by Erik Rumbaugh | May 18, 2026 | Filamentous Bulking, Wastewater Microbiome, Wastewater Monitoring
Filamentous bulking is one of those problems every wastewater operator encounters eventually. You spot the tell‑tale signs—poor settling, rising sludge blankets, cloudy effluent—and the microscope confirms it: a filament is driving the issue. But identifying the...
by Erik Rumbaugh | May 15, 2026 | Uncategorized
Small disposable transfer pipettes are preferred for MLSS samples because they make collection simple, clean, and consistent. They allow users to pull a small representative volume with minimal handling, reduce the risk of cross-contamination, and can be sealed easily...
by Erik Rumbaugh | May 6, 2026 | Uncategorized
Even well‑run wastewater treatment systems face sudden, destabilizing events known as process shocks. These shocks disrupt biological activity, upset clarifiers, and threaten permit compliance — often with little warning. While every plant is unique, most upsets fall...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Apr 28, 2026 | Bioaugmentation, Odor Control, OIls & Grease
If you operate or maintain a wastewater collection system, you already know the “triple threat” that drives complaints and rehab budgets: odors, corrosion, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The trap is treating each symptom in isolation—chasing headspace readings,...
by Erik Rumbaugh | Apr 16, 2026 | Wastewater Troubleshooting
We know the story: the diffuser grid was rated well in clean-water testing, but real basins rarely perform the same. This post explains why real-world oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) commonly lands 40–70% below clean-water standard oxygen transfer efficiency (SOTE),...
