Cause and pre-alarm control of bulking and foaming by Microthrix parvicella—A case study in triple oxidation ditch at a wastewater treatment plant

The cause and control of foaming and bulking in triple oxidation ditch at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were investigated. The results showed that the foaming and bulking was mainly caused by the excessive propagation of Microthrix parvicella, and mostly occurred in the cold winter and spring. Batch and continuous flow experiments indicated that biological techniques such as reducing sludge retention time (SRT) and increasing F/M ratio, chemical methods such as addition of chlorine (NaOCl), quaternary ammonium salt (QAS), or cationic polyacrylamide flocculants (PAM), polyaluminum salt (PAC) could decrease Sludge Volume Index (SVI) and control foaming and bulking at different levels. In practical application, the shorter SRT was effective to control foaming and bulking in initial stage, although it took longer time. Addition of 10 g Cl kg MLSS d −1 could gradually change the activated sludge with serious foaming and bulking to normal state within a week. Pre-alert control strategies should be established for the control of filamentous foaming and bulking.