Stepping Up To Smart Aeration

According to the U.S. EPA, municipal water and wastewater treatment systems account for 30 to 40 percent of the total energy used by municipalities in the United States. In wastewater treatment, the biggest chunk of this energy consumption comes from aeration. Within a typical WWTP, the aeration equipment used to maintain the required dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the activated sludge process can account for as much as 60 percent of the total plant energy use (Source: EPA.gov). As municipalities and plant operators look for ways to minimize energy use and contain operating costs, aeration is a natural area of focus.