Abstract:
The invention is directed to wastewater treatment and wastewater reuse. A distributed biological treatment system for modification of the sewer biofilm through the mechanism of competitive exclusion by strategic dosing with facultative bacteria is illustrated, in conjunction with a novel membrane biological reactor (MBR)/biological breeding reactor (BBR) package plant, a plurality of which are likewise designed for strategic placement throughout the sewer/collection system infrastructure. The inclusion of the MBR/BBR plants at specific locations within the distribution system provide upstream water reclamation, thereby facilitating more efficient operation of the downstream wastewater treatment plant and providing for water reuse at intermediate points within the distribution network, as well as a means for concentrating the facultative bacteria which has been dosed to various points in the system, which can then be re-inoculated to the system.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/389,550, filed on Oct. 4, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to wastewater treatment and wastewater reuse; more particularly to a distributed biological treatment system for modification of the sewer biofilm through the mechanism of competitive exclusion by strategic dosing with microbial populations utilizing a dewatering membrane biological reactor unit modified to form a biological breeding reactor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Sewer water has been introduced to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as a diluted material for treatment. In many cases the WWTP receives its influent containing very low loading 150 ppm cBOD from residential contributors and varying loads from the combination of residential with industrial blends. In rare instances the influent load is extremely high based on a majority of the load coming from heavy industrial/commercial contributors. However, in most cases the influent to the WWTP is 90% or greater diluted by fresh drinking water. This variation of influent loads makes it difficult to treat and the WWTP must be able to adjust based on the variations of the influent load constituents. The solution to varying loads is to dewater the influent efficiently during the conveyance phase. The collection system typically contains lift stations or central collection hubs that are designed to either lift the waste water to a higher elevation or to collect the smaller pipe branches into a larger diameter pipe to accommodate the increased flows. Both systems using sanitary or combined sewer systems could benefit equally in reducing hydraulic loads to the WWTP. Combined sewer systems could adjust operations to minimize rain events. Sanitary sewers with high inflow and infiltration (I/I) from rain events could minimize hydraulic flow by processing higher reuse flow rates based on diluted concentration of waste constituents. 
         [0004]    Prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,578,211 and 5,788,841 to Dickerson taught a methodology for modifying the sewer biofilm through the mechanism of competitive exclusion and thereby achieving both reduction/control of biologically caused odor causing gases and improvement of treatment plant operations. The methodology taught in the &#39;211 and &#39;841 patents has been shown to have a positive impact on plant influent loadings and plant performance. However, the gross volumetric flow into the wastewater treatment plant remains problematic. In addition, maintaining bacteria concentrations is a significant cost associated with systems employing the &#39;211 and &#39;841 patents. 
         [0005]    Thus, what is lacking in the art is a system positioned for upstream dewatering as well as onsite breeding of microbial species which complemented the efficiencies realized by the biological treatment of the &#39;211 and &#39;841 patents. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed toward a methodology which combines strategically positioned dewatering processes in conjunction with a bioaugmentation technique which includes the successful application of microbial treatment, such as but not limited to facultative bacterial treatment. This two part system results in a strategically distributed wastewater treatment system for reclamation of wastewater near the source for both non-potable and potable uses as well as producing highly concentrated populations of predetermined microbial populations. In essence, “mining the sewer” for valuable water resources and bulking of bacteria to be reintroduced to the collection system. 
         [0007]    The invention further relates to a novel membrane biological reactor (MBR)/biological breeding reactor (BBR) package plant, pluralities of which are likewise designed for strategic placement throughout the sewer/collection system infrastructure. Inclusion of the MBR/BBR plants at specific locations within the distribution system provides two important functions. First, they provide a mechanism for upstream water reclamation, thereby facilitating more efficient operation of the downstream wastewater treatment plant and providing for water reuse at intermediate points within the distribution network. Second, they provide a mechanism for concentrating the microbes, such as facultative bacteria, through use of the MBR being adapted to function as Biological Breeding Reactor (BBR) which has been dosed to various points in the system, and then re-inoculating the system with the facultative bacteria enriched sludge collected in the MBR. By utilizing the MBR as a BBR, the bacteria can be bulked at on site locations within the collection system, thereby reducing the necessary volumes of bacteria to the city reducing costs. 
