TROUBLE SHOOTING

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

compiled by
CD Swartz

The following information was summarized from the WISA Handbook for the Operation of Wastewater
Treatment Works (2002). It shows trouble-shooting tables for the inlet works, biofilters (trickling filters),
activated sludge process (which consists of the biological reactor [bioreactor] and the secondary settling
tank), and maturation ponds. Every treatment plant should be in possession of the WISA Handbook
(obtainable from the Water Institute of Southern Africa).
5.1 Inlet Works
Problem
MECHANICAL BAR SCREENS
High rag content downstream
of screen
Limit switches faulty
Excessive build-up of debris
onscreen
Rake not removing all debris
during cleaning mechanism
Rake jamming
Rake tripping out
Obnoxious odours, flies and
other insects
GRIT REMOVAL SYSTEM
Grit accumulation in channels
Excessive grit in primary
sludge
Low recovery rate of grit
Possible Cause
Screen bar missing or
displaced
Corroded or burnt out
Screen overloaded
(a) Rake not meshing with
screen
(b) Rake worn or teeth
broken
(a) Teeth bent
(b) Something jammed in
bars
(a) Overloaded motor
(b) Overloaded motor
Accumulation of debris
Grit scraper system operating
at slow speeds
Grit channel hydraulically
overloaded resulting in
bottom scour
(a) Broken or worn chain-
and-flight scraper system
(b) Grit removal system from
collection sump operating
at slow speeds
Corrective Action
Check bars and replace
Replace by electrician
Remove build-up manually
and increase frequency of
taking (cleaning)
(a) Adjust
(b) Repair or replace
(a) Straighten or replace
(b) Remove obstruction
(a) Remove excess debris
(b) Rake jamming on bars,
electrician to check on
motor current
Increase frequency of debris
removal and disposal
Increase speed of grit scraper
system
Maintain flow velocity near 0,3
m.s-1 or increase retention
time by using more channels
(a) Repair equipment
(b) Increase speed of grit
withdrawal system from
sump
5.2 Biofilters (Trickling Filters)

Problem Possible Cause Corrective Action

Objectionable odours from Excessive organic load causing Calculate loading
filter anaerobic decomposition in
filter Reduce loading by putting more
biofilters in service

Increase COD removal in primary

settling tanks by using all tanks
available and minimizing storage
of primary sludge in tanks

Encourage aerobic conditions in

treatment units ahead of the
biofilter by adding chemical
oxidants such as chlorine,
potassium permanganate, or
hydrogen peroxide, or by pre-
aerating, recycling plant effluent,
or increasing air to aerated grit
chambers

Enforce industrial waste

ordinance, if industry is source of
excess load

Scrub biofilter off-gases

Expand plant

Increase hydraulic loading to wash

out excess biological growth

Insufficient ventilation Remove debris from filter effluent

channels and under drains

Remove debris from top of filter

media

Unclog vent pipes

Reduce hydraulic loading if

underdrains are flooded

Install fans to induce draught

through filter

Check for filter plugging caused by

breakdown of media
Ponding on filter media Excessive biological growth Reduce organic loading
Increase hydraulic loading to
increase sloughing

Flush filter surface with high-

pressure stream of water

Chlorinate filter influent for several

hours. Maintain 1 to 2 mg/l
residual chlorine on the filter.
 Flood filter for 24 hours
Shutdown filter until media dries
out

Poor media Replace media

Poor housekeeping Keep area surrounding filter

mowed. Remove weeds and
shrubs
Rotating distributor slows Insufficient flow to turn Increase hydraulic loading
down or stops distributor

Clogged arms or orifices Flush out arms by opening end

plates. Flush out orifices

Remove solids from influent

wastewater

Clogged distributor arm vent Remove material from vent pipe

pipe by rodding or flushing

Remove solids from influent

wastewater

Bad main bearing Replace bearing

Distributor arms not level Adjust guy wires at tie rods

Distributor rods hitting media Level media

Remove some media

Dirt in main bearing lube oil Worn bearing dust seal Replace seal

Worn turntable seal or seal Replace seal. Inspect seal plate

plate and replace if worn

Condensate not drained Check oil level, drain condensate,

regularly or oil level too low and refill if needed

Water leaking from distributor Worn turntable seal Replace seal

base
Leaking expansion joint Repair or replace expansion joint
between distributor and influent
piping

