Activated Sludge - Troubleshooting Guide

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE for Extended Aeration Wastewater Treatment Systems.
Troubleshooting begins by knowing the system. The operator needs to know:

1.
2.
3.
4.
What each part of the system is supposed to do.

How each process or piece of equipment operates normally.
How to recognize abnormal conditions.
What alternatives are available when trouble develops.
When problems develop in the activated sludge process, it is important to identify:

1. the problem,
2. the cause of the problem, and
3. the best possible solution.
Remember that the activated sludge process is a biological process and may require from three days to a week or longer to show a
response to the proper corrective action. Allow time for the process to stabilize (3 days to a week) after making a change in the
treatment process.
The purpose of this section is to present a ready and quick operators reference to process problems and their solutions. Like the rest
of this operators guide, it provides basic guidance and should be used as a starting point.
VISUAL CHECK LIST: AERATION COMPARTMENT

Equipment Operation
Appearance of Liquids
Comments
Correction to be Made
Aeration mixing is good and

blower is operating
Chocolate brown color, little or no

foam
Good: probably adequate air and

adequate solids.
Continue same operation.

blower is operating.
Soapy water; lost of foam
Little or no solids in aeration;

young sludge.
Reduce air input by adjusting

valves on diffusers. Be sure to
maintain uniform roll.

blower is operating
Black
Septic condition: plant may be

receiving large amounts of septic
sewage or blower is not running
long enough or both.

blower is operating
Reddish
Over aeration
Aerate heavily until brown color

returns and then readjust for
adequate aeration. Check and
clean diffusers, correct any dead
areas (areas not receiving airflow
required for good mixing). Find
source of any septic sewage and
eliminate.
If dissolved oxygen (DO) exceeds
3 ppm in aeration compartment,
slightly reduce air supply.
Blower operating, but no aeration

is occurring.
Black
The system has turned septic. The

diffusers may be plugged or
blower is not running long enough.
Balance the air supply to all

diffusers and check air supply line.
Check for plugged diffusers, and V
belt slipping on the motor.
Blower operating, but air bubbles

are only surfacing in one end of
the tank.
Chocolate Color
Will result in dead (septic) areas.
Check air line balancing valves, or

possibility of diffuser clogging.
Blower not operating and no air

bubbles rising in aeration tank.
Black
Mechanical failure.
Check for electrical failure: press

motor starter re-set button. Check
V belt drive.
VISUAL CHECK LIST: CLARIFIER (FINAL SETTLING) COMPARTMENT

Equipment Operation
Appearance of Liquids
Comments
Correction to be Made
All equipment functioning
Surface clean and effluent clear
Good: ideal condition.
Continue same operation.
Large chunks of scum
Scrape (squeegee) clarifier walls and

sloped bottom more frequently.
Check air lift: increase RAS rate.
Visible sludge blanket less than 1

foot below waters surface
Likely due to inadequate return

of sludge (RAS) or inadequate
scraping (squeegee) of clarifier
walls and sloped bottom.
Likely due to young sludge,
and/or too much skimming or
excessive sewage flows.
Heavy black sludge on bottom of

tank.
Inadequate return or waste of

sludge (RAS or WAS).
Skimmer not working
Large amounts of scum on

surface.
Large amounts of slimy brown

sludge on surface of tank. Seems
to float immediately upon entering
clarifier
May be due to clog in air line or

insufficient submergence of
skimmer lip.
Plant under loaded: not enough
solids in plant.
Excessive solids in effluent.
Sludge air lift not working
Likely due to too much

skimming and excessive sludge
return.
If settleability test indicates young

sludge: dont waste sludge (WAS)
until % solids in aeration basin
increase. Slightly increase return
sludge (RAS) rate.
Decrease skimmer by reducing air or
limiting operation by limiting
operation of skimmer to weekly visits
when squeegee-ing clarifier and
guiding scum with squeegee blade
toward skimmer.
Increase RAS rate and/or waste
sludge (WAS) if settleability results
so indicate.
If clogged, rod out line or blow out by
shutting off discharge end and
opening needle valve.
Raise inlet baffle in final tank to trap
scum and skim by hand. Reduce air
input by adjusting diffuser valves or
by decreasing aeration cycle (NOTE:
under no circumstances shall OFF
period exceed 60 minutes).
Decrease skimming and sludge
return to increase clarifier retention
period.
Rod out air lift and/or air lift airline.
Procedure 1: SETTLEABILITY TEST

