How often should an industrial ETP be audited?

At a minimum, an industrial ETP should undergo a comprehensive audit annually. Facilities operating close to regulatory discharge limits or handling highly variable wastewater streams should consider quarterly process reviews.

What causes BOD levels to increase in treated effluent?

Common causes include biological culture stress from pH shocks, temperature fluctuations, toxic discharges, inadequate aeration, sludge overloading, and increased production loads without corresponding treatment capacity upgrades.

What is Sludge Volume Index (SVI) and why is it important?

Sludge Volume Index (SVI) measures how well activated sludge settles in a treatment system. A rising SVI may indicate sludge bulking and poor settling performance, which can lead to higher Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and BOD levels in treated effluent.

Why does treated water sometimes develop a foul odour?

Persistent odours in treated water are often caused by anaerobic conditions within the treatment process. Common reasons include insufficient aeration, clogged diffusers, dead zones in aeration tanks, or fouled filter media.

Can water treatment audits be performed internally?

Routine inspections and operational monitoring can be performed internally. However, a comprehensive process and regulatory compliance audit is best conducted by an independent expert who can identify issues that may be overlooked by in-house teams.

5 Signs Your Water Treatment System Is Underperforming