOp24 = HPSsf /Ap /PST [hour/pumping >24 13–24 0–12
was out of order due to power supply station/year]
failures (HPSsf)
CSO control N° of CSOs controlled by flow regulators IsOp25 = CCSO /DCSO [%] <80 80–89 90–100
(CCSO)
Total number of CSO devices (CSOT)
Vehicle availability Average daily number of vehicles available IsOp26 = AAd /L · 102 [No/100 km <5 5–10 >10
(AAd) sewer]
QUALITY OF SERVICE INDICATORS
Resident population Resident population connected to the IsQl1 = PC /P [%] <90 90–94 95–100
connected to SwS SwSs (PC)
Total resident population (P)
Resident population not Resident population whose WW is neither IsQl2 = PNC /P [%] >10 6–10 0–5
served collected nor treated (PNC)

(PrSi · HSi )
Interruption of WW N° of properties affected by service IsQl3 = [%] >1 0.2–1 0–0.1
collection and transport interruption (PrSi) PrT · HAp
services Duration of the interruption during the
assessment period (HSi)
Total number of connected properties (PrT)
Hours of the assessment period (HAp)
New service connection Time spent to establish new service IsQl4 = HNC /NCin [day/new >3 2–3 0–1
efficiency connections (HNC) connection]
Total number of new service connections
installed (NCin)
Service connection repair Time spent to repair service connections IsQl5 = HC /NCre [day/repaired >3 2–3 0–1
time (HC) connection]
Total number of service connections
repaired (NCre)
Blockage complaints N° of complaints as a result of blockages IsQl6 = CBk /Ap /P · 103 [No/1000 inhab./ >5 2–5 0–1
(CBk) year]
Assessment period (Ap)
Flooding complaints N° of complaints as a result of flooding (CFl) IsQl7 = CFl /Ap /P · 103 [No/1000 inhab./ >3 2–3 0–1
year]
Pollution incidents N° of complaints as a result of pollution IsQl8 = CPi /Ap /P · 103 [No/1000 inhab./ >3 2–3 0–1
complaints incidents (CPi) year]
Odour complaints N° of complaints as a result of odors (CO) IsQl9 = CO /Ap /P · 10 3
[No/1000 inhab./ >10 4–10 0–3
year]
Rodents related complaints N° of complaints as a result of rodents (CR) IsQl10 = CR /Ap /P · 103 [No/1000 inhab./ >3 2–3 0–1
year]
Other complaints N° of other complaints (Ch) IsQl11 = Ch /Ap /P · 10 3
[No/1000 inhab./ >3 2–3 0–1
year]
Response to complaints N° of responses given within the target IsQl12 = RT /CT [%] <90 90–94 95–100
time (RT)
Total number of complaints (CT)
Responsibility for third N° of events related to accidents with IsQl13 = AW /AT [%] >3 2–3 0–1
party damages persons not working for the undertaking
or causing damage of third party (AW)
Total number of accidents under
undertaking responsibility (AT)

(LTr · Hin )
Traffic disturbances Traffic lane length beyond 5000 vehicles IsQl14 = [km/No traffic >1 0.6–1 0–0.5
(LTr) TrT · HAp interruption]
Interruption duration during the
assessment period (Hin)
Number of traffic disturbances due to SwS
activities (TrT)
Hours of the assessment period (HAp)

(Continued)
3432 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

Table 1. Continued.
Range of values
Name Parameters Calculation method Unit of measure UV MUV SV
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INDICATORS
Unit running cost for length Running cost related to SwSs (Rc) IsEc2 = Rc/Ap /L [€/km sewer/ <30,000 15,000– <15,000
of sewer Total running cost (RcT) year] 30,000
Sewer running costs IsEc2 = Rc/RcT [%] >180 90–180 <90
PERSONNEL INDICATORS
Personnel working on SwS N° of employees working on SwS (EST) IsP1 = EST /L · 100 o
[N /100 km <20 20–30 >30
per length of sewer sewer]
General management N° of employees dedicated to directorate, IsP2 = EDAR /ET [%] ** 10–15
personnel administrate (EDAR)
Total number of full-time employees (ET)
Financial and commercial N° of employees dedicated to economic IsP3 = EEF /ET [%] ** 30–35
personnel and financial planning (EEF)
Technical services N° of employees dedicated to construction, IsP4 = ECPD /ET [%] ** 50–60
personnel planning and repair (ECPD)
Working accidents N° of working accidents requiring medical IsP5 = AWM /Ap /ET · 100 o
[N /100 >20 10–20 <10
care (AWM) employees/
year]
* Judgement based on the relationships between the number interventions of rehabilitation/renovation/replacement/repair/refurbishment and the need for
interventions.
** The range of values for green class has been proposed based on the relative weight of the different kinds (general management, financial and commercial
and technical services) of personnel. Yellow class includes values little lower and greater than the extreme values of green class (i.e., in the range between −5
the lower value of green class and the lower value of green class, and in the range between the higher value of green class and +5 the higher value of green
class), while red class includes more extreme values than those of yellow class.

level of the piezometric surface of the water table), sew- Based on literature [27–30,32,41,43], some PIs allow
erage system (i.e. type of system, slope, and material of to outline a road map of evolutionary targets related
pipes), and receiving WWTP and water body. Based on to the starting level of each managing body. This is
the comparison a judgement has been formulated useful in order to reach water safety and quality objec-
divided results in three categories: unsatisfactory tives. On the other hand, other PIs are assessed by com-
values (UV), moderately unsatisfactory values (MUV) paring the actual value of the parameters with the
and satisfactory values (SV). corresponding expected values. The optimal value (or
range) for each parameter is evaluated based on the
2.2.2. Performance indicators of the wastewater plant scheme and in accordance with specific operating
treatment plant conditions. In the assessment of each PI by means of
To properly evaluate the performance of the WWTP, a the formulas presented in Table 2, a weight ‘w’ is
calculation protocol has been defined (Figure 3). The assigned by the manager based on the reliability of
protocol aims to provide a synthetic but accurate evalu- the data (e.g. based on sample frequency, total
ation of the plant through a computation of the PIs. Each number of data, type of analysis). The sum of the
equation depends on parameters which are used to weights should be equal to 1. As shown in Table 2,
define the PIs (Table 2). Subsequently, among the group- PIs have been grouped into two macro-classes concern-
ing of PIs, global performance indices have been defined ing the plant efficiency and the social context. With
based on the field of application to which they refer. reference to the social framework, most objective and
To reach this goal and evaluate two different macro- scientific PIs have been assessed and compared to
assessments, the PIs that can be applied to the WWTP values proposed in the technical literature. Based on
have been grouped into two large families. The first the comparison between theoretical and real values a
one global performance index is related to the effective- comparison a judgement has been formulated divided
ness and treatment efficiency of the WWTP, and the results in three categories: unsatisfactory values (UV),
other one refers to the social context where the treat- moderately unsatisfactory values (MUV) and satisfactory
ment plant is located. values (SV).

