67/05401 Full-scale evaluation of factors affecting the performance of anoxic selectors Wiliam L. Marten, Gien T. Daigger ABSTRACT: Five full-scale nitrifying activated-sladge systems in- Ccorporating anoxic selectors were evaluated. Operating records were reviewed to determine selector performance (filament contol) and to idemify operating conditions that affected selector performance. Key ‘operating parameters found to influence anoxic selector performance were selector loading. expressed in terms ofthe selector food-to-micro= organism (F:M) ratio, wastewater temperature, and activated-slude sys- tem aerobic solids retention time (SRT). A target selector FM ratio of 0.7 0 1.2 kg CBOD, (carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand)ikg MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids)-d (lower values at cooler tem peratures, higher values at warmer temperatures) and an serobie SRT of to 12 days were found to produce excelent selector performance. Increasing selector FM or system aerobic SRT to grester than these ‘anges was found to result in persistent filamentous bulking. Water Environ, Res. 69, 1272 (1997) KEYWORDS: anotic, filamentous bulking, food-o-microorganism ‘tio, selector, solids retention time, sludge volume index, activated sludge, nitrification, Nostocoida limicola type 0041, Introduction Incorporation of selectors into new and existing activated- sludge systems is becoming increasingly common to control the growth of filamentous bacteria and prevent sludge bulking (Daigger and Nicholson, 1990, and Jenkins eta, 1993). Anoxic selectors are often the choice for activated-sludge systems that nitvfy. In addition to providing effective control of filamentous bacteria, anoxic selectors provide the benefits of reducing pro- feess oxygen requirements, since nitrate-nitrogen is used as a terminal electron acceptor for the oxidation of influent biode- ‘gradable organic matter, and reducing the consumption of alka- linity during nitrification, as a result of the recovery of alkalinity in the anoxie zone (U.S. EPA, 1993). Physical implementation of an anoxic selector can be quite straightforward, as seen in Figure 1. Moreover. because they use both kinetic and metabolic selection mechanisms, anoxic selectors can be quite effective in controlling filament growth (Jenkins er al, 1993). Despite these benefits, experience indicates that anoxic selec tors are not always effective in controlling filamentous sludge bulking (Gabb er al, 1991, and Jenkins er al,, 1993). Filamen- tous organisms such as Microthrix parvicella and types 0041, (0092, and 0675 are sometimes controlled, but not in all cases. ‘Thus, studies are needed to quantify the selector operating con- ditions necessary to control these filaments. Controlled labora- tory experiments are a necessary component of such research, bbut they must be coupled with full-scale studies, Experience indicates that anifacts can exist in laboratory reactors that are ‘not reflective of the conditions in full-scale plants (Gabb er a, 1989; Gabb er al, 1991; and Jenkins er al., 1983). Moreover, i is sometimes difficult to recreate in the laboratory the specific full-scale bioreactor environment that results in the growth of vr filamentous bacteria in full-scale facilities. Full-scale studies also provide the necessary real-world confirmation of laboratory results, The failure of an anoxic selector, ata full-scale wastewater ‘treatment plant (WWTP), to reliably control filamentous growth provided the opportunity to quantify the conditions leading to ‘successful selector performance. Studies were conducted at five full-scale activated-sludge facilites to further elucidate the fac- tors that affect the performance of full-seale anoxic selectors Controlled studies were conducted at one activated-sludge faci ity Beloit, Wisconsin), and the performance of the anoxic selec- tor at this facility was compared to the performance of four ‘other anoxic selector facilites. The results allow development of design criteria for anoxic selectors. They further demonstrate that proper operating conditions must also be established in the downstream aerobic zone if effective filament control is to be achieved. Materials and