7 Disadvantages of Using an Activated Sludge Process For Your Municipality or Company

Biological treatment processes are an important component in many wastewater treatment systems. They are one of the most efficient and effective ways of reducing organic material in wastewater. There are quite a few of them that have been researched and used over several decades. However, one of the most widely used conventional biological treatment process is the activated sludge process (ASP). Many sewage treatment plants use ASP in their secondary treatment steps due to the human and animal organic matter in the inlet waters of wastewater treatment plants.

The term “activated sludge” comes from the fact that the sludge contains live bacteria and protozoa that actively digest and break down sewage. It is different from the sludge solids removed following a settling process in that way, with the addition of being odorless.

The process itself involves pumping the effluent from the primary treatment clarification step into a large tank that contains the activated sludge. The mixture is subjected to aeration, either from submerged or surface aerators. This provides oxygen to the effluent that the bacteria can then use to break down the organic waste material. After a sufficient amount of hydraulic retention time, the resulting slurry is pumped into a clarification system or tank to settle out the remaining solids. The treated water is pumped off from the top to any subsequent polishing filtration and disinfection while the sludge at the bottom is recirculated back to the ASP tank to reseed the leftover activated sludge.

ASP has been proven to obtain decent results in the final quality of the treated water, but it is not without its faults and disadvantages. There are several things to consider before choosing an activated sludge process (ASP) for a municipal, commercial or industrial wastewater treatment application.

We have included 7 potential disadvantages of the conventional activated sludge process to be discussed below....

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Taxonomy

• Aeration
• Biological Treatment
• Sewage Treatment
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment
• Decentralized Wastewater
• Water Reuse & Recycling
• Waste Water Treatments
• Wastewater Treatment
• Biological Treatment
• Industrial Water Reuse
• Water Recycling
• fixed-bed technology
• Activated Sludge
• Modular Plant
• Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)

2 Comments

1. Good day Genesis Water Technology,

   I agree with you study, there is no wrong or right here. Sludge Disposal and costs, it depend on the organisation if they can managed to disposed sludge in large quantities. Although in my case the, we classified sludge and sell it to the farmers and generate income from the BNR/ASP process. Every process has effects it depend on the area regard sludge demand.

   Thank you,

   Mr Mangena Phetla

    

   1 Comment reply

   1. Dear Mr. Phetla,

      Thank you for your comments. Correct, there is no wrong or right here - however, there are definite disadvantages of the ASP process. You are right, if more sludge waste is desired to be sold to farmers, then this particular feature may be attractive. However, in other biological processes including MBBR/IFAS the classified sludge (lower quantity) from the secondary clarifier that is dewatered can be sold to farmers as compost/soil amendment as well in some areas (other regions of the world have guidelines preventing such sales). This is as long as no toxic substances were added in clarification process.

2. Most of the information stated here is quite factual. A few of the properties and processes are not mentioned. This article only deals with 1/3 of the  microbial life in the soil. Specifically DNA microbes. (50 % bacteria and 50% fungi). for the latest waste treatment technology You may contact me any time.

   1 Comment reply

   1. Thank you for your comments, Mr. McGowen. However, this article was not discussing anything about the microbial life of soil. It was discussing the disadvantages of the ASP biological wastewater treatment process for communities and companies. You can contact me with your "wastewater" questions any time using this medium.