Figure 3. Methodology for defining synthetic evaluation of WWTP functionality.

Table 2. List of the PIs obtained from [27–30,32,41,43] and adopted for the analysis of WWTP. The ranges of the classes are also indicated (UV: unsatisfactory values; MUV: moderately
unsatisfactory values; SV: satisfactory values) based on the comparison between theoretical and real values. PIs signed with (*) were proposed and elaborated in this study.
Range of values
Unit of
Performance indicator Parameters measure Calculation methoda,b UV MUV SV
PLANT EFFICIENCY IP1 = (hreal,i /htheoretical,i ) · wh,i
Purification efficiency of the η Removal yields of pollutants (i=COD, TSS, TN, TP) [%] < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
system + (Ctheoretical,i /Creal,i ) · wC,i 1.05
C Concentration of pollutants outgoing from the biological process [mg·L−1]
Quality of clarified effluent and ns Number of samples exceeding one or more emission limits [–] IP2 = ARERA′ s classification/(nS /nC ) < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
sewage sludge (*) 1.05
nc Total number of analyses performed on the samplings carried out from the [–]
respective treatment line
Volume sections (*) Ii,removed Pollutant parameter removed from the system (i=COD, TN) [kg·d−1] IP3 = (Ii, removed /V)real /(Ii, removed /V)theoretical < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
1.05
V Volumes of the conventional activated sludge (CAS) sections [m3]
IP4 = w · Rwa,theoretical /Rwa,real
Consumption of reagents and Rwa Consumption of reagents in the water line [kg·d−1] < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
fuel + (1 − w) · Rsl,theoretical /Rsl,real 1.05
Rsl Consumption of reagents in the sludge line [kg·d−1]
(Psl,theoretical + Ctheoretical,SS · Q/1000)
Sludge production Psl Sludge production [kgTSS·d−1] IP5 = < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
(Psl,real + Creal,SS · Q/1000) 1.05
−1
CTSS Concentration of solid substances outgoing from the plant [mg·L ]
Q Average daily flow rate treated [m3·d−1]
IP6 = w · ((VSS/TSS)theoretical /(VSS/TSS)real )
Sludge treatment VSS Ratio of volatile suspended solid in stabilised sludge [%p/p] < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
+ (1 − w) · utheoretical /ureal 1.05
TSS Ratio of total suspended solid in stabilised sludge [%p/p]
u Humidity of the sludge disposed of [%]
Sludge destination M Sludge quantity intended for material recovery [%] IP7 = M + E < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
1.05
E Quantity of sludge destined for energy recovery [%]
(Cenergy /XCOD,removed )theoretical
Energy consumption Cenergy Energy consumption [kWh·d−1] IP8 = < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
(Cenergy /XCOD,removed )real 1.05

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
XCOD, Load of COD removed [kg·d−1]
removed
P Population treated [AE] IP9 = (Cenergy /Q)theoretical /(Cenergy /Q)real < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
1.05
EEair Daily electricity consumption for the oxygen supply system [kWh·d−1] IP10 = (Cenergy /P)theoretical /(Cenergy /Q)real < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
1.05
IP11 = wair · (EEair,theoretical /EEair,real )
EEother Daily electricity consumption for other processes [kWh·d−1] < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
+ (1 − wair ) · (EEother,theoretical /EEother,real ) 1.05


6
Costs Ci Management costs of a plant (i=personnel, EE consumption, reagent [€·d−1] IP12 = wi · (Ci,theoretical /Ci,real ) < 0.95 0.95– >1.05
consumption, sludge disposal, ordinary and extraordinary maintenance) i=1 1.05
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Surface S Area occupied by the plant [m2] IP13 = (S/P)theoretical /(S/P)real < 0.95 0.95– >1.05

3433
1.05

(Continued)
 3434 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

It was not possible to find a PI concerning emissions

>1.05

>1.05
SV
Range of values into the atmosphere due to vehicles, nor a PI related
to air pollution or odour impact. In this regard, it was

0.95–

0.95–
MUV

1.05

1.05
possible to make factual assessments, through the
< 0.95 quantification of the traffic flows, the measurement of
< 0.95
UV

some odorous molecules released by the plant, or

+ 2/24 · (10(Levening +5)/10 ) + 8/24 · (10(Lnight +10)/10 )] through questionnaires filled by the workers related to
the quality of the environment. These assessments
were not considered in this work because of their
strong subjectivity.
Real and theoretical values are respectively the actual value identifying the case study and the expected value for a hypothetical plant provided with the same specifications.

Once the indices have been identified and calculated

Calculation methoda,b

and to obtain an overall evaluation, assign some weights

IP15 = 10 · log[14/24 · (10Lday /10 )

to each PIs (for each global performance index) is

necessary and their sum should be equal to 1. Finally,
it is possible to obtain a single final evaluation that con-
IP14 = 10 · log(LAeq )

siders both the social context and the treatment

efficiency and effectiveness (Equation (1)).
V = I1 · p1 + I2 · p2 (1)
where Ii and pi represent the global performance index
for the plant efficiency/social context and its weight,
measure
Unit of

respectively. The assignment of weights depends on

wi is the weight associate to each parameter representing every performance indicator for each equation should be equal to 1.

the discretion of the plant manager. In fact, the

[dBA]

[dBA]
[dBA]
[dBA]

weights are defined through variable criteria which

arise from the peculiarities of each case study or from
the reliability of the data obtained. For this reason, the
lawmaker (or the plant manager) is in charge to decide
if it is necessary to exclude an aspect rather than take
into consideration other aspects. Therefore, this decision
could not be generalised, but it depends on the specific
Noise level measured on the perimeter of the plant

situation. The purpose of this paper is to provide for a

tool of planning which is applicable to general cases
Parameters

and for this reason the final score is not outlined.

