by Erik Rumbaugh | Mar 10, 2026 | Uncategorized
In every activated sludge system, the quality of your solids handling comes down to one thing: how well your biomass sticks together. Operators often focus on filaments, MLSS, or clarifier hydraulics when troubleshooting settling issues — but the real story is often...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Mar 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
Spring algae blooms are a familiar challenge for many wastewater treatment facilities that operate polishing ponds—also known as maturation, tertiary, or finishing lagoons. These shallow systems follow secondary treatment and rely on natural processes to further...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Feb 17, 2026 | Uncategorized
Filamentous Organism Common Problem(s) Primary Causes / Selectors Notes / Typical Conditions Microthrix parvicella Bulking + Foaming Low temperature (<15–20°C), high fats/oils/greases (FOG/lipids), long SRT/MCRT, anaerobic/anoxic zones Very common in winter/cold...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Feb 10, 2026 | Bioaugmentation, Biological Nutrient Removal, Wastewater Microbiome, Wastewater Organisms
Wastewater treatment professionals are increasingly leveraging microbial community analysis to optimize plant performance. Among the diverse microbial genera present, Paracoccus stands out for its multifaceted contributions to nitrogen and sulfur cycling, as well as...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Jan 29, 2026 | Uncategorized
Deflocculation is one of those operational problems that can turn a perfectly healthy activated sludge system into a cloudy, turbid mess. Instead of forming tight, settleable flocs, biomass disperses into fine particles that slip through clarifiers, raise effluent...