         [0008]    In addition the novel MBR/BBR unit, the instant invention discloses a process for distribution of the MBR/BBR plants at specific locations within the water treatment in a coordinated manner whereby upstream water reclamation is provided. Water reclamation facilitates more efficient operation of the downstream wastewater treatment plant and provides for water reuse at intermediate points within the distribution network. The process in accordance with the instant invention also describes dewatering while simultaneously collecting a concentrated sludge which is a source of facultative bacteria, equivalent to that which has previously been dosed to various points in the system, and then re-inoculating the system with the facultative bacteria enriched sludge collected in the MBR/BBR unit. A second aspect of the process includes maximizing bacteria bulking during predetermined times to provide onsite concentrations of one or more species/subspecies of bacteria which can be released to the collection system. 
         [0009]    The advantages of the two part process include reduction in energy costs by removing water that is only a means of dilution and conveyance. By reducing the volume of water the waste increases in solids and bio-available materials that can be further digested. The waste water entering the WWTP is more concentrated and digestion can be increased by way of increasing Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) which aids in digestion being beneficial to the process steps both in the conveyance and within the WWTP. Loads are more consistent reducing wide swings in the process that result in additional chemical consumptions. Additionally, the plant, receiving more bio-available solids in higher concentrations, can reduce the Returned Activated Sludge (RAS) volumes further reducing energy at the plant. In effect the initial grit chambers and/or oxidation chambers can become final roughing plant steps prior to further treatment steps. In effect, the plant is rebalanced, reducing significant power consumption and improving performance. Reduction of the conveyance of the hydraulic load is also reduced. The United States consumes 3-5% of the total energy produced on moving water and waste water. By Bio-Augmentation the energy can be reduced by 40-60% alone. In combination with sewer mining it is estimated that energy consumption for waste water can be reduced by up to 90%. Finally, by establishing a bacterial breeder, overall costs of repeated delivery of bacterial agents as part of a city&#39;s bioaugmentation program is reduced because the system itself becomes the dosing/delivery mechanism. 
         [0010]    The initial approach to reducing energy and improving infrastructure was to move to Bio-Augmentation within the collection system to reduce loading by pre-treating the waste water during the conveyance phase. This pre-treatment has proven to provide digestion of solids and improving the cBOD for plant influent. Bio-Augmentation has continued to evolve and biology is the fundamental mechanism of the WWTP. The improvement derived via the instantly proposed two pronged approach effectuate a unique distributive wastewater treatment system. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, it is a primary objective to teach a system, device and process that provides upstream water reclamation and produces highly concentrated microbial solutions through biological breeding. 
         [0012]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process to dewater a waste stream allowing for water reuse, in various forms, thereby reducing the hydraulic load to the receiving WWTP. 
         [0013]    It is yet an additional objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which provides a Biological Breeding Reactor (BBR) allowing for bacteria to be bulked at on site locations within the collection system, thereby reducing the necessary volumes of bacteria required by the municipalities to use in its wastewater treatment. 
         [0014]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a distributed biological treatment system for modification of the sewer biofilm through the mechanism of competitive exclusion by strategic dosing with microbial populations. 
         [0015]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a distributed biological treatment system for modification of the sewer biofilm through the mechanism of competitive exclusion by strategic dosing with facultative bacteria. 
         [0016]    It is yet an additional objective of the instant invention to teach a novel membrane biological reactor (MBR)/Biological Breeding Reactor (BBR) package plant, a plurality of which may be provided for strategic placement throughout the sewer/collection system infrastructure. 
         [0017]    It is a still further objective of the instant invention to teach a process for distribution of the MBR/BBR plants at specific locations within the water treatment in a coordinated manner whereby upstream water reclamation and biological breeding of microbes is provided. 
         [0018]    Still another objective of the instant invention is to teach a system, device and process which results in reduction of the energy by removing the water from wastewater that is only a means of dilution and conveyance to the WWTP. 
         [0019]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which treats wastewater while such wastewater is in transit to the a main wastewater treatment plant. 
