Table 1. Characteristics of 14 STPs.
| Group | ID |
STP |
Percentage (%) of municipal wastewater | Process | Flow rate (103 m3 d−1) |
Average (or range) (mg l−1) |
Latitude |
Temperature (°C) |
Sampling time (mm/year) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Full name (city and country) | COD | TN | TP | Range | At sampling | |||||||
| I | 01 | CN-NJ-SJ | Suo-Jin-Cun (Nanjing, PRC) | 85 | A/O | 15 | 330 | 57 | 5.8 | 32.1 | 16–29 | 22 | 11/2009 |
| 02 | CN-QD-TD | Tuan-Dao (Qingdao, PRC) | 70 | A/A/O | 100 | 900 | 120 | 10 | 36.1 | 12–20 | 17 | 12/2009 | |
| 03 | CN-HR-UN | Ha-Er-Bin (Haerbin, PRC) | Predominant | A/O | 325 | 420 | 63 | NA | 45.7 | 9–24 | 10 | 12/2009 | |
| 04 | CN-SH-MH | Min-Hang (Shanghai, PRC) | 70 | A/O | 44 | 267 (140–576) | 40 (34–53) | 2.9 (2-6) | 31.2 | 12–28 | 16 | 11/2009 | |
| 05 | CN-BJ-BX | Bei-Xiao-He (Beijing, PRC) | 95 | A/A/O+MBR | 100 | 462 | 51 | 9.3 | 39.9 | 16–25 | 16 | 12/2009 | |
| 06 | CN-WH-LW | Long-Wang-Zui (Wuhan, PRC) | Predominant | A/A/O | 161 | 277 | 23 | 4.9 | 30.5 | 16–29 | 17 | 12/2009 | |
| 07 | CN-GZ-DT | Da-Tan-Sha (Guangzhou, PRC) | 60 | A/A/O | 150 | 595 | 55 | 5.2 | 23.1 | 20–30 | 26 | 04/2010 | |
| 08 | SG-SG-UP | Ulu Pandan (Singapore) | Predominant | CAS+MBR | 23 | 265 | 45 | 9.2 | 1.3 | 23–32 | 27 | 05/2010 | |
| II | 09 | US-CO-CO | Columbia Regional (Columbia, USA) | Predominant | CAS | 76 | 700 (500–1100) | 32 (21–42) | NA | 38.9 | 11–23 | 17 | 04/2010 |
| 10 | US-GR-PG | Potato Creek (Griffin, USA) | Predominant | OD | 8 | 402 | 30 | 4 | 33.2 | 15–20 | 18 | 05/2010 | |
| 11 | CA-GP-GP | Guelph (Guelph, Canada) | Predominant | CAS | 55 | 270 | 45 | 7 | 43.5 | 13–23 | 13 | 01/2010 | |
| III | 12 | CN-HK-ST1 | Sha-Tin (Hong Kong, PRC)a | 95 | A/O | 216 | (226–491) | (26–40) | (3.1–5.3) | 22.3 | 22–32 | 27 | 11/2009 |
| 13 | CN-HK-ST2 | Sha-Tin (Hong Kong, PRC)a | 95 | A/O | 216 | (226–491) | (26–40) | (3.1–5.3) | 22.3 | 22–32 | 27 | 11/2009 | |
| IV | 14 | CN-HK-SH | Shek-Wu-Hui (Hong Kong, PRC) | 90 | A/O | 216 | (206–529) | (28–41) | (3.0–5.6) | 22.3 | 21–31 | 30 | 08/2010 |
| V | 15 | CN-HK-SL | Stanley (Hong Kong, PRC) | 100 | A/O | 8 | (196–481) | (25–42) | (3.2–5.5) | 22.3 | 24–32 | 31 | 08/2010 |
Abbreviations: A/O, anoxic/aerobic; A/A/O, anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic; CAS, conventional activated sludge; MBR, membrane bioreactor; NA, not available; OD: oxidation ditch; STPs, sewage treatment plants.
a
Saline (1.1% salinity) sewage due to seawater toilet flushing practice in that area.