Noise level during evening-time

3. Results
Noise level during night-time
Noise level during day-time

Results about SwS and WWTP are presented in Section

3.1 and 3.2, respectively. In Section 3.3, an integrated
assessment which provide for a concise and precise
analysis of the applicable outcomes, of their interpret-
ation, as well as of possible experimental conclusions
that can arise from the study is presented.
Levening
Lnight

3.1. Sewer system

LAeq

Lday

Table 3 shows the values of the estimated physical indi-

cators: the assessment highlights a rather critical situ-
Table 2. Continued.

ation. The sewer system is characterised by very low

Performance indicator

values of peak of dry weather flow velocity with a conse-

quent high risk of sediments deposition. The flow vel-
ocity in dry weather efficiency has been assessed
adopting a minimum flow velocity for self-cleaning
Noise

equal to 0.7 m/s, i.e. the value of peak flow velocity

b
a
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3435

Table 3. Values of the Physical, Environmental, and Operational Indicators for the examined SwS. RED: unsatisfactory values; YELLOW:
moderately unsatisfactory values; GREEN: satisfactory values.
Name Code Results Units
PHYSICAL INDICATORS
Flow velocity efficiency in dry weather IsPh1 33.83 [%]
Critical shear stress efficiency in dry weather IsPh2 17.13 [%]
Pipes at risk of deposit IsPh3 97.73 [%]
Pipes at risk of abrasion IsPh4 2.27 [%]
Infrastructure backlog efficiency IsPh5 0.41 [km/km]
Surcharging in gravity sewers in dry weather IsPh6 0 [%]
Surcharging in gravity sewers in wet weather IsPh7 62.72 [%]
High sewer surcharging IsPh8 30.66 [%]
Pump power utilised in SwS IsPh9 47.56 [%]
Flooding in gravity sewers in wet weather IsPh10 6.93 [%]
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
Overflow discharge frequency IsEn1 53.85 [No/overflow device/year]
Duration of overflow discharge IsEn2 576.92 [hour/overflow device/year]
OPERATIONAL INDICATORS
Sewer inspection IsOp1 5.54 [%/year]
Sewer cleaning IsOp2 1.94 [%/year]
Manhole chamber inspection IsOp3 4.25 [%/year]
Gully pot inspection IsOp4 66.87 [%/year]
Gully pot cleaning IsOp5 54.25 [%/year]
Tanks and CSOs inspection frequency IsOp6 0.46 [No/tank and CSO/year]
Pumping station inspection frequency IsOp7 100 [%/year]
SwS flow metres calibration IsOp8 57.14 [%/year]
Sewer rehabilitation IsOp9 0.65 [%/year]
Sewer renovation IsOp10 1.62 [%/year]
Sewer replacement IsOp11 0.48 [%/year]
Sewer and joints repair IsOp12 64.77 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Manhole chambers replacement, renewal, renovation or repair IsOp13 0.80 [%/year]
Pump refurbishment IsOp14 0 [%/year]
Pump replacement IsOp15 11.78 [%/year]
Sewer blockages IsOp16 16.19 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Individual sewer blockage locations IsOp17 4.86 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Pump station blockages IsOp18 2.00 [No/pumping station/year]
Flooding from sanitary sewers IsOp19 0 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Flooding from combined sewers IsOp20 6.48 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Surface flooding IsOp21 8.10 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Sewer collapses IsOp22 19.43 [No/100 km sewer/year]
Pump failures IsOp23 13.24 [hour/pump/year]
Power failures IsOp24 2.19 [hour/pumping station/year]
CSO control IsOp25 100 [%]
Vehicle availability IsOp26 4.86 [No/100 km sewer]

suggested in the EN 752-4 (1977), while the critical shear (i.e. 5–10 years). It was deemed reasonable to adopt a
stress in dry weather efficiency has been calculated lower critical flow velocity, since the examined
adopting a reference critical shear stress equal to 2 N/ maximum flow rates refer to a return period of one
m2 according to relevant technical manuals [50]. Indi- year. Despite the relatively low value adopted for the
cators IsPh1 and IsPh2 are similar and significantly lower critical flow velocity, the indicator IsPh4 exhibits a value
than 100%, highlighting a certain sediment deposition of about 2%. This is a certain result of the robustness
in dry-weather for the examined SwS. This agrees to of the SwS against abrasion.
the value close to 100% for the indicator IsPh3. As concerns the condition of the sewerage infrastruc-
On the contrary, during wet-weather conditions, the ture, a subjective assessment of specialised technical
flow velocity shows satisfactory values and a consequent personnel allowed the definition/detection of bad
low risk of abrasion. The indicator IsPh4 has been internal conditions of the internal coating of pipes or
assessed by comparing the flow velocity of the wet- the inner surface of pipes. The resulting indicator IsPh5
weather flow rate with a return period of one year points out that about the 40% of the sewer length has
with a critical flow velocity for abrasion of 2.5 m/s. The failed or is in condition of imminent failure. This negative
adopted critical flow velocity is low compared to the result is due to the aging of SwS. It is important to notice
values suggested in technical manuals for the assess- that the IUWM Company has promptly replaced the
ment of the pipe risk of abrasion since the reference pipes once a failure occurred, but further pipe replace-
values, which vary with the material of the pipe, are ments are required to improve the infrastructure
referred to the common design return period of SwSs backlog efficiency.
3436 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

In the examined period there were no surcharge receiving water body, bringing it back to a lower
events in dry weather conditions (IsPh6=0), while the biodiversity.
value of the indicator IsPh7 indicates that the length of The judgement on the values of the two environ-
sewer subject to surcharge in wet-weather is more mental indicators is moderately unsatisfactory. This
than the 60% of the total sewer length. These critical judgment has been formulated knowing that the
results reflect the fact that several pipes are undersized obtained values are comparable to those ones of neigh-
and some devices (e.g. inspection wells) are poorly bouring SwSs [51] and taking into account the character-
designed. Indicators relating to the operation of the istics of vulnerability of the receiving water course, since
pumping stations (IsPh9) assume satisfactory values, the peculiarities of the receiving ecosystem strongly
which are consistent with those of other SwSs in flat affect the environmental impact. It was deemed that a
area. The analysis shows that in some circumstances comprehensive judgement on the environmental per-
surface flooding occurred from a small portion of the formance of the SwS requires more information on the
sewerage (IsPh10=6.9%). characteristics of the discharges.
During this diagnosis of the SwS, it was possible to The values of the quality-of-service indicators show
assess only two environmental indicators. This highlights that the interventions of inspection, cleaning and
a need of improvement for the current monitoring restructuring of the sewer network and the manhole
system, thus, to enrich the information related to chambers are minimal compared to the length of the
sewer overflows for a proper assessment of the environ- whole SwS. Conversely the indicators about gully pots
mental efficiency of the SwS. reach modest percentage levels.
By comparing the indicator IsEn1 with the records of Pumping stations are inspected with very high fre-
the rain gauges installed in the examined catchment, quency. They fall into small failures in operation and
it was possible to observe that the overflow devices they are replaced with acceptable frequency. CSOs are
are activated at each meteorological event with rain- controlled with flow regulators. Conversely, tanks are
fall depth greater than 2 mm. Overflow devices have poorly controlled. Sewerage falls into an admissible
a working duration greater but comparable with the annual number of blockages and flooding.
rainfall duration in agreement with other combined It is difficult to express a judgement of the values
SwSs. The detected frequency of sewerage overflows assumed by some operational indicators, such as
points out an environmental problem, since recurrent sewer and joint repair, as low values can mean both
overflow events suspend the stabilisation process of that the SwS has little need for repair and that fewer
the macro-benthic community populating the repairs than necessary have been carried out.

