Secret Life of Bugs
In partnership with Microscopist Natalie Walton, we developed a fun blog series to highlight the common micro-organisms (aka bugs) that can be found in wastewater treatment plants.
Not that long ago, we were lucky enough to witness firsthand just how amazing rotifers can be. You won't believe what we were able to catch on camera. A pregnant rotifer giving birth!
Worms make our skin crawl, they can cause real problems for a wastewater plant and each type requires different treatment. There are two in particular, red worms and Tubifex worms, that we often encounter and can be difficult to distinguish with just the naked eye.
Tardigrades are very helpful to many areas in the scientific community. They have been launched into space, shot out of guns, and thrown at walls; all in the name of scientific research. When tardigrades are observed in a wastewater plant they mean your sludge age is high, albeit stable. But what happens when there are signs of tardigrade death?
Due to their pronged tail and general shape, gastrotrichs can be commonly mistaken for a type of rotifer. While this case of mistaken identity is completely understandable I'm here to help you from making that mistake. But first, let's get to know these lovely creatures a bit better.
