Modelling the Precipitation Impacts on Wastewater Influent Volumes in Galway, Ireland

Precipitation plays a critical role in determining the influent volumes of wastewater for many urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Urban stormwater runoff, resulting from impervious surfaces and infiltration, can significantly increase WWTP influent volumes above normal dry weather flows. Other factors such as demographics and changing landuse landcover can also impact influent volumes. In the context of climate change, projected changes in precipitation events could, in particular, cause significant challenges to existing collection networks. However, there has been limited research to date on the direct impacts of various precipitation variables on combined collection systems. This research aims to assess the impacts of precipitation on influent wastewater volumes using an urban area case-study in Ireland.