When should aeration be increased in a treatment process?

Increasing aeration in a treatment process is particularly important when the food-to-microorganism (F/M) ratio is high. A high F/M ratio indicates that there is a greater amount of organic material (food) available in comparison to the microorganisms that are responsible for breaking it down. This scenario can lead to conditions where there is insufficient oxygen available for the microorganisms to effectively metabolize the organic matter.

By increasing aeration, additional oxygen is supplied to the system, which supports the microbial population in digesting the organic matter more efficiently. This helps prevent the buildup of excess organic material and enhances the overall efficiency of the wastewater treatment process, ensuring that the system operates effectively and remains within regulatory treatment standards.

Other factors mentioned may not directly necessitate an increase in aeration. For example, a decrease in pH could indicate a need for different operational adjustments, while low BOD levels typically suggest that there is minimal organic matter requiring treatment, indicating that aeration may not need to be increased. Similarly, decreasing total suspended solids (TSS) might reflect a settling or separation issue rather than an aeration requirement.