Table 4. Values of the Quality of Service, Economic and Financial, Personnel Indicators for the examined SwS. RED: unsatisfactory
values (unsatisfactory ratings are not present); YELLOW: moderately unsatisfactory values; GREEN: satisfactory values.
NAME CODE RESULTS UNITS
QUALITY OF SERVICE INDICATORS
Resident population connected to SwS IsQl1 96.76 [%]
Resident population not served IsQl2 3.24 [%]
Interruption of WW collection and transport services IsQl3 0.015 [%]
New service connection efficiency IsQl4 0.33 [day/new connection]
Service connection repair time IsQl5 0.67 [day/repaired connection]
Blockage complaints IsQl6 1.15 [N°/1000 inhab./year]
Flooding complaints IsQl7 0.64 [N°/1000 inhab./year]
Pollution incidents complaints IsQl8 0 [N°/1000 inhab./year]
Odour complaints IsQl9 0.25 [N°/1000 inhab./year]
Rodents related complaints IsQl10 0 [N°/1000 inhab./year]
Other complaints IsQl11 0.06 [N°/1000 inhab./year]
Response to complaints IsQl12 100 [%]
Responsibility for third party damages IsQl13 0 [%]
Traffic disturbances IsQl14 0 [km/traffic interruption]
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INDICATORS
Unit running cost per length of sewer IsEc1 12,694.30 [€/km sewer/year]
SwS running costs IsEc2 44.47 [%]
PERSONNEL INDICATORS
Personnel working on SwS per length of sewer Isp1 25.91 [N°/100 km sewer]
General management personnel Isp2 12.50 [%]
Financial and commercial personnel Isp3 31.25 [%]
Technical services personnel Isp4 56.25 [%]
Working accidents Isp5 6.25 [N°/100 employees/year]
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3437

Table 5. PIs characterisation concerning the global performance index related to plant efficiency. RED: unsatisfactory values; YELLOW:
moderately unsatisfactory values; GREEN: satisfactory values.
Performance indicator Code Result PI Score
PLANT EFFICIENCY
Purification efficiency of the system (COD) IP1 0.77 WATER LINE EFFICIENCY 1.29
Quality of clarified effluent (COD) IP2 1.61
Volume sections (COD) IP3 1.65
Purification efficiency of the system (TSS) IP1 0.39
Quality of clarified effluent (TSS) IP2 1.03
Purification efficiency of the system (TN) IP1 1.24
Quality of clarified effluent (TN) IP2 2.00
Volume sections (TN) IP3 0.80
Purification efficiency of the system (TP) IP1 2.34
Quality of clarified effluent (TP) IP2 1.22
Consumption of reagents (water line) IP4 1.12
Sludge production IP5 1.71 SLUDGE LINE EFFICIENCY 1.42
Sludge treatment IP6 0.90
Sludge destination IP7 1.00
Quality of sewage sludge (pH) IP2 1.00
Quality of sewage sludge (VSS/TSS) IP2 1.33
Quality of sewage sludge (Cd) IP2 2.00
Quality of sewage sludge (Cr) IP2 2.00
Quality of sewage sludge (Hg) IP2 1.33
Quality of sewage sludge (Ni) IP2 0.67
Quality of sewage sludge (Pb) IP2 2.00
Quality of sewage sludge (Cu) IP2 0.67
Quality of sewage sludge (Zn) IP2 2.00
Quality of sewage sludge (As) IP2 1.00
Quality of sewage sludge (TOC) IP2 2.00
Quality of sewage sludge (TN) IP2 1.33
Quality of sewage sludge (TP) IP2 2.00
Quality of sewage sludge (IPA) IP2 1.33
Consumption of reagents (sludge line) IP4 1.25
Energy consumption (load of COD removed) IP8 0.45 ENERGY 0.68
Energy consumption (flow rate treated) IP9 1.18
Energy consumption (population treated) IP10 0.49
Energy consumption (for the oxygen supply system) IP11 0.59
Management cost (personnel) IP12 1.50 COSTS 1.72
Management cost (EE consumption) IP12 0.59
Management cost (reagent consumption) IP12 2.41
Management cost (sludge disposal) IP12 2.50
Management cost (ordinary maintenance) IP12 2.81
Management cost (extraordinary service) IP12 0.53

Table 4 presents the classification of the assessed Finally, the number of full-time employees is slightly
operational indicators, which highlight that almost all low, however the number of accidents at work is more
the resident population is connected to the service than acceptable.
and the repair and installation of new connections are
quickly completed. The number of complaints from cus-
3.2. Wastewater treatment plant
tomers is acceptable and each of them is addressed and
resolved within the target time. There were no accidents Data has been used for the calculation of the functional-
with people who do not work for the company, no acci- ity indices. All data are average values referred to a
dent occurred causing third party damages and there period of three years (2015÷2017). In such period, all
was no traffic lane beyond 5000 vehicles. The judgment the variables taken into consideration do not meet sig-
on the level of service provided to customers is certainly nificant changes (such as plant variations, nor any
satisfactory since all the assessed quality of service indi- issue which caused interruptions of the plant/processes
cators exhibit positive values. for a long period). The calculation of the functionality
Table 4 also shows the values of the assessed econ- indices is based on the literature values which well fit
omic and financial indicators which describe a the features of the case study and therefore on the
Company, highlighting a running cost of the SwS type of matrix entering the WWTP (in terms of COD
equal to almost half of the total running cost. These indi- load), the plant technology, treatments composing the
cators depict a Company with a good financial and com- water line, treatments composing the sludge line and
mercial condition. the sludge destination. Depending on the result
3438 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

