Microscopic Examination for the Operation & Control of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Introduction 

All wastewater treatment plants will experience operating problems from time to time, and some plants a lot more than others. Very few activated sludge plants have been completely free from foaming and bulking problems at some time and other plants suffer these problems on a routine basis. In a similar way poor solids removal, inefficient BOD removal, odour problems, inhibition and toxicity can all occur on a seemingly random basis. Routine sampling and chemical analysis from is expensive, demanding and its interpretation is not always clear. By contrast microscopic examination of the microbial consortium in the treatment plant is simple, inexpensive and provides extensive information as to the likely causes of plant problems. The results can also be used to optimize the performance of the plant to ensure that effluent is as good as the plant is able to produce and that energy costs and sludge production are at a minimum.

Programme

Background to microscopy for activated sludge

• What are the problems, poor/no settlement, high effluent solids, poor level of treatment, odour, foaming
• What can we learn from microscopy? – health of the plant, changes that may have occurred in the influent, process conditions (F/M, sludge age), problems with the process (low O2, under/overloading, nutrient deficiency, toxicity)

Flocs and protozoa
• What are flocs?
• What is good or bad? What is ideal?

The protozoa
• What are they?
• What conditions do they like/dislike
• What they tell us about the process conditions
• Which are healthy for the plant to have, which do you want to avoid?

Basics of filaments
• Assessing filament abundance
• Effect on floc morphology and settlement

Laboratory Practical Session on flocs and protozoa, introduction to filament abundance using a variety of samples from treatment plants

Date & Location

A new course date will be set once enough interest has been received - email clarehunter@aquaenviro.co.uk to register your interest. The training will be held at the Aqua Enviro Training Suite, Wakefield

Multiple bookings

(courses or delegates)

Discounts are available for muliple bookings - please contact Clare for further details clarehunter@aquaenviro.co.uk

Prices

1 course/delegate = £320 (+VAT) (price per course/delegate)

2-4 courses/delegates* = £300 (+VAT) (price per course/delegate)

5+ courses/delegates* = £270 (+VAT) (price per course/delegate)

*Multiple bookings can be made up from a combination of courses or a combination of delegates (from the same company)

This course has been Accredited as a CIWEM Approved Training Course