Methods Facility Descriptions. Five activated-sludge facilities located at four WWTPs were evaluated. The treatment plants reviewed, ‘along with their average day design ratings, are listed in Table 1. All of the plants are located in the northerm portion of the US. The Wisconsin plants experience four true seasonal ‘changes each year, characterized by cold winters, warm sum- ‘mers, and gradual seasonal transitions in the spring and fall. ‘The Landis, New Jersey, plant experiences similar seasonal changes, but with shorter winters and warmer summers. The ‘Tri-City, Oregon, plant experiences two basic seasons: a long, warm dry season (spring through fall) and a relatively short ‘wet season (winter), The seasonal transitions for Tri-City occur rapidly in late fall and early spring and are characterized by changes in wastewater temperature of 3 to $°C within a month. ‘The City of Beloit, Wisconsin, Water Pollution Control Facil- ity is 2 new WWTP with preliminary treatment, primary sedi- ‘mentation, nitrifying activated sludge, and effluent disinfection. 1k began operation in late 1991 and provides secondary treat- ‘ment (25 mg/L CBODs [5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxy- gen demand), 30 mg/L TSS {total suspended solids)) with sea- sonal ammonia-nitrogen limits of as low as 2 mg NIL. A sig- nificant fraction of the plant organic loading is from high- strength food processing industries, and the old WWTP had a Jong history of severe filamentous bulking. Consequently, an anoxic selector was incorporated into the aeration basins at the ‘ew plant t0 contro filamentous bulking, ‘The Green Bay, Wisconsin, WWTP is an advanced secondary ‘weatment plant incorporating preliminary treatment, primary sedimentation, nitrifying activated sludge, and effluent disinfec- tion. The plant receives a significant industrial loading from Water Environment Research, Volume 69, Number 7Marten and Dagger sr Primary Eftuent —> oat tae tye 8 spk eum —>| yeaa cota eters) erctotaym el cist ate mec Sor po [2s 23 $2 4) gn gg] Ser" come f Poe et ot Apt 6 at = = Figure 1—Basic anoxic selector/aeration basin configuration. Paper mills and other industries, as well as a seasonal loading increase during the canning season, which typically runs from ‘midsummer to early fall. The plant was upgraded in the early 1990s to meet new ammonia-nitrogen standards. Modifications to the activated-sludge system included ‘+ Retrofit of existing completely mixed, turbine aerator ba- sins to plug-flow, fine-bubble, diffused-air basins preceded by anoxic selectors (the “*North plant”); and * Addition of two new plug-flow, fine-bubble, diffused-aie basins preceded by anoxic selectors and followed by two new secondary clarifiers (the “South plant"). ‘The two activated-sludge systems are operated as separate facil- ities. ‘The Landis, New Jersey, WWTP, upgraded from a primary treatment facility in 1989, is an advanced secondary treatment ‘plant that incorporates preliminary treatment, primary sedimen- tation, nitrifying activated sludge, and effluent disinfection. Be- cause the plant discharges to groundwater, it is the only one of those evaluated that has nitrate-nitrogen discharge limits (10 mg N/L) in addition to a strict ammonia-nitrogen discharge standard (0.5 mg N/L). The plant receives a mix of domestic and industrial wastewaters, with a significant food processing contribution ‘The Tri-City, Oregon, WWTP, which serves the communities of Oregon City, West Linn, and Gladstone, is an advanced secondary treatment plant consisting of preliminary treatment, primary treatment, nitrifying activated Sludge, and effluent dis- infection. The plant began operation in 1986 and must meet winter Wet-weather limits of 30 mg/L and summer dry-weather limits of 10 mg/L for both BOD; and TSS. The wastewater is primarily domestic, with a small industrial component from a dairy. ‘Table 1—Plant design ratings. Each of the facilities incorporates an anoxic selector upstream, Of the aeration basin. Table 2 summarizes key selector design parameters, Al of the selectors are mixed mechanically to main tain solids in suspension. In addition, the Tri-City selector can also be aerated (Daigger and Nicholson, 1990). The Beloit. Green