METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RELEASING NITROGEN FROM FILTER MEDIA

A method and system for removing nitrogen from a downflow denitrification media filter which optimizes the bump timing increasing productivity. The method comprises measuring the influent and effluent nitrate concentrations and determining total nitrate-nitrogen accumulation. A bump of the filter is initiated based on a comparison of the total nitrate-nitrogen accumulation with a predetermined accumulated nitrate-nitrogen value. The method may utilize a processor, having a memory, which is capable of communicating with, receiving input from and sending output to, and controlling the filter and any in-line measurement tools. The method may include a bump timing factor to adjust the bump interval when the actual operating conditions are substantially different from the operating conditions that were present when the predetermined accumulated nitrate-nitrogen value was determined. A method for predicting the bump interval and determination of an estimated time until the next bump are also included.