Study of volcanic Na-Tech risks in primary Waste Water Treatments

Recently scientists focused their attention on Na-Tech risks (technological risks triggered by natural events). Among different Na-Tech risks, this paper aims at the study of those triggered by explosive volcanic eruptions, i.e. those caused by the fallout of volcanic ash. These events can directly endanger human health due to the inhalation of solid particles or indirectly compromise the safety of people due to damages on critical structures, infrastructures, chemical plants and lifelines. The main goal of this paper is to analyse volcanic Na-Tech risks in Waste Water Treatments (WWTs), with the respect to the phenomenon of volcanic ash emission. A preliminary research of the same authors highlighted the main modes of failure of the vulnerable components included in a WWT. By using the results of this survey, this work aims at the definition of the conditions leading to failures in the primary treatment (or mechanical treatment). The estimation of the threshold amounts of ash causing the equipment's damage has been made for a case study by using literature data. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group.