Efficient wastewater management depends on a healthy microbiological community. Whether managing an industrial facility, a food and beverage plant, or a municipal system, your operation relies on living microorganisms to break down organic contaminants and keep systems in compliance. But when conditions shift—whether due to a production change, weather event, or accidental spill—these microbes can struggle, leading to costly problems and potential permit violations.
The Role of Microbes in Wastewater Treatment
At the heart of every effective wastewater treatment system is a carefully balanced microbial ecosystem. These microbes consume chemical oxygen demand (COD) and help facilities maintain compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. However, sudden spikes in organic load, fats, oils, and grease (FOG), or changes in nutrient ratios can disrupt this balance.
Common culprits of imbalance include:
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Line sanitation cycles in food processing
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Heavy rainfall events in municipal systems
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Feedstock changes in anaerobic digesters
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Accidental spills, such as raw milk in dairies
When the system becomes overloaded, filamentous bacteria and other undesirable species can dominate—causing foaming, sludge bulking, and poor settling, which impact effluent quality and system performance.
Why 24/7 Monitoring Isn’t Always Enough
Monitoring and adjusting treatment parameters around the clock is ideal—but not always feasible. The labor, equipment, and chemical costs required to maintain perfect balance can be significant. And when things go wrong, the costs grow fast: surcharge penalties, environmental violations, or even production shutdowns.
That’s where bioaugmentation comes in.
Introducing BIOACTIV-8-OR™: Your Wastewater Insurance Policy
Watertech’s BIOACTIV-8-OR™ line of bioaugmentation products introduces robust, scientifically-selected bacillus strains into your wastewater system. These microbes not only enhance biological treatment—they help restore balance quickly and prevent future upsets.
Here are five key benefits of using BIOACTIV-8-OR™ to enhance your wastewater program:
1. Enhanced COD Removal
Bacillus bacteria target and digest organic substances, ammonia, phosphorus, and nitrogen—nutrients commonly regulated to protect public health and the environment. BIOACTIV-8-OR™ includes strains tailored to specific challenges such as cold weather conditions, high FOG loads, or paper and petroleum byproducts, accelerating organic breakdown and improving treatment efficiency.
2. Control of Filamentous Overgrowth
While filamentous bacteria can support healthy floc structure, overgrowth creates major operational issues. BIOACTIV-8-OR™ helps outcompete these problematic microbes, reducing foaming and improving sludge settling without the need for aggressive chemical interventions.
3. Rapid System Recovery
Upset conditions can cause microbial populations to crash. BIOACTIV-8-OR™ reintroduces a diverse and resilient microbial mix, accelerating recovery from low biological oxygen demand (BOD) conditions—even in cold climates. This helps facilities bounce back faster and maintain compliance.
4. Lower Operating Costs
Improved digestion reduces the amount of sludge requiring dewatering and disposal. Facilities can also avoid costly chemical overdosing, emergency hauling, and municipal surcharges. With the right strains, bioaugmentation may even reduce or eliminate the need for certain chemical additives.
5. Nutrient Optimization
A successful bioaugmentation strategy begins with a detailed system assessment. Watertech’s technical team conducts onsite testing to determine system conditions, including pH, temperature, alkalinity, ammonia, and nitrate levels. BIOACTIV-8-OR™ products also include essential micronutrients to promote healthier microbial growth and improve overall treatment performance.
Why Choose Watertech?
At Watertech of America, Inc., we do more than provide chemicals—we deliver solutions. Our wastewater treatment programs combine expert guidance, advanced technology, and hands-on service to help your system operate efficiently, safely, and in full compliance.
Explore Our Full Suite of Wastewater Solutions:
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Coagulants, flocculants, and odor control agents
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Metal precipitants and activated carbon
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Remote monitoring and online contaminant tracking
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Custom automation and onsite analysis
Let’s Optimize Your System
Every wastewater system is unique. Let Watertech help you tailor a bioaugmentation solution that works for your operation. Contact us today to schedule a site visit with one of our technical engineers and learn more about our
BIOACTIV-8-OR™ product lines.
Protect your system, reduce costs, and ensure compliance—naturally.
