Key Contributors to a Healthy System

Parameters and Indicators

These are some of the key process control parameters and

indicators contributing to a healthy and robust activated sludge
system.
 Below you will find the definition of each contributor
 Below that, you will find more detail on each

Sufficient Mixing and Aeration

 Indicated by the Dissolved Oxygen content in the aeration basin. Operators should target a
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of 1.0-2.0 mg/L in the aeration basin. Operation with DO less than
1.0 mg/L is at risk of upset. Operation with DO greater than 2.0 mg/L is expending more
energy (and cost) than is required to maintain a healthy system

Alkalinity

 Alkalinity ensures that the system pH remains in the acceptable range (6.5-9.0)

Nutrients

 Generally refers to nitrogen and phosphorous

 If sufficient nutrients are not available for the microorganisms involved in the process, the
biomass will be unhealthy and the process will not perform as needed or expected

Sludge Volume Index (SVI)

 A good indicator of overall system health

 In a well-balanced system, sludge will flocculate and settle rapidly. The SVI measure
accounts for both settling and the concentration of MLSS in the system

Sludge Blanket Depth

 The separation of solids and liquids in the secondary clarifier results in a "blanket" of sludge
solids at the bottom of the clarifier. The depth of the “blanket” is related to the sludge
settleability and the rate of pumping of sludge from the clarifier back to the aeration basin
(Return Activated Sludge)
 If this blanket is not the proper depth, operational problems with the activated sludge can
be expected

This job aid is intended to provide you with supplemental information associated with PepsiCo courseware.
© COPYRIGHT PepsiCo, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Visual Indicators

 Foaming: Three types – white, brownish and black. Excessive foaming indicates a problem
with the system
 Filamentous organisms: Microorganisms that look like mats of hair when viewed under a
microscope. It's normal to have a few filaments in the system, but having too many
indicates a problem. Typically, with excessive filamentous organisms the sludge will not
settle in the clarifier
 Sludge colour and odour: Sludge should consist of a chocolate brown mixed liquor and
earthy odour – like clean fresh soil. The colour of your sludge in the aeration basin can vary
depending on the type of wastewater you are treating, but it should never look black. Be
alert for changes to the colour of the mixed liquor.

Below you will find more detail on the key healthy system contributors.

Sufficient Mixing and Aeration Alkalinity

– DO levels higher than 1.0-2.0 – pH should be monitored
mg/L result in wasted power periodically to ensure the ongoing
for unnecessary aeration health of the biomass
– Lower DO levels will produce a – If necessary, adjust the upstream
less healthy biomass and may pH control system to achieve and
experience process upsets maintain the proper pH
– Required oxygen amount
depends on the amount of
food available in the
wastewater, the amount of
biomass or activated sludge in
the system, and the health or
activity of the activated sludge

Nutrients Sludge Volume Index

– The theoretical ratio of – Measures the settleability of the
Carbon:Nitrogen:Phosphorus biomass as a function of the
is 100 parts BOD to 5 parts amount of biomass (MLVSS) in the
nitrogen, 1 part phosphorus system
– In actual practice, PepsiCo
snacks wastewaters typically
operate well with a BOD:N:P
ratio of approximately
100:3:0.5, and do not require
supplemental nutrients for
robust operations

This job aid is intended to provide you with supplemental information associated with PepsiCo courseware.
© COPYRIGHT PepsiCo, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Nutrients (continued) Visual Indicators
– Beverage wastewaters are – Three types of foaming:
typically nutrient-deficient and o White Foaming (low
do require the addition of concentration of MLVSS
supplemental nutrients combined with high F/M value)
(typically only nitrogen) to o Brownish Foaming (indicates the
maintain effective treatment presence of NOCARDIA, which
– Operators should closely is a problematic microorganism
monitor nitrogen and that should be removed from the
phosphorus in the effluent and system. This could be caused by
avoid adding excessive a low F/M value or a high
nutrients that, in turn, cause MLVSS concentration)
the discharge to exceed o Black Foaming (indicates
PepsiCo global discharge anaerobic conditions in the tank
limits for nitrogen and/or or low dissolved oxygen)
phosphorus – Filamentous organisms: When
filamentous organisms become
predominant in the mix of
microorganisms, the sludge will not
settle and biomass will be lost with
the effluent discharge
o Can be caused by too high or
too low F/M ratio or insufficient
nutrients
– Check all process control
parameters to see what is out of
range. If the cause is not clear,
alert your supervisor and call a
process consultant for support

Sludge Blanket Depth

– Target depth: 2-3 feet (61-91 cm)
– A blanket that is too deep can lead to anaerobic conditions in the
sludge blanket and rising sludge, causing high TSS in the final
effluent discharge
– High sludge blankets can lead to solids being carried out of the
clarifier with the final effluent
– A low sludge blanket most likely indicates that you are returning too
much flow back to the aeration basin (Return Activated Sludge)

This job aid is intended to provide you with supplemental information associated with PepsiCo courseware.
© COPYRIGHT PepsiCo, Inc. All rights reserved.