IDENTIFICATION AND REMEDIATION OF FILAMENTOUS BACTERIA IN WASTEWATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS
The excessive growth of filamentous bacteria in wastewater treatment systems is a major cause of failure to meet consent discharge limits and, in many cases, subsequent heavy fines. While filamentous bacteria are essential for floc formation, uncontrolled proliferation will adversely affect the settling characteristics of the biological solids and will result in the conditions known as “sludge bulking and foaming”. The rapid, excessive growth of filamentous species is caused by changes in the environmental conditions in the biological zone of the treatment plant. These may arise, for example, as a result of problems with the aeration system, insufficient nutrient availability or sudden changes in the composition of the influent wastewater. The type of wastewater treated, such as those high in readily metabolisable organic substrates, e.g. simple sugars, can also promote a tendency for the proliferation of filamentous bacteria.
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As different species of filamentous bacteria thrive under a variety of environmental conditions, microscopic identification of the predominant filament(s) in any given plant imbalance can assist in identifying plant operational problems enabling the rapid provision of a more effective remediation program.
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To ensure rapid treatment of the immediate sludge bulking or foaming problem, our experienced technical staff will arrange for samples of biological solids to be examined in Microbac’s in-house microbiology laboratory to identify the predominant filamentous species and provide a suitable remedial program. Unlike the chlorine compounds usually applied to eliminate excessive filamentous growth, Microbac’s remedial programs utilise an “environmentally friendly” biological product, which will kill off the filaments while not adversely affecting the rest of the treatment plant biomass.
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