Overview

This intensive 3-day course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of biological wastewater treatment design, and covering microbial processes, wastewater characterization, and the removal of organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens. Delegates gain practical insight into system components like aeration, mixing, and settling, as well as advanced technologies such as membrane bioreactors, anaerobic digestion, and biofilm reactors. Case studies and interactive sessions reinforce learning and equip participants to design and optimize effective, sustainable treatment systems.

Why Should an Individual Attend?

• Master the Fundamentals of Microbial Processes. Gain a solid foundation in microbial metabolism, stoichiometry, energetics, and kinetics—essential for designing effective biological treatment systems.
• Understand Wastewater from Source to Solution. Learn to characterize untreated and treated wastewater, including flow patterns, constituents, and sampling techniques, to inform accurate design decisions.
• Design for Multi-Stage Contaminant Removal. Acquire practical skills to design systems that remove organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pathogens using activated sludge and enhanced biological processes.
• Explore Advanced Treatment Technologies. Dive into the design and operation of membrane bioreactors (MBRs), anaerobic digesters, and biofilm reactors—cutting-edge solutions for modern wastewater challenges.
• Optimize Aeration, Mixing, and Settling Systems. Understand how to design and control aeration and mixing systems, and apply flux theory to secondary settling tank design for improved system stability.
• Apply Real-World Process Control Strategies. Learn how to model and control biological systems, including activated sludge and biofilm processes, with insights into toxicity, bulking sludge, and innovative nitrogen removal.

Outcomes

At the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Understanding how Microbial Stoichimetry, Energetics, and Kinetics are used in Biological Wastewater Treatment Design
• Understanding the characteristics of untreated and treated wastewater and how to apply it in biological wastewater treatment design
• Being able to design activated sludge treatment systems for organic, nitrogen, and phosphorous removal
• How to design for pathogen removal in Bilogical Wastewater Treatment Systems
• Understanding how to design Aeration and Mixing Systems of an ASP
• Gaining insight into the design of Membrane Bioreactors
• Understanding how to design secondary settling tanks (SST;s)
• Gaining insight into the design of Biofirm Reactors

Program Outline

Day 1

Session 1: Microbial Metabolism

• Introduction
• Elements of microbiology
• Stoichiometry an energetics
• Kinetics

Session 2: Wastewater Characterisation

• The origin of wastewater
• PE and PL
• Micro-organisms
• Wastewater flows
• Wastewater and biomass fractions
• Wastewater constituents
• Special wastewater and internal plant recycles
• Symbols
• Household sewage
• BOD and COD
• Special components
• Ratios
• Sampling techniques
• Characterisation protocols

Session 3: Organic Matter Removal

• Introduction
• Activated sludge system constraints
• Some model simplifications
• Steady-state system equations
• Design Example
• Reactor volume requirements
• Determination of reactor TSS concentration
• Carbonaceous oxygen demand
• Daily sludge production
• System design & control

Session 4: Nitrogen Removal

• Introduction to nitrification
• Biological & Process Kinetics
• Factors influencing nitrification
• Nutrient requirements for sludge production
• Design considerations
• Nitrification design example
• Biological N Removal
• Design, Operation & Control
• Design procedure
• System Volume & Oxygen Demand
• System design, operation, and control

Day 2

Session 1: Phosphorous Removal

• Introduction
• Principles of EBPR
• Mechanism of EBPR
• Optimisation & Development of EBPR systems
• Model development for EBPR
• Mixed Culture Steady State Model
• Desing Example
• Influence of EBPR on the system
• Factors effecting the magnitude of P removal
• Denitrification of NDEBPR Systems
• Glycogen accumulating organisms
• Conclusions and perspectives

Session 2: Pathogen Removal

• Introduction
• Types of enteric pathogens
• Occurrence of pathogens in sewage
• Removal of pathogens and Indicators by WWT
• Conclusions

Session 3: Aeration & Mixing

• Aeration technology
• Air blower systems
• Converting manufacturers' data to process conditions
• Sustainable aeration practices
• Aeration requirements

Session 4: Final Settling

• Introduction
• SST Configuration in practice
• Measures of Sludge Settleability
• Flux Theory for estimation of settling tank capacity
• Overview of the use of flux theory and other methods for design and operation
• Modelling of SST's
• Design Examples

Day 3

Session 1: Membrane Bioreactors

• Membrane separation principles
• The membrane bioreactor process (MBR)
• MBR plant design
• Commercial membrane technologies
• MBR case studies

Sessions 2: Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment 

• Sustainability in WWT
• Microbiology of anaerobic conversions
• Predicting CH4 production
• Impact of alternative electron acceptors
• COD balancing.
• Immobilisation and sludge granulation
• Anaerobic Reactor Systems
• UASB Reactor
• Anaerobic Process Kinetics
• Anaerobic Treatment of domestic and municipal sewage

Session 3: Biofilm Reactors

• Biofilm reactors
• Design parameters
• How to determine maximum design fluxes or design loading rates
• Other design considerations

Session 4: Other Aspects

• Innovative Nitrogen Removal Toxicity
• Bulking Sludge
• Process Control
• Modelling ASP
• Modelling Biofilms
• W2RAP
• Green Drop

Who Should Attend?

• Engineering Consultants
• Wastewater Treatment Professional Process Controllers
• Civil, Mechanical & Electrical Engineers who want to understand Biological Wastewater Treatment Principles and Design