Navigating Winter Challenges: A Guide to Superweld Solutions for ETPs and STPs
Wastewater treatment, a critical process for safeguarding our environment and public health, faces unique challenges during the winter season. One of the key influencers in this complex system is temperature. As the mercury drops, the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants takes a hit, leading to a lot of issues that demand our attention.
In this blog, we’ll explore the challenges posed by winter conditions, talk about some important measures in wastewater treatment, and discuss sustainable solutions to ensure the long-term health of your plants.
The winter season introduces thousands of challenges, affecting the delicate balance of microbial processes and influencing crucial elements such as effluent BOD and TSS limits. Understanding the temperature drops and their after-effects on wastewater treatment efficiency becomes necessary, as the consequences sometimes can extend beyond the treatment plants themselves.
Challenges faced by Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants during winters
When wastewater treatment plants don’t work well, it can cost a lot more money to fix them and keep them running smoothly. It’s better to prevent problems before they happen than to try and fix things when the treatment plants stop working. Let’s discuss and analyze the challenges in more detail so you to take calculated measures and opt for the right treatment.
1. Plant Performance Drops Down:
One of the major challenges during winter is the decrease in microbial activity in Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs). Cold temperatures slow down the metabolic processes of microorganisms responsible for breaking down organic matter, reducing treatment efficiency.
2. Sludge Settling Issues
Cold temperatures affect the settleability of sludge in treatment tanks. Microorganisms responsible for floc formation and settling become less active, leading to poor settling and separation of solids. This can result in carryover of solids into the treated effluent.
3. Microbial Imbalance
Cold weather can disrupt the balance of microorganisms in the treatment process. This imbalance, combined with reduced microbial activity, can lead to the overproduction of foam. Foaming issues not only impact the efficiency of the treatment but also pose challenges in terms of operational control and maintenance.
4. Nutrient Dosing Requirement Increases:
In winter, there is often an increased demand for essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus for microbial growth. To maintain optimal biological activity, additional nutrient dosing may be required. This can contribute to higher operational costs during the winter season.
5. Cost of Treatment and Energy Consumption Increases:
Cold temperatures necessitate the heating of wastewater to maintain optimal microbial activity. This additional heating requirement increases energy consumption, contributing to elevated operational costs. The increased demand for energy also adds to the environmental footprint of the treatment process.
Difficulties in Dewatering:
6. Sludge Dewatering Challenges
Cold temperatures can lead to difficulties in the dewatering process, where excess water is removed from sludge. The cold can cause water to be retained within the sludge, making dewatering less efficient and increasing the volume of sludge that needs further treatment or disposal.
The challenges faced by STPs and ETPs during winter, including reduced plant performance, settleability issues, increased foaming, higher nutrient dosing requirements, elevated treatment costs, and difficulties in sludge dewatering, underscore the need for proactive measures and adjustments to maintain efficient and effective wastewater treatment during colder seasons.
Analysing the problem
The main cause of these problems is the slowdown in microbial activity during winter. This means that the quantity of bacteria, which was initially capable of digesting the same BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) load, becomes inadequate.
As the temperature drops below 25 degrees Celsius, microbial metabolism slows down. In other words, the ability of microbes to digest contaminants in wastewater diminishes.
Nitrifier microbes, which are both sensitive and crucial, tend to become inactive. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees, microbial activity becomes minimal.
The Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) or Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids (MLVSS) performed well earlier. But now, due to the slowdown in the bacteria’s digestive power, the performance has weakened. Now, more bacterial colonies are needed, requiring an increase in MLSS.
This can be understood as having a strong MLSS can help minimise the impact of winters. In cold temperatures, there is a risk of the MLSS deflocculating due to the temperature shock. If we maintain the same flow rate, there is a possibility that the microbes could be washed out.
Many people overlook the challenges that plants face during different seasons, leading to significant problems. It’s wiser to take appropriate measures based on expert advice and use products that have been proven effective in addressing seasonal needs.
Now, let’s delve into the correct steps that we’ve been emphasising on!
