A citrus plant struggled with poor settling in the clarifier of its wastewater treatment, which caused the sludge blanket to remain high. Even at a low flow rate of 1.2 million gallons per day (MGD), the high sludge blanked allowed less than 18” of free board. The slightest flow increase caused solids to carry over the weir with the effluent. Since the citrus plant frequently produced wastewater flows 1.5 to 2.5 MGD, the wastewater treatment plant continued to suffer from solids washout and clarifier effluent total suspended solids (TSS) excursions. The citrus plant wastewater treatment was a 6 million gallon per day (MGD) traditional aeration system with secondary clarification.
The Wastewater Manager’s overall objective was to obtain better settling in the secondary clarifier by improving the quality of the biological sludge. High sludge blankets and solids washouts were occurring frequently. A sludge volume index (SVI) of 200 indicated a poor quality sludge with bulking problems. All attempts to cure the bulking, including return sludge chlorination, provided little relief.
To activate the biological processes in the treatment system, Probiotics Solutions® BIO ENERGIZER® was fed directly into the influent flume at the aeration basin. Return activated sludge (RAS) chlorination was continued.
Sludge settling rates began to improve after about 30 days of treatment with BIO ENERGIZER®. A 50% improvement in SVI reduced the sludge blanket and put a stop to TSS excursions into the effluent, improving operation efficiency of the citrus plant wastewater treatment.
Probiotic Solutions® BIO ENERGIZER® is a formulation of nutrients, organic acids, natural biological stimulants, and energy systems that balance the natural microbial ecosystem to increase bio-oxidation capacity in lagoon systems.
Related Posts
Solids Destruction Efficiency Using BIO ENERGIZER®
A small Missouri Sewer District operated a single wastewater lagoon that treated approximately 10,000 gallons per day of municipal sewage. The lagoon was in need of sludge removal as it had not been dredged since it was constructed in the ‘70s. By treating the lagoon with Bio Energizer®, the District saw improvement in water clarity,...
A Powerful and Proven Strategy to Cut Wastwater Treatment Costs
Using our proprietary Micro Carbon Technology®, Probiotic Solutions® product BIO ENERGIZER® efficiently reduces sludge, odor, BOD, COD, and FOG’s. It’s a scientific formulation of organic acids, buffers, and nutrients designed to stimulate natural biological ecosystems that increase biooxidation of sludge in wastewater treatment plants, lagoons, and ponds. It also reduces grease and solids accumulation problems...
It’s ALIVE!
by Heather Jennings, PE . . . the lagoon sludge layer, that is. I’ve seen many lagoons full of sludge, and the general attitude I find in the water industry is that the sludge layer is inert and really can only be mechanically dredged. To a certain point, that is correct: sand, soil, grit, plastics—basically...
