Utilizing Proven Bioaugmentation Techniques to Optimize Paper Mill Wastewater
Treatment

ABSTRACT
Wastewater discharge compliance is the responsibility of mill operators, and that compliance can provide a
competitive advantage. Mill production grade changes, seasonal stresses and operational limitations can negatively
affect the runnability and effluent performance efficiency of a biological wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). In
this case study, a paper mill’s UNOX (activated sludge with pure oxygen) WWTP routinely was experiencing
biomass settling deficiencies, primarily due to filamentous bulking and a high concentration of microbial
extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This WWTP’s operational condition snowballed into a reduction in
dewatering performance, which exacerbated the biomass bulking issues that were attributable to the high total solids
inventory (TSI) and the long mean cell residence time (MCRT). Further, during summer the UNOX wastewater
temperature exceeded 100 °F (37.7 °C), further stressing the biomass and limiting dissolved oxygen (DO) transfer.
The WWTP operators struggled to routinely maintain performance and compliance. Through the implementation of
the bioaugmentation techniques, the WWTP’s biomass health was enhanced, which optimized biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD) removal and biomass settling. 

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