Bay, and TrisCity selectors are all single, completely mixed reactors configured similar to Figure 1. Each of these selectors was constructed as part of the aeration basin, with baffling provided to separate the anoxic selector from the aera- tion basin (concrete weir walls for the Wisconsin plants, red- Wood baffies for Tri-City), The aeration basins in each of these plants are single-cell reactors with fine-bubble. difused-air aer- ation. The length-to-width ratio of the aerobic zone differs at each plant but is sufficient at each to provide quasi-plug-flow conditions. The Landis selectors consist of three reactors in series that flow into four-pass aeration basins. The Landis aera- tion basins are aerated by mechanical surface aerators (two per pass). Figure 2 shows a plan view of the Landis selector/aeration basin layout. ‘Analytical Procedures. Operating data for the five full-scale wastewater treatment facilities were obtained from plant opera- tions staff. Each of these facilities maintains a certified labora- tory, and analyses were generally conducted in accordance with the procedures described in Standard Methods (APHA et al., 1992). Filament identification was conducted according to the procedures described by Jenkins er al, (1993). Results Beloit, Wisconsin. Figure 3 shows the weekly average sludge volume index (SV1) values for the Beloit Water Pollution Con- trol Facility during its first year of operation (August 1, 1992, through July 31, 1993), along with the following: Flow, B0D,, 800s, 135 185, Plant mid kg/d mgt koa mgt Boot, Wesconsin 30100 1400 380 19700 485 Green Bay, Wisconsin 188.000 33.900 180 29300 160 Landis, New Jersey 31 000 ‘9300 300 7-800 250 “Ta-Ciy, Oregon 51 100 8700 130 8.800 130 * Total suspended sols. Noverber/Decomber 1997 1273Marten and Daigger ‘Table 2—Anoxic selector design criteria, Selector volume as percent Selector HAT* at ‘of total aeration basin ‘average flow, Selector ability to Plant volume hour ‘dd air? Beiot 12% 27 No Groen Bay North Plant 8% 40 No Green Bay Sout Pint 9% 12 No Landis 2% 88 No Techy 20% 08 Yos "Hydraulic retention tee + Anoxic selector food-to-microorganism (F:M) ratio, ex- pressed in kilograms CBOD, per kilogram MLSS per day: and * Activated-sludge system aerobic solids retemtion time (SRT). ‘Tomlinson (1976) used the intial contact zone FM ratio to characterize the loading on aerobic selectors. The aerobic SRT is used 10 characterize the specific growah rate of nivifying bacteria (Gedlak, 1991, and US. EPA, 1993). As indicated in Figure 3, ML to Carters PE excellent setleability was achieved through most ofthe later part cof 1992, with SVIs typically ranging from 60 to 100 mL. Load- ings on the plant were fairly constant throughoutthis period, with selector F°M ratios ranging from 1.010 1.2 kg CBODvkg MLSS -d and aerobic SRTs in the 10- to 12-day range. In November 1992, SVis began demonstrating an upward trend despite the selector loadings not varying appreciably. Plant staff increased wasting rates in response to the deteriorating settleability, which caused the aerobic SRT to drop to between 6 and 9 days in a relatively short period. Settleability continued ML to Clarters mM AR 2 Pe een ee es A x < a flo f he “~— Aerobie Reactors with Mechanical Surface Aerators ——~" ‘Anoxic Reactors with Submerged Mixers - * 4 ._ Figure 2—Landis, New Jersey, anoxic selector/aeration basin layout. 276 Water Environment Research, Volume 68, Number 7Marten and Daigger a, aia ono oa lei “Notes: — ea :| i 5 oo :| wt { 2 “| rril?riiiiritiiia PGg edb bagi dbga? ee to deteriorate during this period, with SVIs peaking at approxi- mately 200 mLg in late January 1993. At this point, plant staff took several actions to control the secondary clarifier sludge blankets: ‘A third anoxic selector/aeration basin was placed in service (until then the plant had been operating with only two of the four anoxic selectors/aeration basins in service) to lower MLSS concentrations and secondary clarifier solids loading rates; ‘+ Return activated sludge (RAS) was chlorinated for a period ‘of 4 days at dosages ranging from 4 to 10 kg Cly/t 000 kg, MLSS-d and ‘+ Wasting on the basis of a target aerobic SRT of 12 days ‘was reinstated. ‘The result