This paper describes a modelling study where five new benchmark plant design configurations for biological nutrient removal (A(2)/O, UCT, JHB, MUCT and BDP-5 stage) are simulated and evaluated under different model assumptions. The ASM2d including electron dependent decay rates is used as the reference model (A1). The second case (A2) adds nitrite as a new state variable, describing nitrification and denitrification as two-step processes. The third set of models (A3 and A4) considers different reactive settlers types (diffusion-limited/non limited). This study analyses the importance of these new model extensions to correctly describe the nitrification behaviour and the carbon source competition between ordinary heterotrophic organisms (OHO) and polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAO) under certain operation conditions. The economic and environmental aspects when meeting the P discharge limits by adding an external carbon source are also studied. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.