What adjustment should be made in the aeration basin when ammonia levels are unusually high?

When ammonia levels are unusually high in an aeration basin, it is essential to increase the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. This adjustment is critical because higher DO levels enhance the performance of nitrifying bacteria, which are responsible for converting ammonia into less harmful compounds through nitrification.

Nitrifying bacteria require sufficient oxygen to efficiently carry out this biological process. By increasing oxygen levels, you create a more favorable environment for these microorganisms to thrive and effectively reduce ammonia concentrations. This not only helps in compliance with regulatory discharge limits but also contributes to the overall health and efficiency of the wastewater treatment system.

Maintaining current DO levels or decreasing them would not provide the necessary support for nitrifying bacteria and could potentially exacerbate the problem of high ammonia levels. Introducing more ammonia would be counterproductive, as it would further increase the concentration of ammonia that needs to be treated. Therefore, raising the DO is the most effective strategy to manage high ammonia levels in the aeration basin.