obtained for each PI, a score expressed from 0 (worst Within the purification global index,The efficiency
condition) to ≥2 (optimal conditions) has been and effectiveness of the sludge line is the second
reached. This standardisation is displayed with a aspect to be evaluated: sludge management PIs are
specific colour, as described in the section "Materials Ip5, Ip6 and Ip7. Moreover, Ip2 has been analysed in
and Methods". relation to the quality of the sludge outgoing the
Table 5 shows the numerical results of all the studied WWTP. In this case study, the sludge outgoing the
PIs concerning the first global performance index WWTP are entirely destined for the recovery which
(extended to the definition of the ‘purification occurs in agriculture. The Ip2 defines the kind of
efficiency and effectiveness’). Indeed, the PIs purpose sludge, which could be ‘suitable’ or ‘high quality’,
for the optimisation of the WW treatment service is to based on limit concentrations reported in attachment
evaluate not only the effectiveness of the processes, 1 of the Lombardy Region Decree no. 6665 [52].
but also how the effectiveness or efficiency of the Finally, Ip4 concerns the consumption of reagents in
plant is achieved. Within the first global performance the sludge line.
index, various aspects have been grouped and assessed, All the PIs referred to the consumption of electricity
as of the water line. In order to evaluate the latter, Ip1 have been grouped within the first macro-class of
and Ip2 concerning the clarified effluent have been indices. Consumption of electricity is defined by IP8, IP9,
used. The Ip3 has been also considered only for COD IP10 and IP11 through the relationship between expected
and TN (total nitrogen). Subsequently, Ip4, which is consumption and real consumption. The said principle
referred to the consumption of reagents utilised for entails a positive judgment if the score is major or
the water line, has been also applied . Therefore, a equal to 1. The last analysed topic is the one relating
weight has been assigned to each of these PIs which to the management costs which include only Ip12.
sum always ensured a result equal to 1 for each group- All the scores arising from the above consideration
ing level. In this paper, the same weight has been have been highlighted in Table 5. Overall, the evaluation
assigned for each analysed aspect. In order to standar- of the abovementioned aspects is good, since all PIs
dise the scoring scale, it was necessary to correct the show scores close to 1, which is the threshold indicated
assigned score, as for Ip2, which range of score has in the literature as a standard value. The energy con-
been reformulated by means of a linear proportion. sumption is characterised by the lowest score and there-
fore represents the item with the worst performance
within the WWTP in question. For this reason, it will
have negative feedback on the final result. So, in order
Table 6. Classifications related to acoustic PIs. The values to implement any potential improvement to the
obtained in this study are included in the highlighted ranges.
system, it would be necessary to take into consideration
Limit [dBA]
During day time During night time
this specific aspect.
Italian classification 1 50 40
The second global performance index concerns all
(local acoustic zone) [55] 2 55 45 the items which can influence the social context sur-
3 60 50 rounding the WWTP. Ip14 and Ip15 concern the noise
4 65 55
5 70 60 impact emitted by a system. They derive from level indi-
6 70 70 cators LAeq as result on the average calculated on the
Noise level range Lden [dBA]
[WHO, 2004] E 55 59 perimeter of the plant. This aims to evaluate the noise
VG 60 64 impact of the sound sources continuously present and
G 65 69
P 70 74 derived from pumps, aerators, etc. Parameters used by
VP >75 Ip14 and Ip15 are obtained through sound level measure-
Note: E: excellent; VG: very good; G: good; S: satisfactory; P: poor; VP: very ments performed into predetermined points along the
poor.
perimeter of the plant (in accordance with the Italian

Table 7. PIs characterisation concerning the global performance index related to social context. RED: unsatisfactory values; YELLOW:
moderately unsatisfactory values; GREEN: satisfactory values.
Performance indicator Code Results PI Score
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Surface IP13 1.54 VISUAL IMPACT
1.54
Noise emission on the perimeter of the plant IP14 1.21 NOISE
1.03
Noise emission during day-, evening- and night-time IP15 0.84
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3439

Standard UNI ISO 8297 [53] and with the Italian Minister- for the good operation a mixed sewerage. This entails
ial Decree on Techniques for detection and measurement the deposition of sediments and related operational
of noise pollution [54]). The sound level obtained for Ip14 and environmental issues such as diminished flow rate
during daytime is equal to 61.87 dBA. The value capacity, pipe corrosion and contamination of CSO dis-
obtained for Ip14 during night is equal to 62.18 dBA. charges into the receiving water bodies. Surface
The value obtained for Ip15 is equal to 68.35 dBA. There- flooding occurs in some areas of the examined catch-
fore, by means of the analysis of laws and regulations, as ment with low return period events because of both
regards Ip14, an opinion has been issued considering the pipe under-sizing and reduced flow rate capacity due
classification provided by WHO (2004). Another opinion to deposits. From a management point of view, the
for Ip16 has been issued in accordance with the Italian maintenance of the sewage system gave good results.
Decree by the President of the Council of Ministers on Ordinary and extraordinary maintenance activities are
Determination of limit values of noise sources where, carried out (even if in some cases the frequency
certain prescribed limits are settled for each local acous- should be increased), especially as regard to the inter-
tic zone (as shown in Table 6) [55]. A classification has ventions of inspection, cleaning and refurbishment of
been associated to these opinions as result of a linear the sewer network, manhole chambers, wells and
proportion which maintains the principle used for the pump stations. Globally, the values of the operational
previous PIs (score=0÷2). indicators highlight the good management of the
Otherwise, as regard to the visual aspect, the sole Water Service Company that, despite of the critical con-
assessment that has been performed is the spatial dition of the sewage system, guarantees an adequate
encumbrance occupied by the WWTP in relation to its level of service to customers.
potential (Ip13). In addition, it is not possible to evaluate With reference to the WWTP, the critical issues found
the impact which some items could have to the visual from the engineering point of view concern only the
aspect (such as the height of the buildings, or the pres- energy consumption. Generally, it deems that, for
ence or absence of a coverage along the external per- medium-large systems, the treatment sections character-
imeter). Thus, the value obtained by the Ip13 is ised by the greatest energy consumption are biological
compared with the value expected by a same WWTP oxidation, the pumping (initial and of the recirculating
with similar potential and with the same technologies. sludge). The electromechanical equipments with the
Table 7 shows the results of PIs indicating the ‘social highest installed powers are the pumps, the aeration
context’ global performance index. The evaluation of the system (which is composed by blowers and / or aerators)
spatial extension is very good while the acoustic one is and some sections of the sludge line, such as thickening,
sufficient. Indeed, even though the plant has acoustic dehydration and anaerobic digestion. Into the WWTPs,
sources emitting significant sound levels (level found the item related to energy consumption can change up
near the pumps in sludge line is up to LAeq of to 30% of all operating costs [56–58]. In the common
81.25 dB), the noises emitted by the system are well miti- management practice, it is rare to have separate energy
gated by the surrounding environment without any consumption for each process phase and this makes it
issue or complaint. more difficult to identify if and where there is any
improvement. For this reason, it is important to make
accurate choice related to the project for the manage-
3.3. Integrated assessments
ment of the plant, considering also the future energy con-
The study investigates different categories of PIs applied sumption of the plant. Indeed, in the WW treatment
to SwS and WWTP of a real IUWM company. The effort in sector, it is expected a further increase in energy con-
assessing the values of different PIs highlights some lack sumption of about 30–40% in the next years under the
of information in the available data set, thus, providing pressure of an increase of quality of treated water. Conse-
useful directions for a future enrichment of the Com- quently, the increase in energy costs is due to the need to
pany’s database. This study highlights a critical infra- use advanced technologies which require greater energy,
structural condition of the examined sewage system, ensuring more stringent requests on the quality of
due to the backwardness of the infrastructures. One of effluents, especially in relation to the removal of emer-
the reasons contributing to invalidate the SwS is the ging contaminants and micropollutants [59]. In addition,
presence of some sections in counter slope and some the aging of the sewage structures entails an increase
undersized pipes. The sewage system appears in a of the infiltrations and thus of the costs of pumping
difficult situation especially from physical and environ- and treating of WW.
mental perspectives. The SwS does not satisfy the Differently, as regards the treatment costs, which in
minimum flow velocity and shear stress values required this study have a very high score, it should be noted
3440 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

