BIOAUGMENTATION
In the early 20th century, bioaugmentation also referred to as biological wastewater treatment methods were devised. This discovery of biological wastewater treatment now forms the basis by which wastewater treatment plants function. “Biological treatment is used worldwide because it’s effective and more economical than many mechanical or chemical processes.”[1] The biological process involves microorganisms that catalyze the oxidation of biodegradable organics and other contaminants generating innocuous byproducts such as carbon dioxide, water, and biomass (sludge). In simple terms, naturally occurring bacteria remove organic carbon-based waste compounds by simply ‘eating’ them. As a result, the bacteria grow and divide producing biosolids, resulting in ‘clean water effluent’.
Since the inception of biological treatment, the focus has been on promoting the growth and abundance of bacteria within the current treatment confines, which has inherent limitations due to size, retention time, and processing capacity.
Biological treatment by itself provides many benefits for the treatment of wastewater. Wet Tech Environmental’s method of bioaugmentation takes a different approach by enhancing the bacteria formulation and delivery process increasing overall efficiency. Wet Tech’s soil-based non-chemical bacteria formulation is drip-fed into the wastewater stream well before the treatment plant providing additional benefits to the bioaugmentation process. The benefits of biological treatment and Wet Tech’s approach to this type of treatment are listed below.
- a decrease in power consumption due to the need for less aeration, power savings up to 40% can be achieved,
- increasing plant efficiencies provides the potential for reduced or postponed additional infrastructure,
- reduction or elimination of FOG (fats, oils & grease) at the treatment plant but also when applied upstream within the sewer pipe infrastructure,
- reducing H₂S gases which in turn reduces the presence of odors and dramatically reduces corrosion caused by the H₂S this extends the life of the treatment plant, piping, pumps, concrete, etc. By dosing upstream into the sewer lines the entire infrastructure is benefiting from this technology.
- reducing the levels in which wastewater is measured, i.e. BOD, CBOD, TSS, H₂S, etc., this assists compliant treatment facilities to remain compliant and those which are not, returning them to compliant status,
- increase operating efficiencies by reducing influent organic loading and the costs associated with sludge handling and disposal,
- reduction in the use of expensive chemicals,
- no interference with normal operations and no requirement for capital expenditures,
- technology is implemented and in operation quickly,
- by using a soil-based bacteria there is no negative effect on existing wastewater only positive results.
This technology process facilitates a revitalization of a wastewater treatment facility that has either reached capacity, become overstressed, or has become non-compliant. Results are achieved at a fraction of the costs of major infrastructure upgrades and are provided at municipal wastewater treatment plants, commercial/industrial sites, mining, off-grid applications, etc.
[1] Fluence News, February 12, 2020