11.19.25 -- Using Master Controls To Enhance Aeration And Reduce Power Use

The idea of combining two systems into one sounds like a common-sense solution to simplifying operations.  Wastewater treatment plant operators have been experimenting with this concept by combining waste activated sludge with primary and septage waste streams with the goal of lowering system complexity.  The reality of these efforts is proving, in many cases, to be problematic.

Conserving energy and saving costs are always on the minds of wastewater professionals. Aeration accounts for more than 50 percent of electrical usage at most treatment plants. Improved aeration efficiency will always work toward the goals of saving energy and reducing operating costs.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are two wastewater constituents that, together, pose one of the most high-profile threats for consumers and the environment. An abundance of these elements is what ultimately leads to the formation of toxic algae in surface waters, an environmental issue that regularly gains mainstream headlines and, in some cases, poses an acute health risk to consumers.

The municipal wastewater treatment plant in Port Washington, Wisconsin, is located on the picturesque shore of Lake Michigan, so it’s essential that their plant performs as designed.