How to Reduce Ammonia in Wastewater Plants

Excess ammonia levels in water discharged by wastewater plants can have detrimental effects on the surrounding environment. The lakes and streams where the wastewater is dumped can be toxic to plants and aquatic life at very low levels. Ammonia in wastewater depletes oxygen levels in the water and the effects increase as the water temperatures and pH increase. Nitrification is the most common method for removing ammonia from wastewater, but cold weather makes this process difficult. Other methods of ammonia removal are necessary in cold weather conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Nitrifiers
• Mechanical aeration system
• AquaMats
• Submerged attached growth reactor
• Biological bacteria supplements

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply nitrifying treatment products to the wastewater to kill ammonia. There are a variety of products available on the market to deal with ammonia issues.

• 2

  Install an aeration system. Retrofitting a wastewater treatment lagoon with a mechanical aeration system will increase dissolved oxygen levels even in cold weather to reduce ammonia.

• 3

  Install AquaMats to increase the available surface of the wastewater treatment lagoon. A large water surface area provides a medium for nitrifying bacteria to grow and remove ammonia.

• 4

  Utilize a submerged attached growth reactor consisting of an aerated bed of coarse gravel. This promotes the growth of nitrifying bacteria.

• 5

  Add a biological supplement to increase the natural bacteria in the wastewater lagoon.