A 0.7 MGD domestic activated sludge wastewater treatment plant in eastern Pennsylvania was experiencing Nocardia filaments and foam in their aeration tank.
Investigation:
A Maryland Biochemical representative suggested an augmentation program to reduce the FOG with BioRemove 4200. The microorganisms work at degrading the excessive fats taking away this as a food source for the Nocardia. The operator adds 1 pound per day directly to the aeration tanks.
Specifics related to the application:
After just a few days of treatment there was a noticeable decrease in the amount of foam on the surface of the aeration tank and the circular containment ring at the clarifier where the aeration sludge enters the clarifier. The amount of pinfloc in the clarifier has decreased and greatly improved settling in the aerobic digester, which makes it easier to decant. The effluent quality has also improved with reduced TSS. The Maryland Biochemical representative performs monthly microscopic exams and has noted that Nocardia is no longer present.
Conclusions:
The operator saw overall plant improvements that warrants using the product year-round for improved treatment.
A 2 MGD domestic wastewater treatment plant in Pennsylvania was experiencing excessive fats, oil and grease in their aeration tanks causing foam and poor BOD reduction.
Investigation:
In February 2017 they began an augmentation program with BioRemove 4200 to degrade the excessive FOG. For the first week they added 4 pounds of bacteria per day to the aeration tanks; followed by a maintenance dosage of 1 pound per day.
Specifics related to the application:
By the second week they noticed less grease and foam in the plant. After 6 weeks the foam was gone and a significant reduction in BOD was also noticed. The biggest savings was noticed in their digester hauling, due to a more efficient aerobic digester with less grease they were able to haul away more solids, less water for a $35,000 savings for the year! The cost of the bacteria for the 11 month augmentation program was $4,700 for a net savings of $30,300.
Conclusion:
The WWTP with a daily maintenance dosage of bacteria was able to control the FOG in the aeration tank, eliminating foam and lowering BOD. The aerobic digester had a better solids handling yield providing a significant cost savings to the township.
A town in WV treats a flow of 0.10 MGD of domestic wastewater flows. The city has seen their sludge disposal costs escalating over the last few years. In the Fall of 2014, Maryland Biochemical approached the city about a way to reduce sludge disposal costs.
Investigation:
A sales representative from Maryland Biochemical surveyed the wastewater system and proposed a solution to improve the dewatering of the sludge by improving the quality of sludge through the use of the Toler X 4100, a bacterial blend. The bacteria helped better flocculate the sludge and release the bound water improving decanting and gravity thickening. A low dose of roughly 1 pound per day was added to the converted aeration basin turned aerobic digester.
Specifics related to the application:
- In 2014 the plant shipped out 110 truckloads of sludge for disposal at a cost of $600 per truckload. This cost includes polymer use, man hours, transportation, and landfilling fees.
- In 2015 the planted shipped out on 80 truckloads of sludge at the same cost/truck
- Wastewater flow and wasting operations were the same year to year
- Cost of Toler X 4100 / year – $4,200
- Cost of all sludge removal in 2014 – $63,000
- Cost of all sludge removal in 2015 – $48,000
- Savings $15,000
- Net savings of $11,000 plus per year
Added Benefit:
An added benefit was that since they began to add the Toler X 4100 to the digester, near-daily odors and odors complaints have been eliminated. The sludge settled much more rapidly, reducing the decant time and eliminating the odors generated by sludge that turned septic having taken longer to separate.
Conclusion:
Bioaugmentation became a viable means of treating aerobic digester sludge and improving the “dewaterability” and a daily process additive enough to provide a significant cost savings to the town.
A wastewater system in Northern Virginia treating 3 MGD with 4 x 0.75 MG SBRs. The decant from these SBRs goes to a 2 Acre polishing pond. The effluent then stays in that lagoon for roughly 5 days before it proceeds through the chemical coagulation, disinfection and stream discharge. In the past, the SBR decant (generally from poor winter time operation) has sent many pounds of TSS over to the 2 Acre polishing pond. Over the years the solids layer began to build and fill in the pond. For years solids build up in this aerated pond up until the point where solids levels were clearly visible in some areas. The pond also contained lots of foam and often suffered from ammonia spikes likely caused by endogenous respiration from the settled sludge.
Maryland BioChemical surveyed the system and proposed a BioSpike program to reduce the accumulated levels of sludge. The program was implemented (along with a quick dose of Lake Releaf) during the Spring/Summer of 2015. A dose of 8 cases per month was implemented for 3 months.
The program achieved the following results:
- In less than 1 month nearly all of the foam that had just about covered the entire pond had vanished
- The ammonia spikes ceased almost immediately
- The accumulated sludge decreased by as much as 3 feet in some spots, averaging -1.8’ over 2 acres
- Also they were able to finally see a submerged pipe
A municipality was investigating inexpensive ways to minimize sludge buildup in its wastewater lagoon system. There was no immediate need to dredge, but the municipality was interested in BioSpikes 4000 as a preventative treatment with low investment and minimal risk to ongoing treatment. The lagoon system treats 76 m3 (20,000 gal) per day. BioSpikes were added to the settling zone, which is 2.74 m (9 ft) deep and contained approximately 0.61 m (2 ft) of settled sludge. The sludge levels were monitored for seven months. The sludge levels in the treated area dropped by 38% – 20 cm (8 in), a 7% increase in operating volume.
In March 2015, Treatment Plant Operator magazine published an online exclusive on the benefits of bioaugmentation from an operators perspective.
Click to read What the Heck is Bioaugmentation? by Marcel Tremblay
A 3 mgd oxidation ditch in Eastern Pennsylvania experienced a harsh winter with temperatures below 50°F. As a result settling was poor, around 900 mg/L, BOD, TSS, pH all were normal for the plant. An augmentation program was started with Toler-X 4100 adding 10 lbs per day for 2 days, 5 lbs per day for 3 days then maintaining 3 lbs per day.
A wastewater treatment plant in Pennsylvania was having major algae concerns in their EQ basin. The plant averages 1.5 mgd flow and the EQ basin is 59’ x 65’. Algae had been a nuisance and the current cleaning method was power washing the basins on a regular basis. The first picture was taken 3 weeks after the basin was power washed and you can see it was covered in algae.
