Chapter 4 - Role of Microorganisms in Performance Optimization of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Abstract

Generation of wastewater is unavoidable but its discharge into the environment is of great concern. Wastewater treatment process is designed in a manner to allow the process of natural breakdown of pollutants in controlled conditions. The physical and chemical processes include removal of solids materials. The one method which all wastewater treatment processes have in common is the biological method. This process relies on the use of some microorganisms to convert organic contaminants into environmentally beneficial product. A wastewater treatment plant itself is a microbial zoo containing bacteria, protozoa, metazoa, and various micro life. During the course of their processing in wastewater treatment plant, the amount and share of the microbial community in wastewater will continue to change. The type of technology used for wastewater treatment significantly affects the microbial content of treated wastewater.