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Wastewater Troubleshooting

Persistent Household Chemicals in Wastewater Treatment

Domestic wastewater is a complex mixture of organic and synthetic compounds. Its overall strength is typically assessed using indicators like BOD₅ (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), and TOC (Total Organic Carbon). Within this mix are readily...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Oct 20, 2025 | 1 min read

Wastewater Troubleshooting

Toxic Impacts: Key Chemicals That Undermine Wastewater Treatment Efficiency

We are often asked about the impact of various chemicals on wastewater treatment plants. Over the years, we have compounded a list of the primary industrial chemicals that inhibit the growth and activity of microorganisms in wastewater treatment systems, leading to...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Oct 14, 2025 | 3 min read

Uncategorized

Preparing for Winter Wastewater Operations: The Sludge Age Balancing Act

As temperatures drop, wastewater treatment plants face a seasonal challenge that’s as subtle as it is critical: maintaining the delicate balance between nitrifying bacteria and filamentous organisms. Winter operations demand longer sludge ages to support...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Oct 12, 2025 | 2 min read

Uncategorized

The Impact of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) on Wastewater Biomass and the Role of Biochemistry in Managing QAC Degradation and Toxicity

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) are commonly found in disinfectants, detergents, and personal care products. Their extensive use has led to increased concentrations in wastewater. To better understand how this impacts biological wastewater treatment, let’s...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Oct 6, 2025 | 3 min read

Uncategorized

Why Wastewater Turns Septic—and 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...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Sep 16, 2025 | 3 min read

Uncategorized

💧 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 nitrogen—and...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Sep 3, 2025 | 2 min read

Uncategorized

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...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Aug 29, 2025 | 2 min read

Anaerobic digester, Biomass Optimization, Wastewater Testing, Wastewater Troubleshooting

Optimizing Anaerobic Digesters: Evaluating Performance and Ensuring Biological Vitality

Anaerobic digesters are marvels of sustainable technology, transforming organic waste—like manure, food scraps, and sewage—into renewable energy in the form of biogas while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At their core, these systems rely on a complex community...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Aug 24, 2025 | 5 min read

Wastewater Monitoring, Wastewater Procedure, Wastewater Troubleshooting

Maximizing Wastewater Intelligence: How Oxygen Uptake Rates Elevate Plant Operations

🧠 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...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Aug 6, 2025 | 3 min read

Uncategorized, Wastewater Microbiome, Wastewater Monitoring, Wastewater Testing

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...

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Erik Rumbaugh | Jul 27, 2025 | 4 min read

Recent Posts

  • Persistent Household Chemicals in Wastewater Treatment
  • Toxic Impacts: Key Chemicals That Undermine Wastewater Treatment Efficiency
  • Preparing for Winter Wastewater Operations: The Sludge Age Balancing Act
  • The Impact of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) on Wastewater Biomass and the Role of Biochemistry in Managing QAC Degradation and Toxicity
  • Bridging the Gap: How Polyvalent Cations Strengthen Wastewater Treatment

Recent Comments

  1. Erik Rumbaugh on Paracoccus: Important organisms for denitrification and sulfide oxidation in wastewater treatment systems
  2. Marco Meade on Paracoccus: Important organisms for denitrification and sulfide oxidation in wastewater treatment systems
  3. Erik Rumbaugh on Energy-Efficient Mixing: Large Air Bubbles in Anoxic Zones for Enhanced Denitrification
  4. Ryszard on Energy-Efficient Mixing: Large Air Bubbles in Anoxic Zones for Enhanced Denitrification
  5. Erik Rumbaugh on Differences in aeration system Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (OTE) and why it is important to wastewater treatment

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