Part II of II: The Steps of a Wastewater Lagoon Cleaning in Bethel, OH

In Part I of this series on wastewater lagoon cleaning, we covered the site prep approach to a cleaning, as well as a more costly, yet thorough way of cleaning your lagoon: by dredging it. In this second part of the series, we’ll visit two more ways to deal with the excess of sludge in your wastewater lagoon: both of which don’t involve as much heavy lifting or as high of a cost!

Aeration and mixing

In many modern-made wastewater lagoons, the prospect of sludge buildup and other natural buildups has already been planned for. The solution to these issues comes in the form of the lagoon’s aeration system.

An aeration system generally has a single job: to provide oxygen to the lagoon to be used in conjunction with a mixing system, to dilute and minimize sludge particles in a way that allows them to naturally break down in the lagoon. The problem can come when aeration systems aren’t being utilized frequently enough or when they’re damaged in a way that doesn’t allow them to function to a high level of efficiency.

The aeration and mixing process is a simple one: when the system is turned on, the aeration system will provide oxygen bursts to the lagoon, while the mixing system spins to create a torrid whirlpool. Sludge trapped within this whirlpool will slowly break down and disseminate, reducing buildups and overall contamination.

The aeration system is a necessary one, however, and plays the most important part in this method of sludge breakdown. The mixing system can break down sludge by itself, however that sludge will simply settle and rebuild back up over time—the existence of oxygen means natural bacteria is being reduced into the system to fuel effluent breakdown more effectively.

Bio augmentation

Bio augmentation isn’t really so much a different method of cleaning your lagoon as it is a more refined way of aerating it. Bio augmentation deals with adding bacteria to aeration systems to introduce a more aggressive brand of bacteria into the waterway, to rapidly break down sludge buildups and supplement the ecosystem of the lagoon itself. Aerobic breakdowns are the goal of bio augmentation and when it comes to lagoon cleaning in Bethel, OH, this is the preferred method not only for removing sludge, but for maintaining the lagoon ecosystem for the future.

Keeping sludge at bay

Sludge buildups are a natural occurrence in wastewater lagoons and simply cannot be prevented… however they can be dealt with appropriately and made minor in time through several different methods of lagoon cleaning and maintenance. Whether it’s dredging the lagoon manually for maximum sludge removal or taking the aeration and mixing route (with potential bio augmentation), lagoon cleaning and maintenance can make quick work of effluent issues.

For more information on the best method of cleaning and maintaining your wastewater lagoon, don’t hesitate to contact Gullet Sanitation Services Inc. today!

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