Biological Products:
Bioaugmentation products for Wastewater applications in Papermills, Refineries, Chemical, Tanneries, Municipalities, Textiles, Steel, Agriculture, Animal feedlot, Gun Powder plant, Food and Beverage- Dairy Products, Orange Juice factory, Wineries, Cookie factory, Vegetable processing plant, Meat packing, Barbecue Restaurant, Aquaculture, Ornamental Ponds with algae , CAFO, Nursing homes, Military, Campgrounds, Universities, Regulatory agencies, River and Lake remediation
Lab Services:
Filamentous Identification Lab Service. One reason to identify filaments is to determine the filaments characteristics and then determine the type present. If the type is found out, a root cause can usually be associated with a particular filament. If the cause is known, then a correction can be made to alleviate problems. Chlorination is only a quick fix. Without process changes, filaments will grow back after chlorination. Wastewater Biomass Analyses and Cooling Tower Analyses also available
Training Materials:
Training is an integral part of any job. Not everyone is at the same level of training. Many people want beginning concepts and basics. Some need technical information or troubleshooting. Some want equipment, technology or process information. We have developed a full set of Basic training, Advanced training, Filamentous Identification the Easy Way as well as custom training CD's Manuals. We also provide hands-on training classes and soon will have an Online "E-University".
Audits and Consulting:
At Environmental Leverage® Inc., we have a team of experienced individuals who come into your plant with a fresh pair of eyes. The system is checked from influent to effluent. System optimization, equipment efficiency and operational excellence are key components explored. Key Benefits Equipment efficiency Total Cost of Operation reductions Reliability and safety An onsite audit is conducted to examine system parameters, process controls, and current monitor and control procedures. A physical walk-through is conducted, process flow diagrams are examined, previous design criteria are examined and current standard operating procedures are evaluated along with data logs.
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Amoeba What's New!
We now have a brand new "Higher Life Form videos" in our Training CD list. Check out our new Wastewater Training Materials. We are also in the process of developing new courses for our ""Online University" in order to meet the needs of our global customers that cannot travel to our public classes. WastewaterElearning.com/Elearning
We hope you like the new look of our Higher Life form Identification Pages
If you would like more information on bacteria, filaments or higher life forms, you might want to consider purchasing our Wastewater Microbiology Training materials. We also have our lab that can perform a Wastewater Biomass lab analyses of your own MLSS for more information
Amoeba
Identification Amoebae are single celled microorganisms. Amoebae are motile by pseudopodia, also known as "false feet". Amoebae are divided into two different types, testate and naked. Testate amoebae are those that have shells (or tests) and naked amoeba do not have shells. The shells can be proteinaceous or siliceous shells. A naked amoeba might make you think of the movie "The Blob" as they can slowly spread out their protoplasm in any direction. They eat by engulfing their food. They ingest their prey by phagocytosis. They range in size from 10-200 µm. Amoebae typically grow and divide; this pattern of vegetative growth may or may not include encysted states, flagellated forms, or a transition from a sexual to an asexual phase of growth.
Additional Information: Amoebae belong to the Phylum Protozoa. Some types of amoeba are found in the class Sarcodina and the order Rhizopoda. Heliozoa is another group of amoebae, although they are less common in activated sludge and found more in lagoon type systems. Some types (genera) of amoebae commonly found in wastewater are Arcella, Euglypha, and Centopyxis.
Environment They are found in many different types of wastewater, including activated sludge and trickling filters and lagoons. Amoebae grow well on particulate organic matter and are able to tolerate low D.O. environments. Testate amoebae are often found in lightly loaded plants or in plants where nitrification occurs. They are usually found in young sludge ages but they can be found at any age if all of a sudden a high BOD loading has occurred. They can be found during plant start-ups or often following upsets. They can be used as an indicator for a process control tool. Amoebae can tolerate low D.O. environments.
If the biomass is really old and rotifers and nematodes are usually present, and all of a sudden large numbers of amoebae show up, check to see if a sudden spike of BOD has occurred. Adjustments to RAS and wasting may need to be made in order to handle the sudden increase in BOD. Addition of biological products can also help overcome sudden spikes in BOD to help recover quicker and reduce changes or BOD or TSS permit violations.
How to find them: Microscopic examination of a wet mount. Some of the larger amoebae can be seen at 40-100x and 200x. Sometimes there may be tons of really small naked amoeba that require the use of 400x or even 1000x in order to clearly see them. This usually happens when a sudden spike of BOD has happened. The shells can remain long after a testate amoeba has died.
It depends upon what the rest of the biomass looks like. If the floc is small, weak, dispersed, you may have a very young sludge age. Typically the presence of amoebae indicates a high loading of food vs. the amount of biomass available to eat the organics. It may mean the sludge is young, or if you have had rotifers in the past and were old, it may mean a recent high loading of BOD that is forcing the sludge age to a younger age. Usually you can expect high solids in the effluent and higher BOD levels if amoebae are present in significant numbers.
Daily microscopic analyses is helpful in documenting where you are today, where you have changed since the previous day and how to react to changes proactively as opposed to when they have become critical!
What should I do if there is a significant change in my higher life forms
and all of a sudden there is an increase in Amoebae?
You might want to adjust your wasting or RAS levels. Some plants add
bioaugmentation products in cases of higher loadings. You might need to
slightly increase the dosage of product. If using micronutrients, adjust
these levels also if the loading is significant. Click on these links for more information on Higher Life Form Identification More photos to come. . .
If you need more information on our Filamentous Identification the Easy Way Training CD or on Internet training on Filamentous bacteria, causes and controls How and why on Wastewater Biomass Analyses
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When
trying to determine species, stick to the basics, and focus on the causes
and controls of the higher life forms present. The main point of any
wastewater biomass identification is not
to get a PhD, but to fix your plant!
What
does it mean when I see an increase in Amoebae in my system? 
