Watewater Process

TKN: A Major Lagoon Problem

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:36:34 GMT

In the last newsletter, we talked about the importance of TKN, or Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, in a wastewater treatment plant. This time, let’s talk specifically about what TKN does in a lagoon system, because when it is not addressed before it gets there, it can create problems across the entire treatment process.

Those problems do not always show up all at once, and that is part of what makes them so costly. They build slowly, spread across the lagoon, and eventually show up in the form of algae blooms, high suspended solids, elevated oxygen demand, poor effluent quality, and a lagoon that becomes harder and harder to manage.

Any operator who has worked with lagoons for any length of time knows algae is one of the biggest headaches, especially once the weather turns warm. In the northern part of the country, operators may fight that battle six or seven months out of the year. In the South, it can stretch eight, nine, or even ten months depending on the climate. By the time summer is fully underway, many lagoons start turning that familiar pea-green color, and people often accept it as just part of lagoon treatment. But that is a mistake. While some seasonal algae is common, excessive algae growth is usually telling you something. It is often a visible symptom of an upstream loading problem, and TKN is frequently part of that story.

It is also worth clearing up a common misunderstanding. Most municipal lagoons are not too small. In many cases, they are too large for the actual loading they receive. That may sound backwards, but it matters. When wastewater is spread out across a large lagoon surface area, it becomes diluted, and that dilution can slow the breakdown of more complex organic materials. Instead of being concentrated enough for efficient biological activity in a controlled environment, those compounds are dispersed over a broad area and processed slowly. That creates the perfect setting for long, drawn-out conversions that feed nuisance conditions instead of stable treatment.

That is where TKN becomes a real problem.

TKN is made up of organic nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen. In a lagoon system, that nitrogen does not simply vanish once it enters the water. It has to be biologically broken down over time. The organic fraction begins converting, and as it does, it contributes to the formation of ammonium. In the lagoon environment, that ammonium becomes part of a slow-moving cycle. As conditions allow, it moves through nitrification and is converted toward nitrate. The problem is that this transformation is not happening in a tight, controlled reactor. It is happening over a broad, open body of water exposed to sunlight, temperature swings, wind, varying detention times, and seasonal changes in biological activity. That matters because nitrogen, especially in available forms, is fertilizer.

And when you fertilize a warm lagoon with plenty of sunlight, algae is going to respond.

So when operators see a bright green lagoon in the heat of the year, they should not just think, “That is algae.” They should also be asking, “What is feeding it?” Many times, the answer is excess nutrient loading, including TKN that was not sufficiently addressed before it entered the lagoon. The lagoon is not just reacting to sunlight. It is reacting to food. And if you keep feeding it nitrogen and organics day after day, you should not be surprised when the algae takes over.

That bright pea-green color some people have learned to tolerate is not just an aesthetic issue. It is a warning sign. It is the system telling you that too much nutrient conversion is happening in the wrong place and in the wrong way. Once algae growth gets heavy, the lagoon becomes more unstable. Oxygen levels can swing widely from day to night. Solids increase. Settling worsens. Water clarity drops. The system becomes more difficult to predict and more difficult to operate with confidence.

And that warning sign usually comes with real consequences.

One of the first places operators feel it is in TSS. As algae populations grow, they contribute directly to suspended solids in the lagoon effluent. That means even when the lagoon appears to be functioning on the surface, the discharge quality may be headed in the wrong direction. Along with that, cBOD can appear artificially elevated because the algae itself contributes oxygen demand. In other words, the system may look like it has a BOD problem when in reality part of what you are seeing is biological material created inside the lagoon as a result of excess nutrient availability. That distinction matters, because if you misread the problem, you may spend money treating the symptom instead of solving the cause.

This is where many lagoon systems get trapped. Operators focus on the algae because the algae is what they can see. They talk about the color, the surface condition, the clarity, or the solids in the final discharge. But algae is often only the last chapter of the story. The story usually started upstream with too much organic loading, too much nutrient carryover, poor lift station conditions, excess septicity, or inadequate pre-treatment of the wastewater before it ever reached the lagoon.