that to date it is very difficult to discuss organically about actions. Following this analysis, the business operation
management costs, which depend on many factors intelligence could take all the necessary decisions in
(such as laboratory, maintenance, management, cost of order to improve those sectors which do not demon-
chemicals supplies and of other supplies, electricity, strate to meet the limit value. In such cases, every year
sludge disposal). As regard to the social context, the it is required an improvement of the PI or to maintain
impact is good because the examined area (i.e. where the highest value of the target.
the WWTP is located) does not directly border with It should be noted that the evaluation protocol is also
public buildings and/or residential areas, but in a periph- affected by some limits. The data arising from investi-
eral area of the city. This aspect is important to ensure gations should be as significative as possible in order
that no particular issue or negative impact could to develope an accurate, reliable, feasible and cost-
damage the urban context where the plant is situated. effective evaluation. Indeed, once set the reference
The methodological approach of this work can be period, it is necessary to collect all the data in order to
potentially applied in plants of any size. In this work, it give precise and easy to read information and to
was chosen to apply this protocol to a medium-size WW merge them. The transition from data to indices
system because the aim is to describe WWTP and SwS as implies a reduction in terms of quality due to their
completely as possible. However, this approach could be minor level of detail in favour of a better capacity of
applied also to a ‘small-size’ WW system. In this case, easy to read and understand. The lack of a cross-evalu-
some indices may not be applicable due, for instance, to ation between different system as well as the difficult
the lack of some data. For some small-sized systems it research of literature values able to consider the
may be difficult to know: the energy consumption of the specific features of the case-study are two of the major
plants divided by sector, rather than, the number of issues of the research at hand. In order to improve the
CSOs inspected by the SwS, the length of the clean research, another point of attention could be the possi-
network. A suggestion in this case could be to implement bility to quantify the level of acceptability of the popu-
a network integrated with GIS in such a way as to store this lation and to implement the protocol with additional
data with greater ease. However, despite the greater subjective aspects. In a future perspective, for the com-
difficulty in retrieving data and the reduced number of cal- pletion of the analysis of the IUWM system, the protocol
culable PIs, the methodological approach is still applicable. could be extended to identify further performance
indices applicable to distribution systems and to treat-
ment systems.
4. Conclusions
Thanks to their multiple applications, performance indi-
Acknowledgments
cators are evaluated as indispensable tools for a correct
and effective management of an IUWM system. These Authors wish to thank ASMia S.r.l., ASMare S.r.l., Pavia Acque
indices allow to monitor the most critical sections of a S.c.a.r.l. and ASM Pavia S.p.A. for giving technical support to
the experimental research. We are grateful to all the utilities
IUWM Company, to indicate the best sectors for invest-
employees who helped us in our research with data, infor-
ments and for performance enhancements and also mation and advices.
the sectors to be suspended or to be merged with the
other more performing ones. The evaluation tool ident-
ified in this work aims to set a threshold that defines Disclosure statement
when SwS and WWTP need interventions, in order to No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
optimise the IUWM management service. The proposed
calculation protocol is focused on each information
which provide the reference of the initial time, which Data availability statement
evolution could be checked by the organisations. The The data presented in this study are available in article.
proposed calculation protocol, then, is an operational
useful tool that allows to monitor and report the
factual state of the system and to define a programme
ORCID
of actions with clear and precise objectives aimed at Maria Cristina Collivignarelli http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0497-
increasing the quality of the utilities offered to the 9354
Sara Todeschini http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5498-4370
public. On the basis of these aspects methodology and
Alessandro Abbà http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1377-9741
of the obtained conclusions, the protocol identifies Paola Ricciardi http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7623-0134
strengths and weaknesses of the two systems, even Marco Carnevale Miino http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3669-1635
highlighting fields which can be subject to improvement Vincenzo Torretta http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7594-1169
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3441