was a rapid drop in SVI because of the RAS chlorina- tion, followed by a more gradual downward trend in SVL This downward trend coincided with a return to an aerobic SRT in the 10- to 13-day range and a lowering of the selector FM loadings to an average range of 0.7 to LO kg CBODykg MLSS -d (because of the greater mass of MLSS resulting from adding the third selector volume). Full nitrification was main- tained throughout this period. With warmer weather in the spring of 1993, the target aerobi ‘SRT was lowered to 10 days. The inherent lower MLSS concen- trations caused the anoxic selector F:M ratio to rise to between 08 and 1.2 kg CBOD,/kg MLSS-d, similar to the range in which the plant had operated before and during the bulking episode of late 1992. Settleability remained good throughout this period. Microscopic examinations conducted in January 1993 indi- cated a severe case of filamentous bulking, with the predominant filament identified as Nostocoida limicola II (D. Jenkins, Beloit Water Pollution Control Facility, personal correspondence, November/Decembber 1997 1993). It was theorized to be a result of soluble substrate bleed- ing through the selectors into the aeration basin. On the basis. of this result, and the subsequent return to good settleability, it is hypothesized that the cause of selector failure and resulting filamentous bulking was the following: While selector F:M loadings in the range of 1.0 to .2-kg CBODskg MLSS-d are acceptable during warmer months, as microbial activity rates decrease with colder wastewater temperatures this same range of FeM overloads the selectors. As a result, some of the readily biodegradable substrate is not taken up inthe selector and bleeds through into the aeration basins. The resulting low F:M condi- tions in the aeration basin provide a selective advantage for certain filamentous organisms. It has been clearly demonstrated that essentially complete removal of readily biodegradable organic mamer is necessary 10 achieve successful selector performance (Jenkins et a., 1993, ‘and Shao and Jenkins, 1989). To test this hypothesis, a stress test of the Beloit activated sludge system was conducted in the fall of 1993. The system aerobic SRT was gradually lowered, and the following signs of selector failure were monitored: ‘+ Activated-sludge setteability (SVD, ‘= Relative predominance of filamentous organisms, and ' Selector effluent soluble CBOD; (SCBOD,) concentration, ‘This last parameter was intended to indicate selector over- loading, resulting in bleed-through of the readily biodegradable substrate into the aeration basin. Table 3 summarizes the op- erating results during the stress test. ‘The stress test was ended on November 13, 1993, with the conclusion that the selector was filing. This conclusion resulted from the following observations: ‘ Although SVIs remained low throughout the stress test, they were consistently increasing; 1275Marten and Daloger ‘Table 3—Beloit stress test results. ‘Average mixed Average selector Average selector Hiquor Target —-F:Mratio, kg effluent SCBOD, Duration, temperature, aerobic -«»«CBODy/kg_——concentration, Average SVI, Period days c SRT, doys —_ MLSS-d mgt mig ‘September 16 to October 5, 1998 20 18 8 1.08, 32 e (October 6 to October 20, 1993 6 7 8 113 57 a October 21 to November 13, 199324 6 7 130 90 78 ‘+ Selector effluent SCBOD; concentrations had increased by a factor of 3; and ‘+ Microscopic examinations showed the relative numbers of filaments to be increasing significantly each week, with the ‘predominant filament again being identified as N. limicola UL ‘The return of N. limicola 11 as the predominant filament during the stress test suggests that the selector failure mechanism was the same asthe one that occurred in late 1992 and was hypothe- sized as selector overloading resulting in bleed-through of readily biodegradable substrate to the aeration basin, ‘With termination ofthe stress test, the system aerobic SRT ‘was increased toa target of 12 days. The mixed liquor returned to excellent seuleabilty within several SRTs, with filament numbers decreasing to low levels. Sable nitrification was again ‘maintained throughout this period. Inspection of Table 3 shows that the