Assessing the operating costs of water treatment technologies requires a systematic analysis of core dimensions such as energy consumption, chemicals, labor, maintenance, sludge treatment, and equipment depreciation, combined with quantitative calculations based on process characteristics and project scale. The following is a structured assessment framework based on industry practice:
Five Core Components of Operating Costs
Energy Consumption (30%-60%)
Main Equipment: Water pumps, blowers, reverse osmosis high-pressure pumps, dewatering machines, etc.
Calculation Method: Calculate the total electricity consumption (kWh/year) by statistically analyzing the rated power and average daily operating time of each piece of equipment.
Calculate electricity costs based on local industrial electricity prices (distinguishing between peak, off-peak, and flat rates).
Industry Reference Values: Urban wastewater treatment consumes approximately 0.2–0.35 kWh per ton of water; reverse osmosis systems consume 0.5–0.8 kWh per ton of water.
Chemical Costs (10%-20%)
Commonly Used Chemicals: Coagulants (PAC), flocculants (PAM), carbon sources (sodium acetate), disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite), scale inhibitors, reducing agents, etc.
Calculation Formula: Chemical Costs = Daily Water Treatment Volume × Consumption per Ton of Water (g/ton of water) × Chemical Unit Price × 365
Cost Optimization Directions: Adopt automatic dosing systems, dynamically adjust dosage, and explore sludge carbon source recovery technologies.
Labor and Management Costs (10%-15%)
Includes operator, laboratory technician, and technician salaries and social security benefits.
Labor Quota Reference: Secondary treatment plants typically employ 2.5–30 people per 10,000 m³/day; larger scale projects have lower unit labor costs.
Highly automated projects can achieve remote monitoring, significantly reducing reliance on manual labor.
Equipment Maintenance and Repair (5%-10%)
Contents: Spare parts, low-value consumables, preventative maintenance, instrument calibration, etc.
Industry Estimation Standards: Maintenance costs are extracted at 0.5%–1.0% of the original value of fixed assets; Overhaul costs are extracted at 1.7%–2.0%, equivalent to approximately RMB 0.017–0.093 per ton of water.
Sludge Treatment and Disposal (10%-20%)
Cost Composition: Concentration, dewatering, transportation, final disposal (landfill, incineration, building materials).
Disposal Unit Price: Nationwide average RMB 300–1000/ton of wet sludge (80% moisture content); Sludge Production Rate: 1–1.2 tons of dry sludge are generated for every 10,000 tons of wastewater treated, equivalent to approximately RMB 0.03–0.12 per ton of water disposal cost.