Part 2: Troubleshooting Biological Processes in Wastewater Treatment Systems** 🔧### 3. **Analyze and Address Common Issues** 🔧#### a. **Re...
Published on by Hossein Ataei Far, Deputy Manager of the Research, Technology Development, and Industry Relations Center at NWWEC
### 3. **Analyze and Address Common Issues** 🔧
#### a. **Reduced Biological Activity** 🦠
- **Cause**: Low DO, temperature extremes, or toxic substances.
- *Symptoms*: Poor treatment performance, increased BOD/COD, and reduced microorganism activity.
- **Solution**:
- **Adjust Aeration**: Increase aeration to raise DO levels.
- **Manage Temperature**: Ensure the system operates within the optimal temperature range.
- **Identify and Remove Toxic Substances**: Conduct tests to detect and mitigate sources of toxicity, such as industrial discharges or chemical imbalances.
#### b. **Poor Sludge Settling** 🏗️
- **Cause**: High levels of filamentous bacteria, poor flocculation, or high sludge volume index (SVI).
- *Symptoms*: Excessive sludge in clarifiers, high SVI, and poor effluent quality.
- **Solution**:
- **Adjust Chemical Dosages**: Optimize the use of coagulants and flocculants to improve floc formation.
- **Optimize Aeration**: Modify aeration rates to control filamentous bacteria growth.
- **Use Flocculants**: Apply settling aids if necessary to improve sludge settling properties.
#### c. **Foaming** 🧪
- **Cause**: High levels of surfactants, excess biomass, or nutrient imbalances.
- *Symptoms*: Persistent foam on the surface of treatment tanks and potential interference with normal operations.
- **Solution**:
- **Control Surfactants**: Reduce the input of surfactants and detergents into the system.
- **Adjust Aeration Rates**: Modify aeration to prevent excessive biomass growth.
- **Optimize Nutrients**: Ensure nutrient levels (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) are balanced to prevent conditions that promote foam formation.
#### d. **Odors** 🌫️
- **Cause**: Anaerobic conditions or the presence of hydrogen sulfide.
- *Symptoms*: Offensive smells, such as rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide), indicating poor treatment conditions.
- **Solution**:
- **Improve Aeration**: Increase aeration to prevent anaerobic conditions.
- **Manage Influent Loads**: Adjust influent flow to avoid overloading the system.
- **Ensure Proper Ventilation**: Improve ventilation and odor control measures in the facility.
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