Algae/bacteria ratio in high-rate ponds used for waste treatment

Abstract

Algae, bacteria, and zooplankton were counted in samples drawn from 120- and 150-m2 high-rate algae ponds (those used for wastewater treatment). The fraction of nondegraded organic matter was estimated by comparing the ratio of biological and chemical oxygen demands and the bacterial, algal, and zooplankton counts to volatile suspended solids. With pond effluent quality at an acceptable level (around 18 mg of dissolved biological oxygen demand), the algae/bacteria ratio was around 1:100 or even higher, the zooplankton count was negligible, and the bacterial concentration was approximately 1011 cells per liter by direct count. The data for bacteria exceeded those of earlier studies by one to three orders of magnitude.