selector effluent SCBOD, concentration was 32 mg/L with a 9-day SRT and a selector FM ratio of 1.08 kg CBODvkg MLSS-d. When the target SRT was lowered 1 8 days, a modest increase in selector FM loading, to 1.13 kg CBODJkg MLSS~d, resulted, and the selector effluent SCBOD, concentration doubled. This suggests that at a 9-day SRT. the selector was being operated a its limits for the temperature range experienced (16 to 18°Q). A further inerease in the selector FM, asthe SRT was lowered o 7 days, resulted in further increases in the selecir effluent SCBOD, concentration. This result is consistent with kinetic data ob- tained in Memphis, Tennessee, where it was found thats contact zone FM of 1.0 kg BODJkg MLSS~d resulted in effivent soluble BODs concentatons of approximately 10 mg/L (Daig- ger et al, 1983). Similarly, Nowak and Brown (1990) found that an anoxic selector with an FM ratio ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 kg BODJkg MLYSS (mixed liquor volatile suspended solids)-d (0.8 to 1.3 kg BODykg MLSS assuming the mixed liquor was 75% volatile) and an aerobic SRT ranging from 3.8 to 5.8 days controlled the growth of N. limicola at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (operating temperatures not reported). 11 was concluded from the Beloit experiences that selector ‘Table 4—Beloit average operating conditions. FIM loading and mixed liquor temperature both affect the per- formance ofits anoxic selectors. With temperatures above 18°C, selector loadings on the order of 1.0 t0 1.2 kg CBODJkg MLSS-d can produce excellent settleability. As wastewater temperatures fall, however, these same loadings can cause selec- tor failure. Below 18°C, selector loadings must be lowered 10 a range of 0.7 to 1.0 kg CBODJkg MLSS to prevent failure ‘The Beloit facility has adopted an operating guideline using a target aerobic SRT to maintain the selector F'M loadings within these general ranges. Table 4 summarizes Beloit’s operating experience since it began operating within these guidelines and shows that excellent setleability has been maintained. Green Bay, Wisconsin, Since star-up ofthe new South plant and rehabilitated North plant facilities in late 1992 and early 1993, the Green Bay selectors have experienced difficulty in controlling filamentous bulking. Figure 4 shows weekly average SSVIs for the North and South plants for a representative period, ‘December 1993 through August 1994. High variability in sys- tem SVL, with maximum values approaching 200 mL/g and ‘minimum values as low as 50 mL/g, is evident. The drops in SVI observed in Figure 4 occur because Green Bay occasionally Cchlorinates the RAS in each plant to control setleabilty. Each time RAS chlorination is discontinued, the SVI increases until RAS chlorination must again be implemented. Table 5 lists typical cold (winter) and warm (summer) ‘weather operating parameters for both plants during this period. ‘The system SRTs are slightly lower than, but in the same range as, those at Beloit, The selector F:M loadings, panicularly in the South plant, are significantly higher than at Beloit. Thus, selector overloading, which results in bleed-through of readily biodegradable substrate, is believed to be the cause of flamen- tous bulking at the Green Bay plants. This assumption is sup- ported in thatthe predominant filament in both Green Bay plants is N. limicola 1, the same filament that caused bulking at Beloit Green Bay operations staff tried lowering the selector F: Toading by operating the activated-sludge system at an SRT of ‘between approximately 12 and 14 days, thereby increasing. MLSS concentrations in the selector. This step controlled N. limicola I, but it was replaced by type 0041, which has been Selector F:M ratio, : kg CBOD,/kg ‘Season ‘Temperature, °C Aerobie SRT, days MLss-d svi, mUg Wintericold 12418 10-13, 07-10 80-110 Surnmeriwarr 16-26 Batt oa-12 70-110 1276 Water Environment Research, Volume 69, Number 7Marten and Daigger i Figure 4—Green Bay san.94 Fob 94 Mar04 omar lector performance. reported to grow at high sludge ages and to be a filament against which selectors are not effective (Jenkins et al, 1993). On readjustment to lower SRTS, type 0061 was eliminated, but N. Umicota If