That is why the smartest place to deal with TKN is before it gets there.

If you can reduce the TKN and associated organics upstream, you give the lagoon a much better chance to function the way it was intended to function. The lagoon becomes less reactive, more stable, and easier to operate. The water quality improves. The algae pressure drops. Solids become easier to manage. The risk of elevated cBOD decreases. And the entire system becomes less expensive to live with over time.

That upstream work is not glamorous, but it matters.

A strong lift station maintenance program matters. If lift stations are allowed to accumulate grease, rags, sludge, and septic organic material, then the wastewater arriving at the lagoon is already in bad shape. By the time it gets there, you are no longer dealing with a clean influent stream. You are dealing with a partially degraded, nutrient-rich load that is ready to create trouble. Routine maintenance, cleaning, and proactive management of those collection points can make a major difference in what ultimately reaches the lagoon.

The right bacteria and enzyme program can matter too. When properly applied, these programs can help reduce organic buildup, improve degradation ahead of the lagoon, and take pressure off the downstream treatment process. They are not magic, and they are not a substitute for good operation and maintenance, but they can be useful tools when they are part of a broader strategy. The goal is simple: reduce the amount of problematic material entering the lagoon so the lagoon does not have to spend months converting it under less-than-ideal conditions.

That is really the larger point. Lagoons tend to magnify what comes into them. If the incoming load is reasonably stable and manageable, the lagoon can often do its job very well. But if the lagoon is being fed too much TKN, too much organic matter, and too many nutrients for too long, it will eventually show you the result. It may show you in algae. It may show you in TSS. It may show you in cBOD. It may show you in odor, color, poor clarity, or inconsistent performance. But one way or another, it will show you.

Too many operators spend their time chasing symptoms in the lagoon while the real problem keeps flowing in every single day. They focus on what is visible at the end of the pipe instead of what is entering the system at the front end. That approach usually leads to frustration, higher operating costs, and a lagoon that never quite seems to improve for long. If you want a better lagoon, start by fixing what is feeding it.

When you get control of TKN before it enters the lagoon, you are not just solving one parameter. You are improving the overall biological health of the system. You are reducing the nutrient fuel that drives nuisance algae. You are improving the odds of better solids control. You are protecting effluent quality. And you are making life easier for the operator responsible for keeping the whole thing in compliance.

A clean, stable lagoon is usually not the result of luck. It is the result of upstream discipline.

In the next article, we will talk about another major lagoon issue: the hidden downside of dredging large sludge buildups.

TKN – The Energy Pig

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:27:05 GMT

Why Organic Nitrogen is Quietly Driving Your Power Bill

In wastewater treatment, there are a handful of parameters operators watch like hawks: BOD, TSS, ammonia, dissolved oxygen. But there is one major driver of cost and energy use that is often underestimated or flat-out ignored until it starts hurting the budget.

That parameter is TKN.

TKN stands for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and it represents organic nitrogen in the wastewater stream. While it does not always get the same attention as ammonia or nitrate, TKN is one of the most significant hidden loads coming into a wastewater treatment plant.

It is an energy hog.

Understanding Where TKN Fits

From a loading perspective, wastewater treatment plants deal with two broad categories of demand:

cBOD – carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand

nBOD – nitrogenous biochemical oxygen demand

TKN sits squarely in the nBOD category. Most bacteria in the activated sludge process prefer inorganic nitrogen sources such as ammonium, nitrite, or nitrate. TKN, however, is organic nitrogen that must be biologically converted before it becomes usable to the biomass. That conversion costs oxygen. And oxygen costs money.

Why TKN Is Often Overlooked

Many operators do not see TKN as a primary loading concern because its impact is not always obvious at first glance. Effluent numbers may look fine. Settling may appear acceptable. But behind the scenes, TKN quietly drives:

-Increased sludge production

-Higher aeration demand

-Elevated power consumption

-Larger blower runtimes

When plants struggle to control energy costs or cannot explain why aeration systems are running harder than expected, TKN is often a major part of the answer.

