Intelligent Sludge Management in Urban Water Treatment Facilities: A Sustainable Decision-Making Framework Informed by Industrial Ecology Principles

Abstract

Within the context of urban infrastructure, this study presents a sustainable decision-making framework designed for the efficient management of sludge in water treatment facilities. The framework is comprised of various integral components, incorporating statistical computations for precise sludge production assessment and an exhaustive evaluation of water treatment plant (WTP) efficiency, rooted in a historical analysis. A comprehensive database was first established, drawing on pertinent literature that classifies construction materials applicable to WTP sludge, while prioritizing primary criteria from economic and environmental standpoints. Further, a collection of secondary indicators, encompassing factors such as operational ease, durability, product quality, and safety indices, were aggregated from diverse construction products. To streamline the decision-making process, a blend of three multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques was deployed, including the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). Additionally, this study integrates a rigorous appraisal based on Porter's Five Forces (PFF) methodology, employing a combination of questionnaires and descriptive statistical analysis to construct a comprehensive conceptual model. The findings underscore the adaptability of the proposed framework, showcasing its efficacy in facilitating intelligent scheduling and adept management of water treatment sludge. Notably, the framework is designed to encompass the principles of industrial ecology and account for eco-environmental considerations, thereby presenting a holistic approach to sustainable sludge management within the realm of urban water treatment.