Comprehensive evaluation of water pollution control technologies

Comprehensive evaluation can guide selection of water pollution control technology. Existing water pollution control technologies were evaluated, evaluation principles, system framework, evaluation model and results were studied, with case verifications. Analytic hierarchy was used to build a comprehensive evaluation index by “target layer-criteria layer-element layer-indicator layer”. Criteria included three dimensions of environment, economy and technology, and covered 6 elements of environmental benefits, secondary pollution, technical costs, technical benefits, technical reliability, and technical applicability. Indicators of indicator layer were proposed to be screened by statistical analysis with characteristics of each technology. Ranking assignment and hierarchical assignment were used depending on qualitative or quantitative indicators, evaluation results were obtained by weighted calculation. Evaluations were expressed in radar charts and three-dimensional coordinates. Applicability of the evaluation was verified by typical urban sewage treatment technologies. The comprehensive evaluation in this study could provide some reference for evaluating and screening suitable technologies for water pollution treatment.