What is the effect of Nematodes in wastewater treatment?

Nematodes play a distinct role in the ecosystem of wastewater treatment. Their presence has an important impact on the microbial community and can influence the settling characteristics of sludge.

The most significant effect attributed to nematodes is their feeding behavior. By consuming various micro-organisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, they can disrupt the natural balance of the microbial community. This disruption may inhibit the efficiency of floc settling, as nematodes can break down flocs and lead to the formation of smaller particles that do not settle as easily. This can make it more difficult to achieve efficient separation of solids from liquids in the treatment process.

The correct understanding is, therefore, that nematodes can inhibit good settling of floc, which is a crucial aspect for optimizing wastewater treatment. This impact underlines the importance of managing the biological community in treatment systems to ensure effective solid-liquid separation.