Wastewater – Phosphorus Removal

This project involved optimizing the efficiency of phosphorus removal at a municipal wastewater treatment facility using real-time sensors located in the feed line and recirculation. The poor removal of total phosphorus was due to toxic shocks from upstream industries. SENTRY sensors enabled real-time monitoring, leading to optimized carbon dosing and significant cost savings while protecting the local watershed.

Introduction

This wastewater treatment plant faced challenges with poor removal of total phosphorus, primarily attributed to toxic shocks from upstream industries. Traditional monitoring tools were inadequate in addressing these issues. To address this challenge, the plant adopted SENTRY real-time sensor technology to monitor influent quality and make informed treatment decisions.

Problem

Toxic shocks from upstream industries resulted in poor removal of total phosphorus, posing environmental risks and necessitating proactive monitoring and intervention. There are 4 major dischargers that cause organic overloading and toxic shocks. Operators do not know when to expect these variable events. That leads to only discovering issues at the effluent.

Solution

Two SENTRY sensors were strategically deployed at the plant, one in the primary clarifier influent and one in the anaerobic zone, to profile wastewater quality and establish baselines. These sensors provided real-time insights into consumable BOD levels, enabling early detection of variable loading events and phosphorus breakthroughs.

Results

SENTRY sensors detected large deviations in consumable BOD over weekends (-30% deviation from the mean), leading to phosphorus breakthrough. This early warning enabled the client to optimize glycerin (carbon) dosage during weekends, correcting variable loading and preventing phosphorus breakthrough.

“Using SENTRY sensors at the headworks has helped our partner understand variability of the wastewater coming into the plant. The operators now can tie that variability to treatment performance and manage more effectively. This has brought great value and we will expand our work with the plant in the future.”
Volker Koschay, Managing Director, Gimat

Cost Savings

By optimizing glycerin dosage and preventing phosphorus breakthrough, the client saved 20-30% on carbon costs, resulting in significant cost savings.

Environmental Protection

The optimized treatment process further protected the local watershed, enhancing environmental stewardship.

Next Steps

The wastewater treatment plant plans to continue monitoring wastewater quality in real-time using SENTRY sensors to alert operations staff to developing influent upset conditions. Additionally, the plant aims to further optimize the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) process for enhanced efficiency and environmental protection.

Conclusion

The successful implementation of SENTRY real-time sensor technology at the Wastewater Treatment Plant exemplifies the transformative potential of advanced monitoring solutions in wastewater treatment. By providing early detection of variable loading events and phosphorus breakthroughs, SENTRY sensors enabled proactive intervention, leading to significant cost savings and environmental protection. As the plant continues its journey towards operational excellence, SENTRY sensors remain invaluable tools in achieving efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment practices.

11/3/2026