Bioaugmentation In Sewer Network Reduces Sludge Production

By Dr. Bulbul Ahmed, In-Pipe

This article describes the effectiveness of bioaugmentation in the sewer network as a strategy to reduce sludge production.

Sludge is an obvious by-product generated from the physical, chemical and biological treatment processes of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as shown in Figure 1. Sludge management, which includes treatment, hauling, and disposal, is one of the biggest burdens facing municipal plants. The costs of sludge management account for 55% of the total WWTP operating cost and 35% of the capital cost.

In some cases, sludge treatment may be required to minimize odor emissions during transportation or to reduce and stabilize the remaining sludge organic contents. Due to high sludge management costs and the availability of disposal sites, it is vital to find new technologies that can reduce sludge production.