Category: Wastewater Lagoon Blog

Algae

August 4, 2016 6 min read

Wastewater Lagoon Blue-Green Algae: The Harm of HABs

We talk about algae a lot, because with wastewater lagoons, algae just comes with the territory. In facultative and stabilization lagoons, algae provide free oxygen to fuel aerobic BOD-consuming bacteria and higher life forms. Even in a properly mixed and aerated lagoon, algae may be present in small amounts during the hottest summer months. In summer, the combination […]

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Case Studies

July 25, 2016 4 min read

Replace floating lagoon aerators with Triplepoint Aeration, relieve O&M headaches

Case Study: City of Yerington, NV Yerington, Nevada, is a desert community of about 1,200 households in the western part of the state. Their wastewater is treated by an aerated lagoon system just north of town. Frustrated by the high energy costs and consistent breakdown of their floating lagoon aerators, the city turned to Farr West […]

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Industrial Wastewater

July 12, 2016 6 min read

When Trouble Is Brewing: Preventing Brewery Lagoon Odors

According to the Brewers Association, we’re in a golden age of beer production, with the U.S. boasting over 4,000 active breweries as of September 2015. However, this increase in production has been accompanied by several high-profile news stories of brewers in trouble with their neighbors because of offensive odors from the brewery’s wastewater treatment system. Beer manufacturers […]

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Aeration

June 21, 2016 6 min read

What are these red worms in the lagoon?

We’re often in the field, visiting wastewater lagoon facilities and learning about the challenges operators face. Last week, an operator in Georgia showed us a video of lagoon sludge swarming with tiny, wriggling red worms (see video below). Since we’re always interested in lagoon conditions and how they contribute to effluent quality, we decided to […]

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Aeration

June 6, 2016 6 min read

Lagoon Duckweed: Friend or Foe?

Duckweed, or water lens, is a rapidly growing, invasive aquatic plant that loves wastewater lagoons due to the presence of nutrients ammonia and phosphorus. Since summertime is high season for lagoon duckweed, it seems like a good time to talk about it—what it is, what it does, and whether it’s a friend or a foe […]

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Ammonia

May 20, 2016 5 min read

Wastewater Lagoon Nutrients: The TL;DR of TMDL

In its effort to protect the health and safety of America’s waterways, the EPA and state environmental agencies have focused on limiting the amount of pollutants that can be discharged into them. In previous articles, we’ve covered pathogens and wastewater lagoon nutrients ammonia and phosphorus; in this article, we’ll discuss Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), […]

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Aeration

May 6, 2016 5 min read

Troubleshooting Low Lagoon Dissolved Oxygen

Lagoon dissolved oxygen, or DO, is the lifeblood of the wastewater lagoon system. The bacteria and other microbes that consume biological oxygen demand (BOD) need 1.5–2 lbs. of dissolved oxygen per pound of influent BOD, and as much 4 lbs. of oxygen per pound of BOD during the spring, when warming temperatures increase biological activity. Insufficient […]

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Case Studies Aeration

March 9, 2016 4 min read

Facility maximizes lagoon aeration efficiency, saves money

Replacing coarse-bubble system with Triplepoint’s Aerators saves sanitary district over 40% on electricity and maintenance costs. Energy consumption represents the highest operational cost for an aerated wastewater treatment lagoon system. Here’s how one sanitary district improved their lagoon aeration efficiency and reduced power, operations, and maintenance costs by replacing their obsolete coarse-bubble aeration system with […]

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Aeration

January 21, 2016 5 min read

Wastewater Pathogen Removal: Do Lagoons Do It Better?

When it comes to controlling disease-causing pathogens, lagoons do it better—but do they do it well enough? The purpose of wastewater treatment is to remove before discharge any substance that can have a negative effect on the environment. In previous articles, we’ve discussed BOD removal, nutrients like ammonia and phosphorus, and contaminants like pharmaceuticals and personal […]

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Ammonia

December 21, 2015 4 min read

Say Hello to My Little Friend: The Tardigrade

The tardigrade, a ubiquitous creature familiar to wastewater professionals, is enjoying a moment in the spotlight. New York’s American Museum of Natural History is showcasing them as part of the exhibition Life at The Limits: Stories of Amazing Species. The BBC calls them “the toughest animals on Earth,” citing their successful round trip to outer space, attached […]

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Phosphorus

November 18, 2015 5 min read

Wastewater Lagoon Phosphorus Removal Methods

In Part 1 on this two-part article on wastewater lagoon phosphorus, Wastewater Lagoon Phosphorus: The Crackdown Is Coming, we outlined its sources and the reasons regulating bodies are beginning to add phosphorus effluent limits to permits. Part 2 will present an overview of methods of phosphorus removal from wastewater lagoons. Pathways of Wastewater Lagoon Phosphorus Removal […]

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Phosphorus

October 29, 2015 4 min read

Wastewater Lagoon Phosphorus: The Crackdown Is Coming

In previous blog posts, we’ve discussed lagoon ammonia, including its sources and how to treat it. In this two-part article, we’ll begin to tackle the other half of the nutrients puzzle: wastewater lagoon phosphorus.  Part 1 will cover the sources of lagoon phosphorus and the problems environmental phosphorus can cause. The upcoming Part 2 will […]

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