Urban wastewater treatment technologies and the implementation of discharge standards in developing countries

The paper analyses the practical implementation of standards for treated urban wastewater and receiving water bodies with a special focus on the following points of concern for developing countries: (a) typical problems with setting up and implementing standards in developing countries; (b) the need for a stepwise implementation of the measures necessary to achieve the standards; (c) the need for institutional development; and (d) the availability of wastewater treatment technologies. The treatment technologies are presented in a simple and practical way (tabular form), showing their expected effluent quality in terms of important parameters such as BOD, COD, suspended solids, ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, faecal coliforms and helminth eggs.