Why Wastewater Turns Septicâand What It Means for Treatment Plants
Wastewater treatment is a complex process that relies on a delicate balance of physical, chemical, and biological factors. At the heart of most conventional wastewater treatment plants are microorganisms that break down organic waste. However, when this balance is...
đ§ Why Influent TKN Matters More Than Just Ammonia in Wastewater Treatment
When it comes to nitrogen monitoring in wastewater, ammonia often steals the spotlight. But if you're only tracking ammonia, you're missing a critical piece of the puzzle: Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN). TKN includes both ammonia and organic nitrogenâand...
The Hidden Universe: Understanding Microbial Dark Matter
Ever wondered what we're missing in the microbial world? Just like astronomical dark matter makes up most of our universe but remains largely mysterious, microbial dark matter represents the hidden majority of life on Earth - over 99% of microbial species that we...
Optimizing Anaerobic Digesters: Evaluating Performance and Ensuring Biological Vitality
Anaerobic digesters are marvels of sustainable technology, transforming organic wasteâlike manure, food scraps, and sewageâinto renewable energy in the form of biogas while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At their core, these systems rely on a complex community...
Maximizing Wastewater Intelligence: How Oxygen Uptake Rates Elevate Plant Operations
đ§ When biomass whispers, OUR listens. Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) is the microbial pulse check every operator should have in their back pocket. Measured with a simple dissolved oxygen (D.O.) meter in a BOD bottle, OUR reveals how actively the biological community is...
The Role of F/M Ratio and MCRT in Wastewater Biodiversity
The Shannon Diversity Index (H') is a widely used metric in ecology to quantify the biodiversity of a community. In the context of wastewater treatment, it measures the diversity and evenness of microbial species within the activated sludge biomass. This diversity...
Enhancing MLSS Settleability and Compaction: Strategies for More Efficient Secondary Clarifiers
Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) are the heart of biological wastewater treatmentâand how well they settle can make or break plant efficiency. Poor settleability leads to solids carryover, elevated TSS in effluent, and headaches for operators. Fortunately,...
From Free Floaters to Organized Communities: How Bacteria Become Floc or Biofilm in Wastewater Treatment
In the bustling microcosm of a wastewater treatment plant, bacteria donât just float around aimlesslyâthey evolve, interact, and build structured communities that play critical roles in purification processes. Two major forms of bacterial aggregation dominate:...
Favoring PAOs Over GAOs in Wastewater Treatment
As the temperature rises during the summer months, wastewater treatment operators often face a hidden biological battleâPolyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms (PAO) versus Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms (GAO). In Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR)...
Harnessing Biological Treatment for Superior Manure Management in Pull-Pits and Lagoons
Managing manure in livestock operations is a complex challenge, with problems related to polluted water, odors, and decreased livestock health in enclosed areas. By introducing beneficial biological agents, producers can enhance manure liquefication in pull-pits,...