Elena Cristina Rada http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0807-1826 [12] Khosla R, Bhardwaj A. Urbanization in the time of climate
Giacomo Cillari http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6102-5656 change: examining the response of Indian cities. Wiley
Giorgio Bertanza http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2965-023X Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang [Internet]. 2019;10:e560.
Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/
10.1002/wcc.560.
[13] Todeschini S, Papiri S, Ciaponi C. Placement strategies
References and cumulative effects of wet-weather control practices
for intermunicipal sewerage systems. Water Resour
[1] Nouri H, Stokvis B, Galindo A, et al. Water scarcity allevia-
Manag [Internet]. 2018;32:2885–2900. Available from:
tion through water footprint reduction in agriculture: the
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11269-018-1964-y.
effect of soil mulching and drip irrigation. Sci Total
[14] Nguyen TKL, Ngo HH, Guo W, et al. Contribution of the
Environ [Internet]. 2019;653:241–252. Available from:
construction phase to environmental impacts of the
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969718
wastewater treatment plant. Sci Total Environ [Internet].
342074.
2020;743:140658. Available from: https://linkinghub.
[2] Dinar A, Tieu A, Huynh H. Water scarcity impacts on
elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969720341802.
global food production. Glob Food Sec [Internet].
[15] Borzooei S, Campo G, Cerutti A, et al. Optimization of the
2019;23:212–226. Available from: https://linkinghub.
wastewater treatment plant: from energy saving to
elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2211912417301220.
environmental impact mitigation. Sci Total Environ
[3] Kiselev AV, Magaril ER, Rada EC. Energy and sustainability
[Internet]. 2019;691:1182–1189. Available from: https://
assessment of municipal wastewater treatment under cir-
linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/
cular economy paradigm. Energy Sustain 2021 [Internet].
S0048969719333558.
2019. p. 109–120. Available from: http://library.witpress.
[16] Quadros S, João Rosa M, Alegre H, et al. A performance
com/viewpaper.asp?pcode=ESUS19-010-1.
indicators system for urban wastewater treatment
[4] Fitton N, Alexander P, Arnell N, et al. The vulnerabilities of
plants. Water Sci Technol [Internet]. 2010;62:2398–2407.
agricultural land and food production to future water
Available from: https://iwaponline.com/wst/article/62/
scarcity. Glob Environ Chang [Internet]. 2019;58:101944.
10/2398/14102/A-performance-indicators-system-for-urban.
Available from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/
[17] Silva C, Matos JS, Rosa MJ. A comprehensive approach for
pii/S0959378018307489.
diagnosing opportunities for improving the performance
[5] Xu Z, Chen X, Wu SR, et al. Spatial-temporal assessment of
of a WWTP. Water Sci Technol [Internet]. 2016;74:2935–
water footprint, water scarcity and crop water productivity
2945. Available from: https://iwaponline.com/wst/
in a major crop production region. J Clean Prod [Internet].
article/74/12/2935/24809/A-comprehensive-approach-
2019;224:375–383. Available from: https://linkinghub.
for-diagnosing.
elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959652619307991.
[18] Silva C, Rosa MJ. Performance assessment of 23 waste-
[6] Ragazzi M, Catellani R, Rada E, et al. Management of
water treatment plants – a case study. Urban Water J
urban wastewater on one of the Galapagos Islands.
[Internet]. 2020;17:78–85. Available from: https://www.
Sustainability [Internet]. 2016;8:208. Available from:
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1573062X.2020.1734634.
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/3/208.
[19] Vera I, Sáez K, Vidal G. Performance of 14 full-scale sewage
[7] Fisher R, Shammay A, Alvarez–Gaitan JP, et al. Sewer
treatment plants: comparison between four aerobic tech-
catchment effects on wastewater and biosolids odour
nologies regarding effluent quality, sludge production
management. Water Sci Technol [Internet].
and energy consumption. Environ Technol [Internet].
2018;77:2348–2354. Available from: https://iwaponline.
2013;34:2267–2275. Available from: http://www.
com/wst/article/77/9/2348/38637/Sewer-catchment-effects-
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09593330.2013.765921.
on-wastewater-and.
[20] Belloir C, Stanford C, Soares A. Energy benchmarking in
[8] Todeschini S. Trends in long daily rainfall series of
wastewater treatment plants: the importance of site oper-
Lombardia (northern Italy) affecting urban stormwater
ation and layout. Environ Technol [Internet]. 2015;36:260–
control. Int J Climatol [Internet]. 2012;32:900–919.
269. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/
Available from: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/joc.2313.
10.1080/09593330.2014.951403.
[9] Zhou Q, Leng G, Su J, et al. Comparison of urbanization
[21] Matos R, Cardoso MA, Ashley R, et al. Performance indi-
and climate change impacts on urban flood volumes:
cators for wastewater services. IWA Publishing, London
importance of urban planning and drainage adaptation.
(UK); 2003.
Sci Total Environ [Internet]. 2019;658:24–33. Available
[22] US EPA. Guide for evaluation capacity, management,
from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048
operation, and maintenance (CMOM) programs at sani-
969718350290.
tary sewer collection systems. United States
[10] Qiu T, Song C, Zhang Y, et al. Urbanization and climate
Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati (OH); 2005.
change jointly shift land surface phenology in the north-
[23] OFWAT. Key performance indicators – Guidance
ern mid-latitude large cities. Remote Sens Environ
[Internet]. Birmingham, UK; 2013 [cited 2020 Aug 1].
[Internet]. 2020;236:111477. Available from: https://
Available from: https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp-content/
linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0034425719304961.
uploads/2015/11/prs_web_kpiprintable.pdf%0A.
[11] Cai D, Fraedrich K, Guan Y, et al. Urbanization and climate
[24] AECOM. National water and wastewater benchmarking
change: insights from eco-hydrological diagnostics. Sci
initiative (NWWBI): Wastewater performance measures
Total Environ [Internet]. 2019;647:29–36. Available from:
[Internet]. 2015 [cited 2020 Aug 1]. Available from:
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969718
https://nationalbenchmarking.ca/.
328158.
3442 M. C. COLLIVIGNARELLI ET AL.

