The desired conditions in biological wastewater treatment must be maintained for the enzymes of the desired bacteria to work adequately. A simplified way to think of enzymes and their environments is as the “keys to unlocking reactions.” If the desired bacterial enzymes cannot carry out their processes, other bacteria (often undesirable for specific treatment goals) step in and gain a competitive advantage.
Conditions including pH, alkalinity, sludge retention time, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and more must be within targeted values. For example, most bacteria in traditional aerated biological processes are not suitable for thermophilic conditions (around 104 degrees F or higher),