The settleability test indicates how well the biological floc will settle; it is considered the major process
control test for small package plants.
Equipment:
1,000 mL graduated cylinder or a 1-litre wide-mouth jar

calibrated as shown.
Illustration of reading of 25% settled solids; i.e., 25%

settleability
Procedure:
1. Collect a sample of the contents of the aeration chamber1. Samples should be taken at the
same location away from influent or sludge return line and approximately at the same
time of day each time for comparison of test results over time. If aeration is on a timer, ensure
that the system has been aerating for at least 10 minutes prior to collecting the sample.
2. Fill the graduated cylinder or jar to the top mark on the scale. Place the sample in the shade,
on a level surface, and away from any vibration caused by the blowers.
3. Observe the test for the first 5 minutes; how the sludge settles is just as important as the final
percent that settles. Note whether compaction is slow or fast and whether particles remain in
the water2 above the settling sludge. After settling for 5 minutes, record the settleability
(percent of solids).
4. After settling for 30 minutes, record the settleability (percent of solids) and note the quality of
the water above the sludge; e.g., clear, cloudy, etc.
5. After settling for 60 minutes, record the settleability (percent of solids). The condition of the
settled sludge after 60 minutes is significant. Note if the sludge has begun to rise.
Refer to Trouble Shooting Table 3 for interpretation of results.
1Mixed
liquor : the mixture of activated sludge (bacteria and organic matter) and wastewater in an aeration compartment.
clear water above a sludge layer and below a scum layer.
2Supernatant:
INTERPRETATION OF SETTLEABILITY TEST

Status of Plant
Observation
Settleability
Indication
Adjustment
Well Operating
Medium brown sludge

compacts slowly,
forming a screening
blanket, with clear
supernatant above it.
50-70%
at 5 minutes
Good
None necessary
Good
None necessary
Sludge is dense and

remains settled for at
least 60 minutes
25- 50 %
at 30 minutes
25 to 40%
Poorly Operating
Light colored sludge with
cloudy water above it.
Less than 25 %
at 30 minutes
Poor quality sludge a

young sludge
inadequate to treat the
incoming loads.
No wasting of sludge (WAS) until %

solids in aeration basin increase.
Slightly increase return sludge (RAS)
rate.
Dark brown to black

sludge compacts rapidly
leaving a cloudy
supernatant above it.
Sludge begins to lift
before 60 minutes
settling.
NOTE: A properly
oxidized sludge will not
start rising to the surface
until two hours after the
test was started.
More than 50 %
at 30 minutes
Poor quality sludge

an old sludge with a
large amount of
inorganic solids.
Several Possibilities:
1. Too much air, or
2. Too many solids, or
3. Too few solids
Waste sludge per Procedure 3.
1. If dissolved oxygen (DO) exceeds 3

ppm in aeration compartment,
2. If settleability > 50%, waste sludge
(WAS) per Procedure 3.
3. If settleability < 20%:
slightly increase return sludge
(RAS),
do not waste sludge, and
If dissolved oxygen (DO) exceeds
3 ppm in aeration compartment,

Activated Sludge - Troubleshooting Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Activated Sludge - Troubleshooting Guide

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Activated Sludge - Troubleshooting Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE for Extended Aeration Wastewater Treatment Systems.

Troubleshooting begins by knowing the system. The operator needs to know:

What each part of the system is supposed to do.

When problems develop in the activated sludge process, it is important to identify:

VISUAL CHECK LIST: AERATION COMPARTMENT

Aeration mixing is good and

Chocolate brown color, little or no

Good: probably adequate air and

Continue same operation.

Aeration mixing is good and

Soapy water; lost of foam

Little or no solids in aeration;

Reduce air input by adjusting

Aeration mixing is good and

Septic condition: plant may be

Aeration mixing is good and

Aerate heavily until brown color

Blower operating, but no aeration

The system has turned septic. The

Balance the air supply to all

Blower operating, but air bubbles

Will result in dead (septic) areas.

Check air line balancing valves, or

Blower not operating and no air

Check for electrical failure: press

VISUAL CHECK LIST: CLARIFIER (FINAL SETTLING) COMPARTMENT

All equipment functioning

Surface clean and effluent clear

Good: ideal condition.

Continue same operation.

All equipment functioning

Large chunks of scum

Scrape (squeegee) clarifier walls and

All equipment functioning

Visible sludge blanket less than 1

Likely due to inadequate return

All equipment functioning

Heavy black sludge on bottom of

Inadequate return or waste of

Skimmer not working

Large amounts of scum on

All equipment functioning

Large amounts of slimy brown

May be due to clog in air line or

All equipment functioning

Excessive solids in effluent.

Sludge air lift not working

Likely due to too much

If settleability test indicates young

Procedure 1: SETTLEABILITY TEST

1,000 mL graduated cylinder or a 1-litre wide-mouth jar

Illustration of reading of 25% settled solids; i.e., 25%

INTERPRETATION OF SETTLEABILITY TEST

Medium brown sludge

Sludge is dense and

Poor quality sludge a

No wasting of sludge (WAS) until %

Dark brown to black

Poor quality sludge