What Makes Up TKN

TKN is not a single substance. It includes a range of organic nitrogen sources, including:

-Fats, oils, and greases (FOG)

-Urea

-Other organic nitrogen compounds

This is why TKN is so closely tied to:

-Restaurant grease traps

-Lift stations

-Food service facilities

-Gas stations with fried food operations

When grease trap maintenance is neglected or lift stations are not routinely cleaned, the organic nitrogen load heading to the plant can increase dramatically. The result is a downstream energy problem that shows up on the electric bill.

The Real Cost of Oxygen

Here is where TKN earns its nickname as the energy pig. To biologically process nitrogen, oxygen is required at every step:

6.5 pounds of oxygen are required to convert TKN to ammonium. Another 4.5 pounds of oxygen are required to convert ammonium to nitrate. That is 11 pounds of oxygen per pound of nitrogen moved through the full conversion process. That oxygen does not appear for free. It is generated by blowers and aeration equipment that are powered by electricity. When TKN enters the plant untreated, the blowers spin harder, longer, and more often. That is real money leaving the building.

The Sewer System Is Your First Reactor

Here is the key insight that many plants miss. If TKN can be converted to ammonium before it reaches the treatment plant, the process becomes significantly less expensive. Under anaerobic or low-oxygen conditions in the collection system, organic nitrogen can be converted upstream. When that happens, the plant avoids the 6.5 pounds of oxygen required for the initial TKN-to-ammonium conversion. Ammonium is already a preferred bacterial food source, and the aeration system can focus on nitrification rather than doing double duty.

In short: Convert nitrogen early, and you save energy later.

Where Operators Can Make a Difference

The good news is that controlling TKN does not require new blowers or major capital upgrades. It requires attention to the right places.

-Aggressive grease trap inspection and enforcement

-Routine lift station cleaning

-Focused maintenance on known high-strength contributors

-Proactive management of food service and FOG sources

When these areas are addressed consistently, the reduction in organic nitrogen loading can be substantial.

Why It Matters

TKN is not just another lab number. It directly impacts:

-Energy consumption

-Sludge handling costs

-Aeration system capacity

-Long-term operating budgets

Plants that ignore TKN often end up paying for it every month in electricity. Plants that manage it upstream gain control over both performance and cost. That is why there is so much to do about TKN. It may be invisible most days, but when it comes to energy, TKN is the pig at the trough.

Settleability: The Most Common Problem in Wastewater Treatment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:05:54 GMT

Solving the Common Problem of Settleability

Roughly eight out of ten times the phone rings at Wastewater Process, the conversation begins the same way: “Our sludge doesn’t settle.” Over more than forty years in the wastewater industry, I have taken hundreds of these calls.

The first thing I need to determine is whether the settleability issue is chronic or acute . That distinction matters. I have seen plants with very poor settling characteristics that still produce an excellent final effluent. I have also seen plants with fast, clean settling sludge that discharge a highly turbid effluent. Settleability alone does not tell the whole story, but it is often the symptom that brings deeper issues to the surface.

If you are a municipal facility dealing with poor settleability, one of the first questions to ask is where your city gets its potable water. If your drinking water source is surface water, your wastewater may be deficient in critical minerals. A lack of cationic minerals such as magnesium, manganese, potassium, or iron can directly contribute to poor sludge settleability.

To evaluate this, we like to start with a metals analysis of the MLSS, or mixed liquor suspended solids. This test helps determine whether the biomass is lacking essential micronutrients. When deficiencies are identified, we can recommend targeted nutrient additions to fill those gaps. In most cases, cationic micronutrients are relatively inexpensive and easy to apply. Facilities interested in this approach should contact us for guidance on which micronutrients to test for and what instructions to provide to the laboratory when ordering analyses.

