مدیریت زیست‌محیطی تصفیه‌خانه فاضلاب با استفاده از تحلیل SWOT

Extended Abstract
Background and Objective
This study examines the environmental management of urban wastewater treatment facilities in Khorramabad through SWOT analysis as a powerful tool for evaluating and enhancing environmental performance. By focusing on physicochemical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural aspects, the research assesses the positive and negative impacts of the generated effluent. Through the development of internal and external factor matrices and the evaluation of Strengths (S), Weaknesses (W), Opportunities (O), and Threats (T), four management strategies (offensive, conservative, competitive, and defensive) were defined. The findings indicate that the existing strengths and opportunities, such as the utilization of processed sludge and the improvement of water quality resources, offer significant potential for mitigating negative impacts and enhancing public health levels. Simultaneously, the presence of threats, such as the potential contamination of water resources, underscores the need for preventive and corrective measures. The placement of the treatment facility in the strategic "offensive" position demonstrates that it is possible to minimize weaknesses and threats by effectively leveraging opportunities and strengthening existing advantages. This research emphasizes the importance of integrated environmental management and provides a practical model for improving the efficiency of similar projects, ultimately contributing to sustainable development.

Methodology
This section outlines the methodology of the present research. Initially, after collecting baseline information and data for the studied area (the Khorramabad urban wastewater treatment plant), the method for evaluating the environmental feasibility of the current situation based on SWOT analysis is described. Subsequently, details regarding the stages of developing the SWOT model are provided. Finally, the results are analyzed. The collection, treatment, and reuse of wastewater for various applications, as well as the recycling of effluent, represent one of the most effective methods for maximizing water resource utilization. Accordingly, it is essential to determine appropriate strategies for improving the management of such projects by considering the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with wastewater treatment systems. For this purpose, the SWOT approach is applied as a framework for offering environmental management solutions, such as in the present study, to mitigate adverse environmental impacts in the region. The SWOT model is designed to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and serves as a tool for examining internal and external environments. In this project, the wastewater treatment plant in Khorramabad was evaluated using the SWOT model, and relevant strategies were proposed based on the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The defined strategies represent the most effective means of improving the environmental management of the Khorramabad urban wastewater treatment plant, ensuring that, through their implementation, environmental issues can be prevented and resolved. The stages of developing the SWOT include: (a) Preparing the internal and external factor evaluation matrices, (b) Assigning weighted scores and prioritizing the internal and external factors, (c) Developing the internal and external factor SWOT matrix to formulate strategies, and (d) Proposing four strategic approaches for development.

Findings
The internal and external factor evaluation matrix revealed that the Khorramabad urban wastewater treatment plant includes 10 internal strengths versus 8 internal weaknesses, along with 11 opportunities versus 9 external threats. Consequently, 21 strengths and opportunities were identified as advantages, while 17 weaknesses and threats were recognized as limitations and challenges facing the treatment plant. According to expert evaluations, the potential use of processed sludge as agricultural fertilizer, scoring 0.08, and the proximity of the treatment plant to the city, scoring 0.07, are considered the most significant strengths. On the other hand, limitations in using the effluent for certain agricultural products and non-compliance with safety measures at the site, both scoring 0.08, were identified as the most significant weaknesses. Experts also highlighted key opportunities, such as improving the quality of urban drinking water sources with a score of 0.09 and reducing or eliminating the infiltration of wastewater into the soil, which scored 0.08. However, significant threats include the potential negative impacts on fish and aquatic life—and consequently on human health—if effluent is discharged into rivers without adhering to standards, along with the risk of pollutant entry into rivers and insufficient periodic monitoring, each scoring 0.05. Given the final calculated scores of the internal and external matrices—2.6 and 2.69, respectively—both values exceed the threshold score of 2.5, which separates strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats. Thus, it can be concluded that the strengths and opportunities currently outweigh the weaknesses and threats in the Khorramabad urban wastewater treatment plant.

Conclusion
This study examines the environmental impacts of the Khorramabad wastewater treatment plant. The findings demonstrate that an environmental management approach based on SWOT analysis is not only a powerful tool for assessing existing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats but also provides a robust foundation for developing practical and long-term strategies to enhance the performance of environmental projects. In analyzing the Khorramabad wastewater treatment plant, this method systematically identified internal and external factors influencing its efficiency and environmental impacts, evaluating its various dimensions from physicochemical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives. The analysis reveals that the strengths and opportunities, such as utilizing processed sludge and improving water quality, offer significant potential to mitigate negative impacts and enhance public health standards. At the same time, challenges such as limitations on the use of effluent in agriculture and the potential contamination of water resources highlight the necessity of implementing preventive and corrective measures. The analysis and application of the SWOT model in this study reaffirm the importance of integrated environmental management that incorporates scientific and practical approaches. Such analyses enable key steps to be taken toward preserving natural resources, improving quality of life, and reducing adverse environmental impacts. Additionally, the study offers an efficient framework for developing similar projects in the future.