The Amalgam Blogs

Overview A septic tank is supposed to break down waste naturally. Yet when sludge builds up, drains slow down or unpleasant smells start coming from toilets and drainage lines, many people reach for chemical additives. We took a different view. Instead of adding harsh chemicals to a system that already depends on microorganisms, we looked at biological treatment and the role of septic tank bacteria in breaking down organic waste. That shift led us to BactaServe Septic, a micr

Overview Our septic tank kept smelling even after repeated treatment. The problem was not simply the odour; we needed to understand what was happening inside the tank. Septic systems depend on microorganisms to break down biodegradable waste, while excess solids, poor drainage, vent faults and other issues can cause unpleasant smells. This made us look more closely at the biological side of septic tank maintenance. A septic tank treatment powder such as BactaServe Septic uses

Overview A high COD reading does not always mean a biological treatment plant needs more bacteria. In a paper mill, COD can come from easily biodegradable material as well as lignin, fibres, sizing agents, colour compounds and other substances that microorganisms may break down slowly. This changed how we looked at our pulp and paper wastewater treatment process. Instead of treating COD as one problem, we began asking what was creating it, where it entered the ETP and which p

Overview Pulp and paper industry wastewater treatment can be difficult when COD remains high and foam keeps returning. Paper mill wastewater may contain cellulose, lignin, fibres, colour-causing materials, sizing agents and surfactants. Some of these materials can be hard for microorganisms to break down. This article explains how we checked the causes of repeated COD and foam problems, reviewed the biological tank and supported microbial activity. It also covers common treat

Overview Pharmaceutical wastewater can be difficult to treat because its chemical content can change with each production batch. High COD, solvents, drug residues and certain organic compounds may affect the bacteria inside an ETP. When this happens, COD removal may become unstable. This blog explains the problems we faced with wastewater treatment for pharmaceutical industry operations and what we checked to improve biological treatment. We cover COD loading, oxygen, pH, mic

Overview Wastewater from pharmaceutical plants can contain solvents, drug residues, APIs and high levels of organic matter. A single treatment product cannot remove every pollutant. Good pharma wastewater treatment normally uses different treatment stages based on what is present in the water. These may include pH correction chemicals, coagulants, biological cultures, activated carbon and other treatment products. In this blog, we explain the main products used for pharmaceut

Overview Nitrogen and phosphorus are common nutrients in industrial wastewater. If too much reaches rivers or lakes, it can cause heavy algae and plant growth, which can lower oxygen levels in the water. Industries may need special treatment stages to control these nutrients before discharge. Choosing nutrient removal equipment for industrial wastewater depends on the type of wastewater, nitrogen and phosphorus levels, discharge limits and the existing treatment plant. This b

Overview Nitrogen and phosphorus are needed for plant growth, but too much of them in treated wastewater can harm rivers and lakes. Treatment plants use biological, chemical and physical methods to bring these nutrients down before discharge. The right method depends on the wastewater, nutrient levels and local discharge limits. This blog explains the main technologies used for nutrient removal in wastewater treatment, including nitrification, denitrification, biological phos

Overview An aerobic digester depends on microorganisms and oxygen to break down organic matter in sludge. When conditions inside the tank change, digestion can slow down. Operators may notice foam, poor sludge settling, bad odour or rising solids. Good aerobic digester troubleshooting starts by finding the cause rather than treating only the visible problem. This blog covers common aerobic digester problems, including low dissolved oxygen, weak biomass, foaming and poor aerat

Overview Aerobic and anaerobic treatment both use microorganisms to break down organic matter in wastewater, but their running costs can be quite different. Aerobic systems need a continuous supply of air, while anaerobic systems work without oxygen. This difference affects electricity use, sludge production, equipment and daily plant operation. The operational costs of aerobic vs anaerobic treatment also depend on wastewater strength, plant size and discharge requirements. T

"निर्मल गंगा, अविरल गंगा" - A Clean Ganga, A Continuous Ganga. For millions of Indians, the Ganga is more than a river. She is faith, culture, livelihood, and life itself. Yet, every day, untreated wastewater, organic waste, and pollution quietly find their way into her waters. Protecting the Ganga is not the responsibility of one organisation or one initiative, it is a collective commitment towards the generations that will inherit her. At Amalgam Biotech, we believe meaning

Bad smells from a sewage treatment plant can quickly lead to complaints from workers, nearby residents and visitors. We first looked at masking agents, which cover the smell for a short period. But covering an odour does not deal with the compounds producing it. This changed how we approached malodour removal in STP operations. Instead of focusing only on what people could smell, we looked at oxidation-based treatment that acts on odour-causing compounds. This blog explains o

Overview An STP can meet its treated-water discharge limits and still cause serious odour complaints. In many cases, the smell starts before the final treatment stage, often in collection tanks, sludge areas or places where sewage remains stagnant. Hydrogen sulphide, low oxygen, sludge build-up and long holding periods are common causes of sewage treatment plant odour. This blog explains why discharge compliance does not always mean an odour-free STP, how operators can trace

Overview A strong rotten-egg smell from an ETP collection tank often points to hydrogen sulphide formation under low-oxygen conditions. In this case, stagnant wastewater, poor oxygen levels and old sludge had created conditions for H₂S and other odour-causing compounds to form. Instead of covering the smell with fragrance, we focused on ETP odour control at the source. An oxidation-based treatment was applied directly to the wastewater, and the rotten-egg smell was no longer

Overview A bad smell in treated wastewater does not always mean the biological system has failed. In this ETP, COD removal had improved and the biomass had recovered, yet the treated water still carried an unpleasant odour. The investigation showed that the problem was occurring further down the treatment line. Residual sulphides, other odour-causing compounds or conditions inside treated-water storage can cause a treated wastewater smell even after biological treatment. This

Overview A sudden high BOD load can make microorganisms consume oxygen faster than an aeration system can supply it. In this ETP, dissolved oxygen continued to fall even though the blowers were running. Before adding more oxygen, we checked the organic load, aeration equipment, DO, pH and biomass condition. Once a temporary oxygen shortage was confirmed, an oxygen booster for wastewater treatment was used to support the biological process. This blog explains BOD shock load ma

Overview A running blower does not always mean microorganisms are receiving enough oxygen. In this aeration tank, bubbles were visible, but dissolved oxygen remained low and the active biomass started weakening. Poor oxygen transfer, blocked diffusers or a sudden rise in BOD/COD load can create an aeration tank oxygen deficiency even when aeration equipment is running. This blog explains what causes low dissolved oxygen in aeration tank conditions, how low DO affects MLSS and

If your MLSS is in range, pH is stable, DO is adequate and BOD removal is still poor, the answer is almost certainly micronutrient deficiency in wastewater treatment. This is the most underdiagnosed failure in biological treatment, costing plants months of poor performance before anyone looks at it. Here is exactly what micronutrients do inside an aeration tank, how to spot deficiency, and what a targeted wastewater treatment nutrient supplement can do to fix it. Table of Con

Overview Urea and DAP are commonly added to biological wastewater treatment systems to provide nitrogen and phosphorus for microbial growth. But reducing their dosage too quickly can disturb the nutrient balance and affect MLSS. In this ETP, we reduced urea and DAP dosage by 60% while maintaining MLSS stability in the aeration tank. Instead of making a sudden cut, the dosage was reduced gradually while an alternative nutrient source was introduced. This blog explains reducing

Overview A pharmaceutical ETP was using starch as an external carbon source, but the BOD ratio remained low and MLVSS was not improving as expected. This raised concerns about how much usable carbon was actually reaching the microorganisms. The plant then switched to a metered liquid carbon source based on complex polysaccharides. After the change, both the BOD ratio and MLVSS improved. This blog compares starch vs liquid carbon source in wastewater, explains why consistent c