When a plant is experiencing chronic settleability problems, the next critical parameter to evaluate is alkalinity. A healthy mixed liquor should maintain alkalinity above 150 mg/L as calcium carbonate. Without sufficient alkalinity, long-term stability is impossible. Alkalinity acts as the foundation that supports pH. When alkalinity drops to zero, biological activity follows. Zero alkalinity means zero bugs.

Alkalinity can be screened initially using Hach alkalinity test strips. These strips provide a quick snapshot and are useful as a starting point. However, if alkalinity appears low, more accurate testing methods should be used. Titration or spectrophotometric methods provide better precision and are essential when chemical adjustments are being considered. Accurate data ensures that nutrient additions are effective and prevents overcorrection or unnecessary chemical expense.

We will explore these topics in greater depth in future articles. For now, it is important to remember that good process laboratory data is not optional. It is foundational to efficient plant operation, stable treatment performance, and solving settleability problems at their root rather than chasing symptoms.

Reducing Energy Costs Through Biological Monitoring

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 12:59:44 GMT

Aeration Matters!

For decades, I have traveled all over the country helping operators, plant managers, and municipal leaders think more carefully about the operation and budgeting of wastewater treatment facilities. One of the most effective opportunities to reduce operating costs while improving system stability is found in the aeration system within the activated sludge process.

Across the industry, it has become common practice to run aeration systems twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. While this approach may feel safe, it is often unnecessary and expensive. Aeration is typically the largest energy consumer in a wastewater treatment plant, frequently accounting for more than half of total electrical usage. Any reduction in unnecessary aeration can have a significant impact on operating budgets.

We strongly advocate for the use of Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) monitoring to guide aeration control. These measurements provide valuable insight into what is actually happening biologically inside the aeration basin, rather than relying on fixed blower setpoints or rules of thumb.

In many facilities, DO and ORP levels are maintained much higher than needed. In my experience, some of the most stable and efficient activated sludge systems operate with DO levels in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 mg/L. In certain cases, even lower values can be effective as long as NPDES permit limits are consistently met. Running at lower DO levels reduces energy consumption and places less stress on the biological system.

When ORP and DO are monitored throughout the length of an aeration basin, a consistent pattern often appears. In the front portion of the tank, DO and ORP steadily increase as oxygen is introduced and microorganisms actively consume incoming organic material. However, in the back half of the basin, it is common to see DO plateau or even rise while ORP begins to drop. This drop in ORP is often caused by bacterial cells rupturing and releasing intracellular material back into the mixed liquor, which effectively increases the organic loading.

Recognizing this pattern allows operators to respond appropriately. Aeration rates can often be reduced toward the back of the tank, easing biological stress and improving overall system stability. This approach not only benefits the health of the biomass but also delivers meaningful energy savings by reducing blower run time.

Another valuable practice is intentionally cycling aeration off for short periods. Giving the system time to slow down and recover can improve biological performance when done correctly. These decisions should always be guided by real-time DO and ORP data to ensure treatment objectives are maintained.

At Wastewater Process, LLC, we work with facilities to turn these concepts into practical operating strategies. Through process monitoring, instrumentation support, and biological treatment solutions, we help operators gain better visibility into their systems and make informed adjustments. Tools such as ORP and DO monitoring, combined with biological products designed to support healthy biomass, allow facilities to optimize performance rather than simply over-aerating for safety.

Aeration control also plays a critical role in biological nutrient removal. Nitrification and denitrification each require specific redox conditions, and understanding ORP trends helps operators create the right environment for each biological process without excessive energy use.

Optimizing aeration is not just about saving power. It is about understanding how your system responds, protecting the health of the activated sludge, and operating with intention rather than habit. Small adjustments, when guided by good data, can produce long-term gains in stability, compliance, and cost control.

