Non-structural and operational parameters for the estimation of seismic vulnerability of wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

The seismic vulnerability of public buildings must be estimated using structural or non-structural parameters. Scientists ought to investigate these factors for the estimation and analysis of lifelines such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Although efforts have been made in the past, the serious non-structural and operational parameters are not enough defined. This study considers the amount of shortening of the supposed factors after the literature retrieval of WWTPs’ damages at sixteen severe earthquake events worldwide and three events from Greece. The corresponding parameters used for “ordinary structures” are taken into account. The most severe factors for non-structural vulnerability are seven while for operational vulnerability are nine, including soil, water and air pollution, respectively. These factors can assist the rapid qualitative estimation of seismic vulnerability. Implementing these agents by introducing them to an empirical estimation method will mitigate the seismic risk against the WWTPs, in parallel with measures adopted.