rewrned. Green Bay operating staff are still working to optimize the performance of their selectors. Current investigations include testing a different mixed liquor recycle rates to assess the effect ‘of selector hydraulic residence time on performance, and in- creasing selector volume (hence, lowering selector F:M) through decreased aeration in the first quarter of the aeration basins. While these investigations have continued, Green Bay hhas decreased the frequency of RAS chlorination and opted 10 run the plants at elevated $Vis (200 to 250 mL/g range) when the clarifiers can handle it. The result is an extremely clear, Jow-TSS effluent because of the filtering effect of the filaments present. Landis, New Jersey. To assess selector performance, Landis operating records were reviewed for the period January 1993 through December 1994. Figure 5 is a plot of weekly average SVIs for the plant showing that the variability of SVI is high ‘during this period. Filamentous bulking is a common occurrence at Landis, and it is controlled by periodic RAS chlorination. 2erpco4 2eaay 94 pees) re.su 9 10-409 94, ‘The filament most commonly associated with bulking is type (0041, the same filament that Green Bay experienced when op- erating at SRTs greater than 12 days. Table 6 lists monthly average values for operating parameters of interest. Landis operates at higher SRTs than Green Bay or Beloit. primarily because of concerns over meeting their stringent am- i However, these same high SRTS appear to result in conditions favorable for type OO41 to flourish. It may be possible to eliminate these filaments by operating at 2 lower system aerobic SRT, similar to Green Bay's experience. However, unlike Green Bay, this lower SRT is not likely to result in selector overloading (and N. limicola If bulking). be- ‘cause of the staged selector configuration. large overall selector, volume, and resulting low-bulk selector FM loadings at Landis. Excellent performance is obtained from the Landis plant. with effluent ammonia-nitrogen concentrations routinely in the 0.1 10.0.2 mg N/L range and effluent nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the 3 to 4 mg N/L range. ‘TrisCity, Oregon. As noted in Table 2. the Tri-City selector differs from that at the other plants, in that air can be added to it to supplement the mechanical mixing system. The Tri-City staff take advantage of this flexibility in several ways ‘Table 5—Green Bay activated-sludge operating conditions. Selector FM ratio, kg CBOD,/kg Aerobie SRT, days MLSS: Plant season Winter ‘Summer Summer North plant an oy was ‘South plant en 6-10 14-22 November/Decomoer 1997 vaMarton and Daigger sve) 0 99 wae conse 2 Figure 5—Landis selector performance. + During the wet-weather season, when temperatures drop and plant flow rates increase. the selector is often operated ‘with air addition to increase the total aerobic volume, thus increasing the aeration basin volume available for nitrfica- * During other periods, when operating in the anoxic mode, 2 small amount of air is often added to the selector, ‘The latter practice arose because the selector performed “too well’” when operated in a strictly anoxic mode, producing SVIs as low as 30 t0 40 mL/g but also producing a degraded effluent. ‘Without filamentous organisms to provide a “skeletal back- bone,” the activated-sludge flocs were fragile and tended to shear in the aeration basins. The resulting dispersed floc parti- cles increased effluent TSS. Tri-City found that operating in the ‘anoxic mode, with a small amount of air added to the selector, promoted moderate filament growth (Daigger and Nicholson, 1990), Figure 6 shows average weekly SVIs at Tri-City for the 2- sanot aoe aoe octo4 selector was operated in the anoxic mode (with panial aeration) for most of this period, except for approximately 4 months at ‘the beginning of 1994 when full aeration of the selector was practiced. Table 7 lists overall average and range of weekly Average values for several system operating parameters grouped in five general periods that correspond tothe periods indicated in Figure 6. These are warm, dry seasons (wastewater temperatures above 18°C) and cold, wet seasons (wastewater temperatures below 