Rapid recovery using Biofermentation
Biofermentation® helped restore compliance and improve effluent quality at an overloaded RBC plant, cutting BOD, ammonia and solids even during major capacity reductions.
- UK
- Municipal
- Compliance, Capacity
Consulting
A UK water company was struggling with high FOG loads and reduced treatment capacity at a municipal works, pushing the plant close to breaching compliance limits.
Solution
Outcome
Effluent quality improved across key metrics, even while running at reduced capacity.
47%
BOD Reduction
48%
solids reduction
38%
Ammonia reduction
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Details
Turning around plant performance with Biofermentation®
A UK water company ran a full-scale, 12-month demonstration to address performance issues at a wastewater treatment works handling both domestic and industrial loads. The site, which serves around 2,800 people, had been struggling with high levels of fats, oils and grease (FOG), as well as regular mechanical disruptions. These challenges were pushing the plant to its limits.
The core of the problem lay in the rotating biological contactors (RBCs), which had become overloaded and covered in thick FOG deposits. At times, up to half of the treatment capacity was offline due to repairs. Despite this, Biofermentation® helped the plant remain within regulatory limits and significantly improve effluent quality.
“Even when running at a reduced capacity, the improvements have been phenomenal“
Dave McMaster
Plant Manager
What changed
With Biofermentation® in place, the site achieved a steady transformation. The visual change on the RBCs was clear: from a greasy white coating to a healthier brown biofilm. This reflected deeper improvements in biological activity and overall system health. Over the year, key water quality metrics showed strong gains. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) dropped by 47%, suspended solids were reduced by 48%, and ammonia levels fell by 38%
Perhaps most impressively, the plant avoided any consent breaches, even when operating at just half its designed capacity for a fortnight.
What it meant for the utility
The demonstration didn’t just improve numbers. It showed that with the right biological support, existing assets could be pushed further without costly upgrades. Biofermentation® helped unlock capacity, improve reliability, and support long-term sustainability goals, all without capital investment.