[25] AWWA. Benchmarking Performance Indicators for Water [38] Collivignarelli MC, Carnevale Miino M, Manenti S, et al.
and Wastewater Utilities. Survey Data and Analyses Identification and localization of hydrodynamic
Report. Denver, CO; 2015. anomalies in a real wastewater treatment plant by an
[26] Cardoso M, Coelho S, Matos J. Proposal for a method- integrated approach: RTD-CFD analysis. Environ Process
ology to assess the technical performance of urban [Internet]. 2020;7:563–578. Available from: http://link.
sewer systems. Strateg Asset Manag Water Supply springer.com/10.1007/s40710-020-00437-4.
Wastewater Infrastructures [Internet]. Lisbon: IWA [39] Bertanza G, Papa M, Canato M, et al. How can sludge
Publishing; 2009. p. 169–184. Available from: https:// dewatering devices be assessed? Development of a
iwaponline.com/ebooks/book/523/. new DSS and its application to real case studies. J
[27] ARERA. Regulation of the technical quality of the inte- Environ Manage [Internet]. 2014;137:86–92. Available
grated water service or of each of the individual services from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/
that make it up (RQTI) (in Italian) [Internet]. 2017. S0301479714
Available from: https://www.arera.it/it/docs/17/917-17. 000619.
htm. [40] Collivignarelli MC, Abbà A, Carnevale Miino M, et al. What
[28] ARERA. Biennial update of the tariff arrangements for the advanced treatments can be used to minimize the pro-
integrated water service (in Italian) [Internet]. 2017. duction of sewage sludge in WWTPs? Appl Sci
Available from: https://www.arera.it/it/docs/17/918-17.htm. [Internet]. 2019;9:2650. Available from: https://www.
[29] Collivignarelli C, Bertanza G, Collivignarelli M, et al. mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/13/2650.
Optimization of the urban waste water treatment [41] European parliament. Directive EU/2018/851 of the
service: maximization of resource recovery (water and European Parliament and of the council of 30 May 2018
sludge) and reduction of energy consumption (in amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste [Internet].
Italian). 2009. 2018. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
[30] Collivignarelli C, Canziani R, Perotto E, et al. Eco-manage- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018L0851&from=IT.
ment in the integrated water service – elements for the [42] Collivignarelli MC, Abbà A, Frattarola A, et al. Legislation for
application of the standard ISO 14001:04 (in Italian). the reuse of biosolids on agricultural land in Europe: over-
Brescia; 2011. view. Sustainability [Internet]. 2019;11:6015. Available
[31] Teodosiu C, Barjoveanu G, Sluser BR, et al. Environmental from: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/21/6015.
assessment of municipal wastewater discharges: a com- [43] EUR-Lex. Decision (EU) 2018/853 of the European
parative study of evaluation methods. Int J Life Cycle Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending
Assess [Internet]. 2016;21:395–411. Available from: Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013 and Directives 94/63/EC
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11367-016-1029-5. and 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the
[32] Magrini A, Di Feo G. Acoustic quality index evaluation: Council and Council Directives 86/278/EEC and 87/217/
procedure improvement supported by the results of a EEC. Off J Eur Communities [Internet]. 2018;150:155–
subjective survey. Noise Mapp [Internet]. 2016;5:33–45. 161. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/
Available from: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/noise. 2018/853/oj.
2018.5.issue-1/noise-2018-0003/noise-2018-0003.xml. [44] Collivignarelli MC, Abba A, Padovani S, et al. Recovery of
[33] Santos Pd, Daniel LA. Occurrence and removal of giardia sewage sludge on agricultural land in lombardy: current
spp. cysts and cryptosporidium spp. oocysts from a issues and regulatory scenarios. Environ Eng Manag J
municipal wastewater treatment plant in Brazil. Environ [Internet]. 2015;14:1477–1486. Available from:
Technol [Internet]. 2017;38:1245–1254. Available from: http://www.eemj.icpm.tuiasi.ro/pdfs/vol14/no7/1_1041_
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09593330. Collivignarelli_14.pdf.
2016.1223175. [45] Ganjidoost A, Knight MA, Unger AJA, et al. Benchmark
[34] Collivignarelli MC, Abbà A, Carnevale Miino M, et al. performance indicators for utility water and wastewater
Disinfection of wastewater by UV-based treatment for pipelines infrastructure. J Water Resour Plan Manag
reuse in a circular economy perspective. where are we [Internet]. 2018;144:04018003. Available from: http://
at? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18:77. ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.
[35] Collivignarelli MC, Abbà A, Carnevale Miino M, et al. 0000890.
Photoelectrocatalysis on TiO2 meshes: different appli- [46] Abdellatif M, Atherton W, Alkhaddar R. Assessing com-
cations in the integrated urban water management. bined sewer overflows with long lead time for better
Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2021; In press. Available from: surface water management. Environ Technol [Internet].
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12606-5. 2014;35:568–580. Available from: http://www.tand
[36] Sorlini S, Collivignarelli MC, Castagnola F, et al. fonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09593330.2013.837938.
Methodological approach for the optimization of drinking [47] Shi S, Wang C, Fang S, et al. Removal performance and
water treatment plants’ operation: a case study. Water Sci water quality analysis of paper machine white water in
Technol [Internet]. 2015;71:597–604. Available from: a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. Environ Technol
https://iwaponline.com/wst/article/71/4/597/28580/ [Internet]. 2017;38:1443–1451. Available from: https://
Methodological-approach-for-the-optimization-of. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09593330.2016.
[37] Sorlini S, Collivignarelli MC, Carnevale Miino M. 1231227.
Technologies for the control of emerging contaminants [48] Nam S-N, Nguyen TT, Oh J. Performance indicators frame-
in drinking water treatment plants. Environ Eng Manag work for assessment of a sanitary sewer system using the
J. 2019;18:2203–2216. analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Sustainability [Internet].
 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 3443

2019;11:2746. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/ environment – technical design method (In Italian).
2071-1050/11/10/2746. Italian Standardization Body; 2006.
[49] Saegrov S. Computer aided rehabilitation of sewer and [54] IME. Techniques for detection and measurement of noise
storm water networks – CARE-S. Water Intell Online (In italian). Italian Ministry of Environment; 1998.
[Internet]. 2006;5:9781780402390–9781780402390. [55] IPCM. Determination of limit values of noise sources (In
Available from: https://iwaponline.com/ebooks/book/104/. Italian). Decree by the Italian President of the Council of
[50] Bacon N, Ackers P, Storey J, et al. It’s a small world:mana- Ministers; 1997.
ging human resources in small businesses. Int J Hum [56] Tchobanoglou G, Burton FL, Stensel HD, et al. Wastewater
Resour Manag [Internet]. 1996;7:82–100. Available from: engineering: treatment and resource recovery. McGraw
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09585199 Hill Education, New York (NY); 2014.
600000119. [57] Azimi S, Rocher V. Energy consumption reduction in a waste
[51] Todeschini S, Papiri S, Sconfietti R. Impact assessment of water treatment plant. Water Pract Technol [Internet].
urban wet-weather sewer discharges on the Vernavola 2017;12:104–116. Available from: https://iwaponline.com/
river (Northern Italy). Civ Eng Environ Syst [Internet]. wpt/article/12/1/104/20779/Energy-consumption-reduction-
2011;28:209–229. Available from: http://www.tandf in-a-waste-water.
online.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10286608.2011.584341. [58] Gandiglio M, Lanzini A, Soto A, et al. Enhancing the energy
[52] Lombardy Region. Regional decree n. 6665 of 14 May efficiency of wastewater treatment plants through co-diges-
2019 (in Italian) [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Sep 9]. tion and fuel cell systems. Front Environ Sci [Internet].
Available from: https://www.regione.lombardia.it/wps/ 2017;5. Available from: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/
wcm/connect/19df87f4-0ac9-4fac-b171-084e37a5bc51/ 10.3389/fenvs.2017.00070/full.
D.d.u.o.+6665_2019.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOT [59] Mucha Z, Mikosz J. A simulation study of the energy-
WORKSPACE-19df87f4-0ac9-4fac-b171-084e37a5bc51-mH efficient options for upgrading and retrofitting a
4MG8K. medium-size municipal wastewater treatment plant.
[53] UNI. Acoustics – Determination of sound power levels of Environ Technol [Internet]. 2016;37:2516–2523.
multi-source industrial settlements for the assessment of Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/
sound pressure levels emitted into the surrounding 10.1080/09593330.2016.1153157.