Lagoon Bio-Dredging

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 21:37:41 GMT

Optimizing Efficiency in Wastewater Management: The Critical Role of Pre-Dewatering Processes

When it comes to managing wastewater effectively, the dewatering process is a pivotal stage that can determine the success of a treatment plant’s operations. It's a critical step, particularly in facilities such as municipal lagoons, industrial plants, and agricultural operations that handle high volumes of organic waste. The efficacy of dewatering lagoons – whether it's sludge from a municipal source, industrial sludge, or waste from poultry or hog production – greatly depends on the preparation that takes place before the actual dewatering begins. In this blog post, we’ll explore the vital pre-dewatering processes that can significantly enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness in wastewater treatment.

**The Importance of Pre-Dewatering Analysis**

Dewatering a lagoon without adequate preparation is akin to sailing a ship without a compass. To navigate the complexities of wastewater treatment, a thorough understanding of the material to be processed is essential. This is where Nutrient and Volatility Analysis comes into play. These analyses provide a detailed snapshot of the waste's chemical makeup, informing treatment plants about the nutrient load and the biodegradability of the organic matter present. Such insights are crucial for determining the appropriate treatment protocols and ensuring that the dewatering process is tailored to the specific characteristics of the sludge.

**Mixing Requirements: Stirring Up Success**

Before dewatering can begin, the sludge must be homogenized to ensure that the dewatering process is uniform and efficient. Mixing requirements are therefore established to prevent the segregation of solids, which can lead to uneven dewatering and potential processing challenges. The aim is to create a consistent slurry that will respond predictably and effectively to dewatering techniques.

**Harnessing Biological Solutions: The Lab Trial Phase**

One of the most innovative aspects of modern wastewater treatment is the use of specific bacteria and enzyme treatments to enhance the dewatering process. But before these biological solutions are introduced to the full-scale system, a comprehensive Lab Trial is essential. These trials serve as a proof-of-concept stage where various bacterial and enzymatic treatments are tested to determine their efficacy in breaking down the organic matter. The results can guide the selection of the most effective microbial treatment, ensuring that the dewatering process is as efficient as possible.

**Understanding the Customer Timeline**

The treatment of wastewater is often subject to stringent timelines. Municipalities, industries, and agricultural facilities all have schedules to keep, and the dewatering process must align with these time constraints. Recognizing the Customer Timeline is integral to planning the pre-dewatering steps effectively, ensuring that all preparatory processes complement the client's operational schedule. This foresight is critical to minimizing disruptions and meeting the regulatory deadlines that govern wastewater treatment.

**A Closer Look at Cost Analysis**

Cost remains a decisive factor in wastewater management. Comprehensive Cost Analysis is imperative to ensure that the dewatering process provides the best return on investment. By evaluating the costs associated with nutrient and volatility analyses, mixing requirements, and the selection and application of bacterial and enzymatic treatments, treatment plants can make informed financial decisions. This economic overview must also consider long-term savings resulting from improved efficiency and the potential to recover resources from the waste.

**Dewatering: Beyond the Municipal Lagoon**

While municipal lagoon dewatering is a significant focus, it's essential to acknowledge the specialized dewatering needs of different industries. Industrial Sludge Bio-Dewatering, for instance, often deals with a variety of chemical and biological compounds that require tailored pre-dewatering preparations.

Agricultural waste presents its own set of challenges. With Chicken Plant Anaerobic Bio-Dredging, the emphasis is on managing high volumes of organic waste and ensuring that the dewatering process mitigates environmental impacts. Similarly, Hog Lagoon Bio-Dredging involves handling waste with high nutrient loads, necessitating careful preparation to ensure that dewatering is both effective and ecologically responsible.

**In Conclusion: The Key to Successful Dewatering**

The preparation stage before dewatering is not just a preliminary step; it's a series of well-orchestrated processes that set the stage for the efficient handling of wastewater. Through careful analysis, testing, and planning, Wastewater Processing companies can enhance their operational efficiency, meet regulatory requirements, and manage costs effectively. By prioritizing these pre-dewatering processes, treatment plants are not just processing waste—they are stewarding the environment and supporting the communities they serve.

For more information on how our pre-dewatering services can optimize your wastewater management, please contact us. Let us guide you through each step towards a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly dewatering process.

