Dynamic Modeling and Performance Assessment of Khorshed Wastewater Treatment Plant Using GPS-X: A Case Study, Alexandria, Egypt

Water scarcity continues to challenge arid regions such as Egypt, where growing population demands, climate change impacts, and increasing agricultural pressures intensify the need for sustainable water management. Treated wastewater has emerged as a viable alternative resource, provided that the effluent meets stringent quality standards for safe reuse. The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive model of the Khorshed Wastewater Treatment Plant (KWWTP) to depict the processes used for biological nutrient removal. Operational data was gathered and examined over a period of 18 months to describe the quality of wastewater discharged by the Advanced Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR) of the plant, using specific physicochemical parameters like TSS, COD, BOD5, and N-NO3−. A process flow diagram integrating the Activated Sludge Model No. 1 (ASM1) for biological nutrient removal was created using the GPS-X. The study determined the parameters influencing the nutrient removal efficiency by analyzing the responsiveness of kinetic and stoichiometric parameters. Variables related to denitrification, autotrophic growth, and yield for heterotrophic biomass were the main focus of the calibration modifications. The results showed that the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for the dynamic-state was COD (0.02), BOD5 (0.07), N-NO3− (0.75), and TSS (0.82), and for the steady state was COD (0.04), BOD5 (0.11), N-NO3− (0.67), and TSS (0.10). Since the model’s accuracy was deemed acceptable, it provides a validated foundation for future scenario analysis and operational decision support that produces a trustworthy model for predicting effluent data for the concentrations of TSS, COD, BOD5, and N-NO3− in steady state conditions. Dynamic validation further confirmed model reliability, despite modest discrepancies in TSS and nitrate predictions; addressing this issue necessitates further research.