18°C). Selector F-M loadings are generally higher during warmer periods and are similar to the values experienced at Beloit. Operating in this range, Tri-City, like Beloit, has effec- tively controlled filaments, Discussion Several observations can be made from an analysis of the key selector operating parameters and results for the five facilities evaluated (Table 8). First, anoxie selectors can be designed and operated to control year period from January 1993 through December 1994, The sludge bulking, as indicated by both the Beloit and Tri-City ‘Table 6—Landis 1993-1994 average operating parameters. Selector F:M ratio, ke BOD,/kg MLSs. ‘Aerobie SRT, Parameter days 1st reactor All reactors sv, mUg 1999 average 20 06s 021 146 1904 average 21 os 021 181 Range in monty averages 1433 048-090 0.15-0.80 75-280 v8 ‘Water Environment Research, Volume 63, Number 7‘Table 7—Tri-City 1993-1994 operating parameters. Marten and Daioger ‘Anoxic selector F:M, zi kg BODs/kg Period ‘Aérobie SAT, days MLSs: vi, mUg 1 os 86 og 14 38-64 os-12 70-185 2 68 108) 121 52-85 ora 35-169 3 56 os) 133 4-72 osm1.0 85-171 4 57 0.96 113 36-87 8-13 76184 5 74 077 63 19-119 og-1.2 56-70 * Top number is average: bottoms range of values facilities. Severe and persistent bulking problems had been ex- perienced at the old Beloit plant, which the current facility replaced, but excellent SVIs are routinely achieved at the new facility. Previous work at Tri-City demonstrated that operation of the activated-sludge process in other modes (such as step feed) resulted in sludge bulking, while excellent SVIs were ‘obtained with the anoxic selector mode (Daigger and Nicholson, 1990), The significant differences in wastewater characteristics between these two facilities (Beloit is high strength with a sig- nificant industrial component while Tri-City is primarily domes- tic) suggest that this result may be independent of wastewater ‘ype. ‘Second, proper ng of the anoxic selector is crucial for preventing bleed-through of readily biodegradable organic mat- ter into the aerobic zone and resulting growth of filamentous bacteria such as N, limicola Il. The stress testing results at Beloit, demonstrated this effect, and they were confirmed by operating ‘experience at Green Bay. It appears that anoxic selector F’M ratios should be no more than 0.8 to 1.2 kg BOD/kg MLSS -d when wastewater temperatures are greater than 18°C and no more than 0.7 to 1.0 kg BOD,/kg MLSS-d when wastewater temperatures are less than 18°C. This result is consistent with the successful operation observed at Tri-City. These F:M ratios. ‘are lower than those required for aerobic selectors (Jenkins er 4., 1993, and Tomlinson, 1976). This suggests that. when using, metabolic selection in single complete-mix selector zones, it ass 0193 wast on194 tan 94 neo Peios2 Pemdt | Perot Pesos 5 Figure 6—Tri-City selector performance. Nowernber/December 1997 s27r9Marten and Daigaer ble B—Summary of operating experiences. Anoxle selector F:M, ‘Aerobic SRT, kg BOD, /kg, Plant Season days MLSS: Comments Beloit Warn 12 oa-12 80-120 Excolent soteabity Cos 10-12 07-10 Green Bay Warn 6-3 11-18 100-250" Fiamentous bulking (N,fmicola North Cold aan 10-413 1 common Green Bay warn 6-10 14-22 100-250" Flamentous buking (N.fnisole South Cols aot 12-49 1) commen Landis a 14-83 018-030 75-260" Filamentous buking ype 0041) common Taeciy Warn 48 Orta 60-170 (Operate with partial aeration in Cols ant os-12 ‘anoxic mode to promote sight flament grown * Controlled through RAS chlorination. lower selector design FM ranges are needed to ensure the re= ‘moval of readily degradable substrate required to achieve low SVIs. Third, it appears that aerobic SRT also affects the growth of filamentous bacteria. High aerobic SRTs, in particular, appear to be associated with the growth of filament type 0041. At Green Bay. increased aerobic SRT resulted in the growth of type 0041, which was eliminated at lower aerobic SRTs. Only high aerobic SRTs have been used at Landis, which experiences persistent bulking caused by type 0041. Lower aerobic SRTS are used at Beloit and Tri-City, and type 0041 is not a problem. Further work may be necessary to define the range of aerobic ‘SRTs necessary to control