Excessive filamentous bacteria can cause severe disruption in clean-water plants, most notably poor settling in final clarifiers.
When a filament issue arises, it’s essential to find the cause, and that starts with a microscopic study to determine the abundance and species of filaments present. Some plants have the equipment and expertise in-house to make the determination. Some do not and therefore need to consult with experts.
Traditionally, that means sending samples of activated sludge to a laboratory for examination, a process that takes time and delays resolution of the problem. Now, believe it or not, there’s an app for that. Novozymes,
