SBR Wastewater Treatment Plant in Northern Spain
STARTING POINT
The resort is located in a small town in the north of Spain. The facility is somewhat undersized in relation to the growing number of inhabitants and experiences seasonal fluctuations. There were mainly four challenges they wanted to address by testing our YDRO biological purification process:
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1 It is an SBR plant with too low capacity and few tools to control the process.
2 One of the BIO tanks struggled with filamentous bacteria and heavy foaming.
3 The neighbors had for long complained about the smell from the Plant.
4 The delivery of dewatered sludge is associated with high costs in that area of Spain.
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PROJECT
The customer started using our biological bacterial cultures/YDRO process in early February 2025.
For the first three weeks, the plant was run in exactly the same way as before. The only change was that our bacteria were added on a daily basis.
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After three weeks, we started to adjust the time intervals in the different sequences together with the customer. This was done to achieve hydrolysis in the plant. The hydrolysis splits up the complex organic molecules and releases Volitare Fatty Acids (VFAs). With the correct combination of aerobic and anaerobic time intervals, the VFAs are converted to CO2 and H2O.
At the same time, a focus was placed on returning as much activated sludge as possible to the intake. The activated sludge ensures that as many of the added bacteria as possible live as long as possible.
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Outlet samples were taken every week and consisted of COD, TN, TP, pH, SS and V30, among others.
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AFTER 4 MONTHS
1 Activity in the plant is now much more controlled, using Ydro as the main tool.
2 The foaming and the filamentous bacteria are gone.
3 H2S and odors are gone and no complaints from the neighbors.
4 Disposal sludge reduced by 80%.
Other effects achieved are
1 Less energy consumption by adjusting oxygen supply and reducing dewatering.
2 Less use of chemicals (flocculants).
