by Erik Rumbaugh | Mar 23, 2026 | Uncategorized
If you’ve ever wondered why Nitrite spikes show up during startup—or why hot summers can throw your system off—you’re really asking about one thing: replication rates. Nitrosomonas (AOB) and Nitrospira (NOB) are the most common wastewater chemolithoautotrophic...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Mar 17, 2026 | Uncategorized
When you look at activated sludge under the microscope, you usually focused on the big players— metazoa, protozoa, floc size/density, and the filamentous organisms that can make or break settling performance. But sometimes the most important clues come from the small...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Mar 10, 2026 | Uncategorized
In every activated sludge system, the quality of your solids handling comes down to one thing: how well your biomass sticks together. Operators often focus on filaments, MLSS, or clarifier hydraulics when troubleshooting settling issues — but the real story is often...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Mar 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
Spring algae blooms are a familiar challenge for many wastewater treatment facilities that operate polishing ponds—also known as maturation, tertiary, or finishing lagoons. These shallow systems follow secondary treatment and rely on natural processes to further...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Feb 17, 2026 | Uncategorized
Filamentous Organism Common Problem(s) Primary Causes / Selectors Notes / Typical Conditions Microthrix parvicella Bulking + Foaming Low temperature (<15–20°C), high fats/oils/greases (FOG/lipids), long SRT/MCRT, anaerobic/anoxic zones Very common in winter/cold...
