How fast do nitrifiers really grow?
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...
Spirillum in Wastewater: What These Spiral Bacteria Reveal About Your System’s Health
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...
Loosely Bound vs. Tightly Bound EPS: Why the “Glue” of Your Floc Determines Settling and Compaction
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...
Spring Algae Blooms in Wastewater Polishing Ponds: Prevention & Control
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...
Most Common Filamentous Bacteria in Wastewater Treatment – Quick Reference Table
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...
The role of Paracoccus sp. in wastewater treatment – performing a vital role in improving treatment efficiency
Wastewater treatment professionals are increasingly leveraging microbial community analysis to optimize plant performance. Among the diverse microbial genera present, Paracoccus stands out for its multifaceted contributions to nitrogen and sulfur cycling, as well...
What Causes Deflocculation in Biological Wastewater Treatment?
Deflocculation is one of those operational problems that can turn a perfectly healthy activated sludge system into a cloudy, turbid mess. Instead of forming tight, settleable flocs, biomass disperses into fine particles that slip through clarifiers, raise effluent...
The Nitrogen Cycle: A Guide to ANAMMOX, SND, and COMAMMOX
For decades, wastewater treatment has relied on the traditional "Bardenpho" approach: Nitrification followed by Denitrification. While reliable, this process is energy-intensive and often requires costly external carbon sources. As we push toward "Net Zero" and...
4 Biological Wastewater Treatment Myths Holding Your Plant Back
We’re breaking down common misconceptions about activated sludge, nitrification, and process control that might be costing you money and stability. As wastewater professionals, we operate at the intersection of rigorous engineering and chaotic biology. Because...
Balancing Energy Savings and Biological Risks: Strategies for Low-Dissolved Oxygen Operation in Wastewater Treatment
Lowering dissolved oxygen (DO) below 2 mg/L in aerobic wastewater treatment can reduce aeration energy costs, but it risks impairing nitrification (ammonia oxidation) and subsequent denitrification (nitrate/nitrite removal), leading to poor ammonia and total...