Microorganisms that are active in sewage treatment

Last updated on April 10, 2024.

There are many microorganisms in the reaction tank of the water reclamation center, and they grow and grow repeatedly by feeding dirt (organic matter) in the sewage.
Small bacteria and fungi of several μm (micrometer: 1,000 μm = 1 mm) play a leading role in cleaning the dirt, but there are protozoa that eat them and even larger reproductive animals (~ several mm), and the food chain (food network) Relationships can be seen.

Microorganisms that measure sewage treatment status

It is known that the types and numbers of microorganisms that make up activated sludge differ depending on the degree of dirt, quality, temperature, etc. of the incoming sewage. The Water Reclamation Center investigates the types and numbers of microorganisms of several μm to several mm that can be identified by optical microscopes, and uses them as one indicator to understand the state of sewage treatment.

Representative microorganisms characterized by the shape and movement found in activated sludge
Microscopic photograph and characteristics of microorganisms
Aspidisca (Aspidisca) Size: 25～50μm Move the thorns around the body to move quickly and eat bacteria. The Japanese name (Japanese name) is Mingagatazumushi.	Viper (Vorticella) Size: Tens to hundreds of μm It's shaped like a bell. Move the cilia around the mouth to scrape and eat bacteria in the water.	Epistylis (Epistylis) Size: 45 to 100 μm (excluding pattern) It resembles a vine beetle, but forms a flock. It doesn't work much.
Chaetonotus Size: 100～200μm It's shaped like a weasel. It moves like sliding and eats dead bodies and algae of microorganisms.	Beetle (Macrobiotus) Size: 0.2～1mm Walk slowly with nails like a bear, and suck food with a needle in your mouth. It lays eggs and increases.	Spiros Tomamu (Spirostomum) Size: 150～400μm Move like sliding. The Japanese name is squirrels.
Basilicola (Vaginicola) Size: 50～200μm It contains one or two animals in one body, and pulls out of the shell and moves the cilia around the mouth.	Arcera (Arcella) Size: 30～250μm Ameba friend in a hemisphere-shaped shell. Move the stick-shaped foot from the bottom. It feeds bacteria and algae. The Japanese name is Nabe Kamli.	Ameba (Ameba) Size: Tens to several hundred μm It moves while changing its shape in various ways and eats bacteria.