What are the main purposes of laboratory tests in a wastewater treatment plant?

The main purposes of laboratory tests in a wastewater treatment plant are centered around assessing overall efficiency and understanding waste characteristics. These tests provide crucial data that helps operators determine how effectively the treatment processes are functioning, which is essential for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and ensuring environmental protection.

By analyzing parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), nutrient levels (like nitrogen and phosphorus), and pathogens, operators can gauge the quality of the influent and effluent, identify any operational issues, and make informed decisions regarding process adjustments. This information is vital for optimizing treatment performance, preventing environmental harm, and conserving resources in the process.

While measuring chemical costs, monitoring power consumption, and calculating equipment wear and tear are important aspects of the overall operation, they do not directly relate to the primary rationale for conducting laboratory analyses, which is fundamentally focused on the treatment efficiency and the characteristics of the waste being processed.