Blackburn Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Study

Section 5.0 -Evaluation of Ootions
used by stakeholders to compare options. The planning criteria reflect what is
important to stakeholders when making decisions about wastewater system
upgrade options. Evaluation criteria that were developed through Reid
Crowfher's experience on similar projects elsewhere are presented below. The
list of factors or criteria that form the basis for the comparative evaluation of
the options have been categorized into the following four criteria:
Cost criteria
Technical criteria
Operational criteria
Environmental and aesthetic criteria
Within each category there are many evaluation criteria, however to ensure
that the process is neither too complex nor time consuming, a specific selection
of evaluation criteria have been chosen.
5.1.2 Cost Criteria
Cost criteria relate to short-term and long-term expenditures. Capital costs and
operating and maintenance (O&M) costs are the two major components used in
cost comparisons. Together, these components define the life-cycle cost.
Capital Cost
This cost is a measure of the immediate cost that may be subject to
fmancing. The least risk is attached to this cost; i.e. it will occur regardless
of long-term variations in plant loads, fmancing, etc.
Life-Cycle Cost
Tnis cost is a measure of the total project cost over its design life. It
includes the capital cost, but also incorporates O&M expenditures and the
ultimate salvage value. Life-cycle costs are expressed in "present value"
dollars.
5.1.3 Performance Criteria
Generally, criteria falling within this category are related to the ability of the
facility to meet its objectives consistently. These criteria will be reflected in
the costs; i.e. where a facility is judged less capable of meeting the
performance standards, a greater safety factor will be included in the design.
However, with any facility, there remains some risk that it will not perform up
to expectations. It is this risk that is reflected in the perfomance criteria. The
following are the performance criteria suggested for evaluating alternatives: