Section 1

Introduction
The activated-sludge process is still the most widely used biological treatment process
for reducing the concentration of organic pollutants in wastewater. Well-established
design standards based on empirical data have evolved over the years. Our understanding of the process has advanced from a system originally designed simply for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reduction, to one that now is designed to remove
nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Despite these advances, poor process performance can still present problems for many plants.
The objective of this manual is to help operators and other wastewater treatment
professionals acquire a greater understanding of the process, solve performance problems, and improve operations. The manual is intended as both a training and reference
tool. The format will make the book useful to newcomers and experienced professionals alike.
This manual describes the process variations and focuses on operation, addressing
pertinent process theory, alternative process control strategies, energy conservation,
and troubleshooting the activated-sludge process. Since the last printing of this manual
in 1987, there have been advancements and improvements in process configurations
and control strategies to achieve higher degrees of treatment efficiency.
Section 2 provides an overview of the activated-sludge process starting with the
fundamental concepts of microbiology and biochemistry. It describes how the propagation and control of living organisms are key to achieving the basic process goals of
removing BOD, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Conventional process configurations are discussed along with current modifications including sequencing batch reactors, coupled
systems, and combined systems. A description of facilities and equipment is provided.
Control of activated-sludge systems is based on maintaining proper aeration and
mixing in the biological reactor and controlling the biomass inventory of the system.

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Copyright 2006 Water Environment Federation.

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Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

The secondary clarifier is integral to the activated-sludge process because it maintains
control of the biomass in the system. Section 3, Process Control, describes the different strategies for controlling the biomass inventory in the system to achieve and maintain optimum process performance.
Section 4 describes energy use in wastewater treatment plants and discusses
energy-saving opportunities through process and equipment considerations. It also
discusses how automatic sensors and controls can be key tools in conserving power.
Section 5 presents the procedures used for solving common operational problems.
Included are easy-to-use troubleshooting tables that correlate observations to possible
causes and remedies and items to check in the process of narrowing down the causes.
This section has been updated to include troubleshooting for nitrogen- and phosphorusremoval systems.
A new section on Aerobic Digestion has been included as Section 6. Although
the goal of aerobic digestion is to stabilize sludge, rather than reduce organic pollutants
and nutrients, the principles of mixing and aerating the organisms and controlling the
process are similar to those of the activated-sludge process. Thus, a brief overview of
the aerobic digestion process is given here.
Appendices contain material that expands on the concepts presented in the sections. Practical examples supported with sample calculations on subjects ranging from
how to determine nutrient supplement requirements to chemical addition for pH control or settling enhancement are included. Appendices covering preventive maintenance
and safety are also provided.

Copyright 2006 Water Environment Federation.