How do I know what it means when I am looking under the microscope?

Higher life forms can be called indicator organisms. This means organisms that indicate the conditions present in your biological system. Is it young or old? Are you beating the time and numbers game. Will you have high BOD or low BOD in your final effluent. The types of organisms present in your system can instantly tell you what is going on in your system.  More information on Higher Life forms and photos of the types present.

Back to Top

Where can I find information on Filamentous bacteria?

Filaments can be internal, external or free floating.  Internal filaments are like a sponge.  They can be hard to settle and dewater.  External filaments keep the floc structures from coming together and compacting.  Free-floating filaments can cause TSS problems. Zooglea and fungi can cause foaming, sliming or bulking. If you know the type of filament present, you can determine the cause associated with that filaments and then have a solution for your process controls to make them disappear. More information on Filamentous Bacteria

Back to Top

Why don't the solids settle in my clarifier?

The question often arises as to why bubbles occasionally form in a secondary (or primary) clarifier, eventually bringing up clumps of sludge to the surface. This situation is caused by a lack of sufficient dissolved oxygen in the system, resulting in facultative bacteria (heterotrophic bacteria) using alternative chemical sources for the oxygen demand required to sustain metabolism of their carbon based food sources. Clarifier Optimization

Back to Top

How does grease impact my system?

Operators of sewerage systems know that grease in lift stations is a major problem. The grease obstructs floats and reduces the life of pumps leading to SSO's and a need for frequent service. Obstruction by grease is the most prevalent cause of force main backups and sewage overflows, costing the industry billions of dollars annually. The majority of sewer line blockages are caused by grease build-up as opposed to debris.

What happens when all this grease hits my aeration basin?   Nocardia, Type 1863 and Microthrix parvicella are often the result when high grease loading enters the municipality.  This can lead to floating solids in clarifiers, foaming on aeration basins and an increase in solids handling. For more on Grease in Lift stations or in at the wastewater treatment plant.

Back to Top

What are Micronutrients ?

 Micronutrients are designed to enhance the performance of biological systems. Micronutrients enhance biological growth, shorten the lag time, increases biological activity and provides the critical building blocks necessary to maintaining a healthy floc-forming population. For more on Micronutrients

Back to Top

When is Bioaugmentation applicable ?

Bioaugmentation is the application of specifically selected bacteria (microbes) into a wastewater treatment system to enhance the system performance in some way.  If you have an activated sludge plant, many times minor process changes coupled with close monitor and control of the biomass can help quicken upset recovery or just increase process efficiency. More on Bioaugmentation

Back to Top