Persistent Household Chemicals in Wastewater Treatment

by Erik Rumbaugh | Oct 20, 2025 | Wastewater Troubleshooting

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...

Toxic Impacts: Key Chemicals That Undermine Wastewater Treatment Efficiency

by Erik Rumbaugh | Oct 14, 2025 | Wastewater Troubleshooting

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 a...

Optimizing Anaerobic Digesters: Evaluating Performance and Ensuring Biological Vitality

by Erik Rumbaugh | Aug 24, 2025 | Anaerobic digester, Biomass Optimization, Wastewater Testing, Wastewater Troubleshooting

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 of...

Maximizing Wastewater Intelligence: How Oxygen Uptake Rates Elevate Plant Operations

by Erik Rumbaugh | Aug 6, 2025 | Wastewater Monitoring, Wastewater Procedure, Wastewater Troubleshooting

🧠 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...

Enhancing MLSS Settleability and Compaction: Strategies for More Efficient Secondary Clarifiers

by Erik Rumbaugh | Jul 22, 2025 | Biomass Optimization, Wastewater Monitoring, Wastewater Testing, Wastewater Troubleshooting

Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) are the heart of biological wastewater treatment—and 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, there...

Favoring PAOs Over GAOs in Wastewater Treatment

by Erik Rumbaugh | Jul 1, 2025 | Biological Nutrient Removal, Wastewater Troubleshooting

As the temperature rises during the summer months, wastewater treatment operators often face a hidden biological battle—Polyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms (PAO) versus Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms (GAO). In Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) systems,...