Pilot Plant Testing for Municipal Sewage Treatment

Abstract

Activated sludge and trickling filter pilot plants were installed at two major sewage treatment plants serving industrialized areas to determine biological treatability of the wastes. The pilot plants, located in New Jersey, were operated over a period of approximately 1-1/2 yr. The project indicated that a long operating period is required to obtain satisfactory operation and meaningful results. Significant differences in the waste characteristics of the two systems were indicated. In both cases, trickling filters were unable to provide the overall 80% BOD removal required by the stream standards. The activated sludge units provided satisfactory efficiencies. Training of plant operating staffs in biological treatment was a major additional benefit of the program.