type 0041 growth, but the available ddata suggest that the aerobic SRT should be no more than approximately 10 to 12 days. Lower values should possibly be used when wastewater temperatures are greater than 18°C. AA final consideration with regard to these findings relates 10 hhow target ranges for selector F°M ratios can be applied 10 process control in day-to-day operations at any given facility. ‘Control based on maintaining a target selector F:M ratio is 18°C) anoxic SRT range of approximately 0.5, to 1.1 days. During these periods the Green Bay selectors were in a constant state of failure, suggesting that the lower bound for anoxic SRT is some value greater than 1.1 days for both ‘winter and summer. ‘The Landis selector did not experience selector failure re- sulting from soluble substrate bleed-through out of the selector, as occurred at Beloit and Green Bay. With an aerobic SRT at 20 days or greater, the anoxic selector SRT at Landis would ‘exceed 9 days, well above the ranges for Beloit and Green Bay. As seen in Tabie 7, the Tri-City selector in general operated at acrobic SRTs in the range of 4 to 12 days when wastewater temperatures were below 18°C, corresponding to an anoxic SRT. range of 1 10 3 days. For these temperature ranges, best perfor- ‘mance occurred in period 5, withthe aerobic SRT range approx- imately 7 t0 12 days and corresponding anoxic SRT range ap- proximately 1.8 to 3 days. With wastewater temperatures above 18°C, the Tri-City aerobic SRT range was 4 to 8 days, transla ing to an anoxic SRT range of 1 to 2 days. ‘Summary and Conclusions Studies were conducted at five full-scale activated-sludge facilities to identify the operating parameters that provide suc- cessful anoxic selector performance. Controlled studies were conducted at one activated-sludge facility (Beloit) and the per- formance of the anoxic selector at this facility was compared to the performance of four other anoxic selector activated-sludge facilities. The results indicate that anoxic selector FM ratios, should be no more than 0.8 to 1.2 ke BODykg MLSS-d when Water Environment Research, Volume 68, Number 7wastewater temperatures are greater than 18°C and no more than 0.7 to 1.0 kg BODykg MLSS -d when wastewater tempera- tures are less than 18°C. The results also indicate that a high aerobic SRT can encourage the growth of flamentous'bacteria; 12 days is tentatively suggested as an appropriate upper limit for wastewater temperatures less than 18°C, but even lower values may be needed for higher wastewater temperatuces. In terms of controlling anoxic selector performance, the an- oxic SRT was proposed as a parameter better suited to day-to- day process control than the selector F:M ratio. Preliminary results from Beloit and Tri-City suggest that, for good anoxic selector performance, anoxic SRTS should be more than 1.0 days when wastewater temperatures are greater than 18°C and more than approximately 1.4 days for wastewater temperatures less than 18°C. The Green Bay and Landis results show the need to maintain a balance of sufficiently high anoxic SRTS, to avoid selector overloading filaments such as N. limicola If, with sufficiently low aerobic SRTs, to avoid high aerobic SRT filaments such as type 0041. Further work is needed to better define the optimal anoxic and aerobic SRT ranges for both warm and cold wastewater conditions. Acknowledgments Credits. The authors would like to thank the City of Beloit ‘Water Pollution Control Division, the Green Bay Metropolitan ‘Sewerage District, the Landis Sewerage Authority, and the Tri- City Water Pollution Control Plant for their help in providing ‘and analyzing their operations data. ‘Authors. William L. Marten is a senior process engineer and ‘operations specialist with CH2M HILL, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Glen T. Daigger is Senior Vice President of CH2M HILL, Denver, Colorado. Correspondence should be addressed to Wile liam L. Marten, CH2M HILL, 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1600, Milwaukee, WI 53202. ‘Submitted for publication June 5, 1996; revised manuscript submitted January 17, 1997; accepted for publication January 29, 1997. 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