Important measures to save your Effluent Treatment Plant and Sewage Treatment Plant during winters
Let’s understand what we can do to increase our Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids (MLVSS) and address these problems:
1. Minimise Sludge Wastage and Boost Recirculation:
Sludge wastage reduction is the first line of defense. By minimizing wastage and increasing recirculation, the concentration of active microorganisms in the treatment system is maintained. This proactive approach contributes to a more solid treatment process.
2. Optimise Feed Flow Rate and Utilise Collection Tank Capacity:
Adjusting the feed flow rate and making the most of the collection tank’s extra capacity is a strategic move. This not only allows for better control over the treatment process but also optimizes the utilization of available resources.
3. Dose SUPER 24 to Strengthen MLSS:
SUPER 24, with its low-temperature-tolerant microbes and settling agents, proves invaluable in strengthening the Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS). This step is vital for enhancing microbial activity, particularly during colder temperatures.
4. Activate Microbes in Lukewarm Water before Dosing:
Before introducing microbes into the system, activating them in lukewarm water for 6-8 hours ensures that they are in an active state. This pre-treatment prepares the microorganisms for efficient functioning upon dosing.
5. Add SUPER NUTRIENTS for Comprehensive Nutrient Supply:
Recognizing the slowdown in nutrient breakdown and uptake during winter, it becomes essential to introduce SUPER NUTRIENTS. Derived from organic sources, these nutrients offer a comprehensive solution, quickly absorbed in comparison to traditional options like UREA and DAP.
6. Implement Heating and Insulation for RAS Line:
Heating and insulating the Return Activated Sludge (RAS) line is critical. Maintaining an optimal temperature for the sludge ensures that microbial activity remains consistent, countering the adverse effects of winter temperatures.
7. Cover Aeration Tanks for Temperature Control:
To control temperature fluctuations, covering aeration tanks is a practical solution. This step provides a stable environment, crucial for sustaining microbial activity and preventing disruptions in the treatment process.
By taking a proactive approach and implementing these detailed steps, wastewater treatment plants can effectively combat the challenges posed by winter. Strengthening the MLVSS and optimising the treatment process not only ensures consistent plant performance but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of our wastewater treatment systems.
How we saved a hospital in Faridabad: A Case Study
There was a 350KL Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in a hospital in Faridabad with 2 Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) tanks. In December, we noticed a significant increase in white foaming. We suggested increasing the Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) quantity by adding SUPER 24. However, one of their operators also said that they don’t have any shortage of MLSS here, so they don’t really need SUPER 24.
There was a crucial need for Super24 because what they referred to as increased MLSS was actually filamentous sludge. This sludge was causing bulkiness and taking up more volume. The measurement of MLSS is in grams, and what comes in the beaker is its settleability
When SUPER 24 and OXYSUPER were regularly dosed, even during winter, there was a significant improvement in settling and water clarity. There is a picture of their feedback on this positive change.
Final Thoughts
By incorporating SUPER 24 and OXYSUPER into the treatment process, the positive results were evident. The operators could see an improved settling and enhanced water clarity, even in the winter months. This experience emphasises the practical importance of understanding specific challenges.
In the broader context, this tells us the significance of a hands-on, problem-solving approach in wastewater treatment. It encourages plant operators and managers to consider real-world conditions, trust expert advice, and deploy proven solutions like SUPER 24 and Oxysuper to ensure optimal plant performance throughout the year. The lesson learned here is invaluable: addressing seasonal challenges head-on leads to more effective, efficient, and sustainable wastewater treatment practices.
Superweld is committed to recognizing and addressing the challenges often overlooked by operators, empowering industries with the right wastewater solutions. Now is your opportunity to safeguard your ETPs and STPs from enduring these common challenges. Don’t let these issues go unnoticed – choose Superweld Ecosolutions for effective and tailored wastewater solutions.
If you’re facing similar wastewater treatment challenges, Superweld Ecosolutions is here to assist you – your reliable partner in transforming wastewater issues into success stories. Feel free to connect with us at Sales@superweld.in or reach us directly at +91-9818588486.