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...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Jan 20, 2026 | Uncategorized
For decades, wastewater treatment has relied on the traditional “Bardenpho” approach: Nitrification followed by Denitrification. While reliable, this process is energy-intensive and often requires costly external carbon sources. As we push toward...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Jan 15, 2026 | Uncategorized
We’re breaking down common misconceptions about activated sludge, nitrification, and process control that might be costing you money and stability. As wastewater professionals, we operate at the intersection of rigorous engineering and chaotic biology. Because...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Jan 8, 2026 | Uncategorized
Lowering dissolved oxygen (DO) below 2 mg/L in aerobic wastewater treatment can reduce aeration energy costs, but it risks impairing nitrification (ammonia oxidation) and subsequent denitrification (nitrate/nitrite removal), leading to poor ammonia and total nitrogen...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Dec 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
Biological wastewater treatment is fundamentally driven by microbial metabolism, where microorganisms transform pollutants into less harmful compounds. The efficiency and sustainability of these processes hinge on the selection and sequence of terminal electron...
