White Paper: Biological Nutrient Removal Microbiology Metabolic Pathways of Biological Nutrient Removal

Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) is critical for the preservation of our lakes and streams... Large amounts of waste products are passed through our sewage treatment systems on a continuous basis. Nutrient loads discharged from these systems must be reduced to avoid eutrophication in receiving waters. Microbes are particularly useful in biodegrading most of the compounds treated by wastewater treatment plants, in particular carbonaceous, nitrogenous, and phosphoric compounds. They do this in nature on a continuous basis in both high and low nutrient environments.