Assessment of Biomass Health Using Advanced On-line Instrumentation in a Small Facility Converted from Contact Stabilization to Extended Aeration in Houston, Texas

Upon completion of the Mobile Analytical Trailer (MAT2000) online monitoring trailer, a test site was needed to experiment with the capabilities of the unit. Jackrabbit Road Public Utility District Wastewater Treatment Plant had recently been converted from a traditional contact stabilization to an extended aeration was the perfect place to test the MAT2000 and the plant conversion.Historically the cBOD values elevated over the weekend and the plant permit will soon require nitrification with an ammonia limit of 3.0 mg/L and thus the aeration capacity of the plant was in question. The MAT2000 would give a plant assessment of the aeration capacity as well as the viability of the biomass.The biomass at the plant proved to be in excellent health and the population was kept at the optimum level yet the aeration capacity was limited during the accelerated weekend loading periods. An automated dissolved oxygen control is recommended especially due to the staffing requirements on the weekend being considerably less than during the weekdays. The MAT2000 proved to be an excellent tool for remote, short-term, process analysis.