Recirculation pumps delivering Excessive head Open closed or throttled valves

insufficient flow Unplug distributor arms, headers
and laterals

Unplug distributor nozzles and

orifices

Unplug distributor vent lines

Pump malfuntion Adjust or replace packing or

 mechanical seals

Adjust impeller to casing

clearance

Replace wear rings if worn

excessively

Replace or resurface worn shaft

sleeves

Check impeller for wear and

entangled solids. Remove debris.
Replace impeller if necessary

Check pump casing for air lock

Release trapped air

Lubricate bearings as per

manufacturers instructions

Replace worn bearings

Lubricate bearings as per

manufacturers instructions

Pump drive motor failure Replace worn bearings

Keep motor as clean and dry as

possible

Pump and motor misaligned,

check vibration and alignment

Redesign as needed

Burned windings. Rewind or

replace motor

Check drive motor for excessive

current draw. If current draw is
excessive, determine reason

Check drive motor overload

relays. Replace if bad or
undersized

Reset drive motor, motor control

centres, or plant main circuit
breakers after cause for trip is
identified and corrected or when
power is restored after interruption
5.3 Activated Sludge System
Problem Possible Cause
Biological Reactor and Secondary Settling Tank
High DSVI resulting in solids Sludge age may be too short
carry-over or too long
Low DO concentrations in the
aeration basin
Anoxic fraction is too large
Nitrite concentrations in
excess of 1 to 3 mg N/l
entering aerobic zone from
anoxic reactor causing
bulking sludge
Bulking sludge
High concentration of solids in Clarifier is hydraulically
the effluent overloaded
Sludge recycle rate is too low
Pinpoint floc resulting from
shearing
Solids loading on clarifier
excessive
Turbid effluent Hydraulic flow rate excessive
MLSS concentration too high
Flocs sheared
Sludge age too short
pH too low
Sludge rising to clarifier Denitrification occurring in
surface clarifier due to prolonged
retention times
Sludge turned black and Septic sludge within clarifier
Corrective Action
Change sludge age thus
changing MLSS
Increase aeration
Alter feed arrangements such that
a fraction of the settled sewage can
be fed into the anoxic zone
Decrease the size of the anoxic
zone
Reduce A-recycle rate
Shock dose mixed with chlorine
Check flow to clarifier and reduce if
possible or operate another clarifier
Increase recycle rate
Reduce aeration
Reduce MLSS to aeration basin
Operate extra clarifier
Reduce MLSS
Reduce missing intensities and
turbulence in transfer channels
Increase sludge age
Dose with lime
Increase recycle rate
Increase scraper speed
Decrease nitrate
concentration of feed by
additional denitrification in
anoxic basin
Inhibit nitrification by
reducing the sludge age or
aeration rate
Empty clarifier and check
scraper clearances
Increase recycle rate
 gassing, giving off odours
Increase aeration in reactor

Reduce MLSS

Return sludge too thick
resulting in pipe blockages
Very thin sludge being
withdrawn
Scum
Scum accumulation on the
tank surface
Excess sludge accumulation Increase recycle rate
within the clarifier
Empty tank and check blades
Scraper blades worn or
damaged preventing sludge
being scraped into the
hopper
Sludge is being removed too Reduce recycle rate
quickly from the clarifier
Worn scum scraper blade Replace rubber blade
Blocked scum hopper Unlock outlet pipe with air or
high-pressure water jet
Removal frequency
inadequate Increase removal frequency

Scum accumulation on the Skimmer box incorrectly Adjust alignment of skimmer

tank surface aligned box.

5.4 Oxidation Ponds and Maturation Ponds

Problem Corrective Actions

High seepage rate Draining the pond and seal it with impermeable soil
or plastic membrane
High vegetation growth on embankments Mowing or cutting

Vegetation growth through pond surface
Algal mats on facultative and maturation ponds
Fly or mosquito nuisance
Overloaded ponds causing poor effluent quality
and/or odour nuisance
Increase pond depth or loading rate to shut light off
from pond bottom; remove weeds from pond
bottom using boat; remove any sludge banks
causing shallow areas
Break up mats with water jets or from boats;
remove the mats and scum
Keep pond edges clear of vegetation; keep
facultative and maturation ponds free from scum;
spray chemicals to kill mosquito larvae; stock
maturation ponds with fish (e.g. Gambusia)
Add additional ponds; increase operational depth
of anaerobic ponds; use surface aeration for
facultative ponds or recirculation

Short circuiting causing poor treatment efficiency or Add additional inlets and/or outlets for better
odour problems distribution; install baffles; recirculate if necessary

Toxic material in the influent Identify pollution source to find out the origin of the
inhibitor and take administrative measures in order
to set a limit on the amount of toxic substance that
may be admitted into the sewer system.