SV30 Test

The aim of the test is to check the active sludge volume, its quality, and how well it settles. The
test is quick, easy and should be performed at every service to ensure effluent quality if as good
as it can be.
Active Sludge
Active Sludge is good sludge, It lives in the reactor chamber of the SBR and contains all the
bacteria needed to treat the sewage that comes in contact with it.
It is important not to desludge the reactor chamber as you will remove all the bacteria!
Every time the Fluido system aerates the water in the reactor chamber, it is also mixing the
active sludge with the fresh sewage.
The Test
To carry out the test first you must mix up the active sludge in the reactor chamber, to do this
run the aerator for a few minutes.
Once the water is aerated and mixed you need to take a sample, a litre is a good amount to
take because it is easy to convert measurements in to percentages.
The easiest way to take a sample is simple using a large beaker or small bucket fixed to the end
of a pole.
Once you have a sample pour it into a clear, straight sided flask. It should look like the picture
below.

Now Leave it to stand for 30 minutes (carry out further servicing work)

After 30 minutes the sludge should have settled to the bottom of the cylinder and resemble the
photograph below

You are focusing on 2 things.

1. Sludge volume. You are aiming for 300600mg/l of sludge. If you have more than
600mg/l of sludge, you need to increase the sludge take off time. Less than 300mg/l and
you need to decrease the time. You can find the sludge take off time under the
adjustments menu (accessible following the input of the service code).
2. Sludge Quality. The Sludge should be dark in colour like the example above. If it is light,
and does not settle, this indicates that the environment is not good for growing
bacteria. This could be for a number of reasons, ie a lack of oxygen or the water coming
in has a lot of cleaning agent/bleach (thus killing the bacteria).