Lagoon Aeration: Why Adding Oxygen Alone Won’t Fix Your Lagoon
In Part 1 of this series, we broke down why most struggling lagoons do not actually have a sludge problem. They have a mixing problem. The rising sludge levels, the odors, the falling DO readings, and the permit pressure are all symptoms of the same root cause. This is where Part 2 picks up. Once […]
Wastewater Lagoon Sludge: Why Your Lagoon Is Struggling (And What’s Really Causing It)
Walk into a wastewater facility that is struggling and the complaints tend to sound the same. The lagoon smells. Sludge levels are climbing. Dissolved oxygen readings are dropping. Discharge permit numbers are getting harder to hit, maintenance costs are skyrocketing and if a bottom diffused air system is used the pressure is steadily going up, […]
Reducing Manhole I&I Through Smarter Access Design
When municipalities evaluate inflow and infiltration in wastewater systems, the focus often falls on buried assets such as pipes, joints, laterals, and groundwater intrusion. Those components play an important role in overall system performance. However, one of the most direct and controllable sources of manhole I&I is frequently overlooked because it sits in plain sight […]
Engineering Out Manhole Weak Points in Municipal Infrastructure
For many municipalities, manhole structures reflect decades of incremental fixes layered onto aging systems. Frames sit on stacked grade rings, chimney sections are built up to meet changing roadway elevations, and access points are adjusted repeatedly as streets are resurfaced. These approaches often restore short-term functionality, but they also introduce interfaces that become increasingly vulnerable […]
Why Composite Manholes Are Reshaping Municipal Infrastructure
For decades, cast iron has been the default material for manholes, largely because it was familiar and widely accepted. But in practice, that familiarity has come with tradeoffs that many municipalities continue to absorb every day, from worker injuries and access delays to corrosion-related failures and persistent noise complaints. According to Lewis Titus of Titus […]
From Complaints to Compliments: The Lift Station Demo That Speaks for Itself
Wastewater odor complaints can overwhelm an operator’s day long before the first truck even rolls out. Neighbors call. Crews investigate. The smell fades, then comes roaring back without warning. For many municipalities, the pattern feels endless and the fix almost always seems to involve more chemicals, more equipment, or more trial-and-error than anyone has time […]
What Lightning and Lift Stations Have in Common: Ozone Wastewater Treatment in Action
Wastewater odor rarely comes from the places people expect. As we explored in Part 1 of this series, the real culprits often hide inside the system itself. Biofilm inside a force main, dissolved sulfides produced under anaerobic conditions, or unexpected industrial inputs can overwhelm an entire collection system. Once those compounds reach the air, the […]
More Than Just Poop: The Hidden Enemies of Wastewater Odor Control
When people think of wastewater odor, the knee-jerk reaction is often, “Well, it must be the poop.” And to be fair, that assumption isn’t completely off base. But if you ask Lewis Titus, founder of Titus Wastewater Solutions and trusted advisor to municipalities across the country, it is more than just an oversimplification. It is […]
Advancing Wastewater Aeration Technology: Airlift Innovation for Oxidation Ditches
Oxidation ditches, or “racetracks,” have been a trusted upgrade from lagoon systems for decades. Their closed-loop design supports long solids retention times (SRT) and dependable biological treatment. Yet one challenge has persisted: how to aerate and circulate water effectively within the ditch. Traditional mechanical aerators such as brushes, discs, and low-speed surface units have long […]
The Hidden Costs of Brush, Disc, and Low Speed Surface Aerators in Oxidation Ditches and the Better Alternative
Oxidation ditches, or “racetracks” as many operators call them, have been a workhorse in wastewater treatment for decades. They provide a controlled environment for aerobic digestion, keeping solids suspended and oxygen levels high enough for bacteria to do their work. But while the process is dependable, oxidation ditch aeration has often been the weak link. […]