Site Location of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Land Suitability Model (Case Study: Kouhdasht City)

Wastewater treatment plants are among the main infrastructures of a city that in addition to considering the topography of the community and the type of wastewater collection network, it is necessary to construct them in a suitable place by considering appropriate criteria. Due to odors and technical and hydraulic problems, it is essential to locate wastewater treatment plants accurately, using a suitable model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the suitability of land for the construction of wastewater treatment plant in the city of Kouhdasht (Lorestan province). For this purpose, three main criteria of geology, environment and economy and eight sub-criteria (percentage of slope, lithology, soil, distance from the settlement, road, river, distance from wells and springs, and land use) were used and assessed. Multi-criteria analysis model (MCA) in combination with GIS was used to weigh the sub-criteria. The results of this study showed that in the study area, three zones or areas in the south of Kouhdasht town are suitable for the construction of municipal wastewater treatment plants. These areas correspond to low slope lands (0-7%) with rainfed agricultural use and had a maximum distance from the city of Kouhdasht and Azadbakht rural complex. Considering the forest use and irrigated agriculture in the north of the area and also the north-south slope in Kouhdasht, it can be said that the areas identified in this study for the construction of municipal wastewater treatment plant have the highest land suitability and are suitable for the purpose under consideration.