Even the most polished spreadsheet is a tool, not a final design. The real "best practice" is a three-step process:
When searching for or evaluating a WWTP design spreadsheet, ensure it covers these core areas:
Headloss via Hazen-Williams: hf = 10.67 * (Q/ C)^1.852 / D^4.87 * L. Embed this to size recycle pumps.
If you prefer not to build this from scratch, the following sources offer high-quality spreadsheets (often better than generic search results):
1. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) / Metcalf & Eddy While not free, the textbook Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery comes with a companion website containing Excel spreadsheets for every design parameter (kinetics, clarifier design, digestion). This is considered the professional standard. wastewater treatment plant design calculation xls best
2. EPA Excel Models (Free) The US EPA provides several downloadable Excel models for specific unit operations which are excellent for validation:
3. CivileBlog / TheConstructor (Free Templates)
Search specifically for: "Activated Sludge Design Calculation Excel Sheet"
These blogs often host the .xls files that implement the F/M ratio formulas listed above.
To make this functional, set up your Excel sheet with three columns: Parameter, Value/Unit, and Formula/Note.
A superior wastewater treatment plant design spreadsheet is not a single sheet—it is a workbook with interconnected tabs. Here is the standard architecture: Even the most polished spreadsheet is a tool,
| Tab Name | Purpose | | :--- | :--- | | Input_Data | Raw influent characteristics (BOD, COD, TSS, TKN, Flow) and effluent permit limits. | | Design_Criteria | Key design parameters (SRT, HRT, F/M ratio, temperature, safety factors). | | Primary_Treatment | Screening, grit removal, primary clarifier sizing. | | Secondary_Treatment | Activated sludge basin volume, aeration requirements, return sludge rate. | | Final_Clarifier | Surface overflow rate (SOR), solids loading rate (SLR), weir loading. | | Sludge_Handling | Thickening, digestion, dewatering volume and mass balances. | | Hydraulics | Headloss through each unit, pump sizing. | | Summary_Tables | Equipment schedule, tank dimensions, blower power, chemical dosing. |
Let’s say you have:
Your XLS formula:
Tank Volume (MG) = (Q * BOD_in) / (F/M * MLVSS)
That yields approximately 0.4 MG (about 53,000 ft³). A good sheet will immediately convert that to a rectangular tank: 50 ft L x 35 ft W x 15 ft SWD. If you prefer not to build this from
That’s the power of XLS. No waiting for a CFD model. Instant, auditable, and engineer-approved.
This section is typically hydraulic sizing.
Bar Screen Calculation: