The Amalgam Blogs

Overview Excess sludge production increases disposal costs, fills sludge holding tanks faster and requires more frequent dewatering. Understanding how to reduce sludge production in wastewater treatment starts with checking whether the excess solids come from biological treatment, chemical dosing or incoming wastewater. High organic loading, excessive chemical dosing and unsuitable sludge retention time (SRT) can increase the amount of sludge produced. Common sludge reduction

Overview Industrial wastewater can contain suspended solids, organic matter, chemicals and harmful microorganisms. Different pollutants require different treatment methods. The five basic principles of wastewater treatment are physical treatment, chemical treatment, biological treatment, advanced treatment and disinfection. Physical treatment removes large particles, grit, oil and suspended solids through processes such as screening, sedimentation and filtration. Chemical tre

Overview A compost pile that decomposes waste during summer may become cold, wet and smelly in winter. Food scraps remain visible for weeks, while fresh waste continues to collect. Cold weather composting problems often begin when low temperatures reduce the activity of bacteria that digest organic waste. Excess water and insufficient air can make decomposition even slower. A rotten-egg smell usually indicates that parts of the pile lack oxygen. A strong ammonia smell may mea

Overview Composting in cold weather can become difficult when waste remains unchanged for several weeks. Cold temperatures can reduce the activity of bacteria that digest food scraps, leaves and other organic waste. During winter, a compost pile may become too cold, too wet or too dry. Poor air circulation can also slow the process. Waste may collect faster than it decomposes, causing bad smells and leaving large pieces of waste inside the pile. Our winter composting work beg

Overview It is generally seen that septic tanks have to be pumped more in winters. Cold weather can reduce the activity of bacteria inside the tank. These bacteria help digest waste. Grease, food waste, excess water and other waste can increase the amount of sludge in the tank. Our septic tank sludge reduction work began with finding the reason for the extra sludge. Pumping removed the sludge, but the problem returned. We needed to understand the cause. We checked the type of

Overview Cold weather can change the way a septic tank processes sewage. When the wastewater temperature falls, bacteria may break down organic matter more slowly. Waste still enters the tank each day, so slower digestion can leave more solids behind and add to septic tank sludge buildup. Some properties may notice slow drains, recurring blockages or septic tank odour in winter. These septic tank problems in cold weather need careful checking because temperature is only one p

Overview Activated sludge bulking occurs when biological sludge does not settle and compact properly in the secondary clarifier. Excessive filamentous bacteria are a common cause, but they are not the only reason for poor settling. Low dissolved oxygen, unsuitable organic loading, nutrient shortage, low pH, septic wastewater and sudden changes in industrial effluent can favour bulking conditions. Sludge volume index (SVI) helps operators measure sludge settleability and track

Overview The activated sludge process is an aerobic biological method used to treat wastewater containing biodegradable organic matter. Wastewater enters an aeration tank, where it mixes with microorganisms and oxygen. The microorganisms consume biodegradable organic material and form biological flocs. The mixture of wastewater and biological solids in the tank is called mixed liquor. After aeration, mixed liquor enters a secondary clarifier, where biological solids settle. P

Overview Start central kitchen odour control at the cooking source. Hoods need to capture fumes before they spread through the kitchen. Inspect grease filters and exhaust ducts regularly. Grease deposits can hold cooking smells and reduce the condition of the extraction system. Check where exhaust air leaves the building. An unsuitable discharge point can move odour towards windows, air intakes or nearby properties. Treat drains, food residue and waste storage as separate odo

Overview Begin with odour source identification. Check production areas, floor drains, grease traps, waste storage, raw-material areas, ETP tanks, sludge storage and exhaust points. Remove food residue before it decomposes. Floors, drains, equipment and waste containers need cleaning frequencies based on how quickly organic material collects. Keep wet food waste in suitable closed containers and move it out according to the factory’s waste-handling schedule. Include the ETP i

Overview Measure wastewater generation across normal production days, peak days and cleaning periods before deciding the treatment capacity. Test the actual wastewater characteristics, including pH, COD, BOD, TSS, oil and grease, nutrients and pollutants related to the manufacturing process. The right small industrial wastewater treatment system depends on what needs to be removed. A food unit and an electroplating unit cannot use the same treatment process simply because bot

Overview Industrial wastewater can contain oils, suspended solids, high organic loads, dyes, solvents, nutrients, salts or process chemicals. The treatment method has to match what is actually present in the effluent. The main industrial wastewater treatment solutions used in India include physical separation, chemical treatment, aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment, membrane filtration and tertiary treatment. Choosing between industrial wastewater treatment solutions i

Overview Cold weather does not increase the amount of waste entering a biotoilet, but it can change how quickly that waste is broken down. When digestion slows, operators may face more sludge, odour and cleaning work. This blog explains how cold region bacteria for biotoilets can help maintain waste digestion in low-temperature conditions and why choosing the right bacterial culture can reduce the need for frequent manual cleaning. A biotoilet can create a strange maintenance

Overview This blog explains why biotoilet problems in cold weather often begin with slower microbial activity rather than a physical fault in the toilet. It looks at how low temperatures affect waste digestion, sludge formation and odour. The article also covers practical winter maintenance and explains how cold-tolerant bacteria can help keep biological toilet treatment working in colder locations. A biotoilet can look perfectly normal from the outside while things are going

Overview A winter STP does not always need a new tank, new equipment, or a different treatment process when MLSS starts falling. This article follows a different approach: looking at the bacterial population before making physical changes to the plant. It explains what happened when low temperatures affected the existing biomass and how cold-region bacteria for STPs can be used alongside an existing treatment setup. The article also covers the points operators should check be

Overview This blog looks at a winter STP problem from the operator's point of view: BOD removal started falling even though the equipment was running normally. It explains how low temperatures can slow bacteria in the aeration tank and affect treated-water results. It also covers the checks operators should make before changing the plant settings. The blog then explains where low-temperature bacteria, such as Amalgam Biotech's Cold Region Bacteria STP, can fit into winter sew

Overview This blog looks at why pond sludge removal can fail during winter, even when the same method works well in warmer months. It explains how low temperatures reduce microbial activity, slow organic sludge degradation, and contribute to pond sludge accumulation. The blog also explains why cold-active bacteria can be useful for biological pond cleaning in winter and how Amalgam Biotech’s Cold Region Bacteria Pond Cleaner can support cold water pond treatment. ​ “We cleane

Overview This blog explains the common challenges of cleaning ponds in cold climates and why normal pond-cleaning methods may not work as expected during winter. It covers slow microbial activity, sludge accumulation, poor decomposition, and changes in pond water quality. The blog also explains how cold water beneficial bacteria can support biological pond cleaning in low temperatures. Amalgam Biotech’s Cold Region Bacteria Pond Cleaner is discussed as an option for ponds tha

Overview This blog explains the best fat oil and grease control systems for restaurants and commercial kitchens in India. It covers grease traps, mechanical systems and biological treatment methods for managing FOG in kitchen wastewater. The blog also compares biological and mechanical grease control and shares simple ways to reduce grease in restaurant drains. It also explains how BactaServe FOG Powder can support restaurant grease treatment and FOG management. The best fat

Overview This blog explains the best products to prevent grease buildup in kitchen drains, with a focus on restaurants and commercial kitchens. It covers biological drain cleaners, grease digesting bacteria, drain treatments and regular kitchen drain maintenance. The blog also explains how biological grease treatments work and how they can help control grease before it causes blockages and odour. BactaServe FOG Powder is discussed as a biological option for ongoing grease con