Oil and Grease Reduction

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 21:18:05 GMT

Harnessing Microbial Power: Revolutionizing Wastewater Treatment with Cultured Microbes

In the sphere of environmental management, wastewater treatment stands as a silent yet formidable challenge for industries across the globe. Traditional methods of dealing with contaminants often fall short, especially when tackling the persistent and troublesome elements like fats, oil, and greases (FOG). However, Wastewater Process, LLC is at the forefront of an ecological revolution, harnessing the power of cultured microbes, specifically Anaerobic Gram Negative Cultures, to turn this challenge into an opportunity for sustainability and efficiency.

**The Microbial Solution: A Natural Approach to a Man-made Problem**

Our innovative treatment utilizes cultured microbes adept at converting insoluble FOG into soluble volatile fatty acids. This is not just a marginal improvement but a transformative change in how wastewater contaminants are treated. These microscopic powerhouses break down the toughest of waste materials, ensuring that what leaves the processing facility is infinitely more environmentally friendly than what entered.

**The Simplicity of Setup**

One of the greatest barriers to adopting new technologies is often the complexity of their integration. Wastewater Process, LLC understands this challenge and has crafted a solution that is as straightforward as it is effective. Manufacturing our bacteria and enzymes in-house, we provide an easy-to-set-up system that seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure. This simplicity allows for quick adoption and adaptation, minimizing downtime and ensuring a swift transition to a more effective treatment process.

**Odor Reduction: A Pleasant Side Effect**

Our cultures utilize hydrogen sulfide as one of their nutrients, inadvertently addressing one of the most noxious problems in waste processing: odor. By consuming this compound, the microbes not only break down waste but also significantly reduce the malodors often associated with wastewater. This not only makes for a more pleasant environment around the processing facilities but also reduces the potential for complaints from neighboring communities and businesses.

**Success in the Field: The Story of the Anareobic Chicken Lagoon**

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the effectiveness of our cultured microbes comes from the success stories in the field. A notable example is the remarkable treatment of an anaerobic chicken lagoon. For those unfamiliar, these lagoons can accumulate massive caps of grease, which are traditionally challenging to eliminate. Our treatment protocols have yielded spectacular results in this regard, routinely achieving reductions exceeding 80%.

The largest success to date involves a chicken lagoon cap in Louisiana. Here, a formidable 12-foot grease cap was reduced to a mere 2-inch layer. This not only dramatically improved the functionality and efficiency of the lagoon but also served as a testament to the unparalleled efficacy of our microbial treatment.

**Impact on Force Main Treatment and Scale Elimination**

The benefits of our microbial treatments extend further into the plumbing systems that feed into waste treatment facilities. When used in force main treatment, much of the scale that builds up in these systems – often leading to blockages or the need for costly maintenance – is eliminated. This not only improves the longevity of the infrastructure but also enhances the efficiency of the overall waste treatment process.

**A Green and Clean Future**

The environmental impact of wastewater treatment is an issue that cannot be ignored. By adopting our microbial treatment solutions, facilities not only step into a new era of waste processing efficiency but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Reducing FOG content, mitigating odor, and preserving infrastructure are just the beginning.

Our solutions stand as a testament to the power of biotechnology in tackling environmental challenges. With cultured microbes leading the charge, Wastewater Process, LLC is not just providing a service; we are setting a new standard for the industry. Join us in this revolution, where clean water is not just an aspiration but a daily reality.

**Closing the Circle**

The environmental benefits of our technologies represent a full-circle moment in sustainable industry practices. Waste, once seen as an inevitable byproduct of human and industrial activity, is now a front for innovation. By using nature's own tools, we're not just processing waste; we're redefining what it means to be waste.

For more information on how our cultured microbes can transform your wastewater treatment process, or to hear more about our success stories and how you can be a part of this green revolution, please visit www.wastewater-process.com or contact us directly. Let's create a cleaner, sustainable future together.