A Survey on Instrumentation, Control and Automation of WWTPs in Taihu Lake Basin, China

Application of instrumentation, control and automation (ICA) is a reasonable way to improve the operation of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), which has been realized in China but is still underway. A survey was carried out in Taihu Lake basin to investigate the current situation of ICA application. The survey focuses on control variable monitoring, instrument maintenance, control strategies, control manners and facility types. Survey results show that the process variables have not been adequately monitored and used for process control. The instruments are lack of sufficient maintenance, which causes control systems unreliable or left unused. Set-point control strategies are widely adopted and implemented mainly relies on manual on-site manners. On/off controllers predominate in treatment units. The survey results can be used as a reference to understand and help increase the ICA levels in WWTPs of China.