Common problems in wastewater treatment

Date public: 27-05-2024||View: 2070

Building a wastewater treatment facility in compliance with legal regulations is essential for businesses. However, many unexpected incidents or issues may arise during the implementation process. Therefore, to maintain an efficient and stable wastewater treatment system, it is important to understand potential problems and incidents to find suitable solutions.

1. Common Incidents in Wastewater Treatment Systems

1.1 Odor Issues in the System

One of the most common signs of a problem in the wastewater treatment system is the presence of unpleasant odors. These can originate from any stage of the system: the input, the equalization tank, the secondary settling tank, etc. Some potential causes include:

Poor ventilation
Overloaded filtering equipment
Odors from sludge: dirty sludge that has accumulated too long in sewers or channels without being cleaned, or when the system has been inactive for a long period, causing sludge to concentrate in the holding tank.

1.2 Pump Issues

Pumps clogged by debris.
Electrical cabinet tripping circuit breakers or losing power to the pump.
Pump impellers stuck or tangled with debris.
Unusual noises or vibrations from the pump.
Pump overheating and operating weakly due to insufficient electrical power or blockages.

1.3 Issues with Aeration and Oxygenation Equipment

Air blowers making unusual whistling noises due to loose connections, causing air to escape through the gaps and creating the whistling sound.
Air blowers accumulating water.
Oxygen in the treatment tank not being evenly distributed.

1.4 Biomass System Issues

Biomass darkens due to uneven or insufficient oxygen supply during aeration.
Biomass floats on the water surface due to unstable organic load.
Biomass forms a dense mixture due to lack of oxygen, unstable organic load, and fluctuating pH levels.

1.5 Sludge Issues

Sludge floating in the settling tank.
Sludge forming clumps.
Sludge losing cohesion.
Sludge dispersing.
Sludge turning yellow, settling slowly.
Sludge dying.
Sludge turning dark brown and forming large white foam bubbles.

1.6 Debris Jamming Submersible Mixers and Pumps

This issue occurs when coarse screens fail to block small debris, allowing it to pass into subsequent tanks and get caught in the impellers of pumps and mixers, causing jamming. Adding fine screens at the collection tank can help mitigate this issue.

1.7 Wastewater Remains Colored After Settling

If the wastewater remains yellow after settling, it could be due to excessive use of coagulant chemicals, with incomplete reactions in the coagulation tank. Therefore, the correct chemical dosage should be used.

2. Common Incidents During the Operation of Wastewater Treatment Systems

To ensure smooth operation of the wastewater treatment system, incidents should be promptly addressed and resolved.

2.1 Downstream Equipment Issues

All waste, especially non-degradable floating solids like paper, rags, wood, and debris, should be removed from the incoming wastewater to protect downstream equipment and prevent pipe blockages, system corrosion, and other obstructions in the wastewater treatment process.

2.2 Treated Wastewater Failing to Meet Nutrient Standards

When removing phosphorus, attention should be paid to the chemical dosage:
Pre-precipitation: Before the biological treatment stage, chemicals should be dosed to remove phosphorus from the primary settling tank. The phosphorus concentration between the primary settling tank and the aeration tank should be measured to monitor phosphate levels.
Post-precipitation: Phosphorus is removed through biological filters.
Simultaneous: Chemical dosing before and after biological treatment to meet the permissible phosphorus limits in the treated wastewater.

2.3 High BOD Levels in Effluent

When wastewater is discharged directly into the natural environment with excessively high BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) levels after treatment, it indicates that the treatment process is incomplete, and the waste stream contains too much organic matter, leading to bacteria consuming all the excess oxygen. Therefore, wastewater must be thoroughly treated to maintain an ideal BOD level.
After reviewing the common incidents in wastewater treatment, it's clear that finding a reliable maintenance and improvement service for your wastewater treatment system is crucial for smooth operation.
Dai Nam Environmental Solutions Co., Ltd., with nearly 10 years of experience in the environmental sector, confidently provides solutions to address wastewater treatment issues for your business. Contact us via hotline: 0909 387 796 for timely advice and support.