Diagnosis of biological wastewater treatment instabilities using molecular methods: A forensic study of unstable nitrification at the Palo Alto water quality control plant

Researchers seek to develop and apply a suite of molecular tools to diagnose factors that are contributing to unstable nitrification in bioreactors, with an initial focus on unstable nitrification at the Palo Alto Water Quality Control Plant. We will use the results of this work to apply to the National Science Foundation for the creation of a global network of biological wastewater treatment plants with a specific focus on nitrification process control.

Principal Investigators:

Craig Criddle Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment

Chris Francis Professor of Earth System Science and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment