 YOUR TREATED EFFLUENT IS NOT MEETING TOTAL NITROGEN

(TN) TARGETS
In order to determine where your problem is, the first step should be to analyse for Ammonia, Nitrite and
Nitrate and thus this will give you an understanding of what area you need to focus your efforts on in order
to make your plant compliant. More often than not you will find that your plant has either high Ammonia or
Nitrate levels which contribute to the high TN levels.

HIGH AMMONIA
Ammonia removal is a strictly aerobic biological process. If you have high ammonia look to ensure your
plant has the following:

Generally, nitrification occurs only under aerobic conditions at dissolved oxygen levels of more than 1.0
mg/L
Nitrification requires a long retention time
A low food to microorganism ratio (F:M)
A high mean cell residence time (measured as MCRT or Sludge Age)
Adequate pH buffering (alkalinity)

HIGH NITRATE
The biological reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas is performed by bacteria that live in a low-oxygen
environment. To thrive, the bacteria need biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) – soluble BOD. Particulate
BOD needs to be broken down into solution before it is of value.

If you have high treated effluent nitrate levels it is usually because of one of the following reasons. Ensuring
these parameters are correct will go a long way to reducing your nitrate levels.

Adequate carbon source. Denitrifying bacteria requires a considerable amount of soluble BOD (some five
times as much as the amount of nitrate being denitrified) and many facilities find it difficult to provide an
ongoing supply of readily digestible BOD
Wastewater cannot be denitrified unless it is first nitrified. Ensure that the nitrification process is working
otherwise there will be no nitrate to denitrify
Ensure that the anoxic tank has a DO = 0.0mg/l. If this reading is higher than 0mg/l, the Mixed Liquor
Return Rate (MLR) might need to be reduced but as a rule of thumb this flow rate is usually set at 300% of
the daily incoming flow

 YOUR TREATED EFFLUENT IS NOT MEETING TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (TP)

TARGETS
The primary objectives for the treatment process as it pertains to total phosphorus are:
To achieve the license limits for TP
To minimise total chemical usage
To realise lower operating costs
In order to reduce Total Phosphorus there are a number of chemical dosing options that can be pursued
and these should be considered once jar testing has been conducted, as this is a critical first step that will
provide a benchmark for the execution of phosphorous measurement and treatment for the wastewater
facility. It is essential at the outset to evaluate pre- and post-precipitation, and jar testing provides a quick
analysis to help determine the most effective chemical needed for your process (e.g., alum or ferric
chloride).
Post-precipitation. When chemical dosing is done after the biological process, phosphorus is removed in
the final clarifiers or effluent filters. The online phosphate measurement should be taken between the
aeration tanks and the final clarifier, or after the final clarifiers with feedback control