         [0020]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a teach a system, device and process which treats the water using equipment that can be adjusted based on the typical wastewater to address organic load or solids. 
         [0021]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which maximizes dewatering during the high use periods of a diurnal cycle, thereby providing more uniform flow to the plant on a 24 hour basis. 
         [0022]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which maximizes bacteria bulking during the low use period of a diurnal cycle, thereby providing on site concentrations of one or more species/subspecies of bacteria which can be released to the collection system during high use periods. 
         [0023]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process in which dewatering and/or other water treatment processes can be relaxed during a predetermined time period to allow for in situ cleaning of membrane devices. 
         [0024]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which can be used to reduce Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG) in both the collection system and on membrane surfaces. 
         [0025]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which can be utilized in municipal environments. 
         [0026]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which can be used in industrial environments. 
         [0027]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a system, device and process which can be utilized in mixed municipal and industrial environments. 
         [0028]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a MBR/BBR unit adapted to provide dewatering as well as function as a biological breeding reactor in accordance with the instant invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is representative installation map for a typical city showing the strategically located injection points, such as lift stations, of the MBR/BBR unit identified to indicate suitable location for sewer mining and microbial concentrating; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the sewer mining package plant MBR/BBR facility; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a dosing unit used to deliver a microbial consortium to the membrane tank; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a process flow diagram and design parameters for the sewer mining MBR/BBR unit in accordance with the instant invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    The following description will illustrate the combination of a microbial, preferably facultative bacteria, bioaugmentation system with a membrane biological reactor installation to result in a synergistic treatment of a distribution system inclusive of strategic dewatering to result in efficient sewer mining while producing an efficiently treated and concentrated influent stream to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). In addition to providing a dewatering mechanism at strategic points, the membrane biological reactor unit is adapted to function as a biological breeding reactor (BBR), thus providing a mechanism to utilize the unit as a bacterial breeding unit to provide highly concentrated bacterial populations. Accordingly, the instant invention describes a method of treating wastewater upstream of a wastewater treatment plant which reduces the hydraulic load of the wastewater treatment plant in combination with providing highly concentrated microbial population. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative example of a water treatment unit adapted to dewater and to function as a biological breeding reactor is shown and referred to generally as  10 . The unit  10  is designed to provide full capability to treat wastewater upstream of the WWTP. Accordingly, such units can be strategically placed in one or more locations which are upstream of a municipality main WWTP.  FIG. 2  illustrates a map of a typical city  12 . Ideally, city sewer systems are designed so that wastewater flows downstream to the main WWTP trough the use of gravity. However, such mechanisms are not always possible and municipal water systems often employ the use of lift stations to pump wastewater from areas of low elevation to areas of high elevation so gravitational forces can be employed. Such lift station can be an ideal placement for the MBR/BBR unit  10 . While a preferred embodiment may include placement at such lift stations, the MBR/BBR unit  10  is not limited to placement at these locations and can be placed at other strategic locations in which wastewater is transported or stored. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , multiple MBR/BBR units, shown as filled in circles  14 , in accordance with the instant invention are shown distributed to strategic locations throughout the city wastewater landscape. For example, several units  10  are shown positioned in a developed area (i.e. an area having houses and/or businesses) shown at the north-eastern section  16  of the city  12 . Additional units  10  may be placed in a developed area located in the central part of the city  18 , or at the southwest section  20  of the city  12  Various criteria can be used to determine placement of the such units, including distance to the WWTP, type of waste generated, population density, or other factors known to one of skill in the art. Since unit  10  is designed to function as a BBR, strategic location placement may take into account the distance between the units in order to maximize the effect of using the units  10  as a breeding reactor. 
         [0036]    Preferably, the water treatment unit is coupled to a lift station. By coupling the water treatment unit  10  to already existing lift stations, the unit  10  can be easily and quickly added to existing structures within the system. Preferably, wastewater from the clear well (not illustrated) of the lift station is pumped into the water treatment unit  10 . As the wastewater is moved through the unit  10 , it gets dewatered. The dewatering process reduces the hydraulic load to the WWTP. In addition, the unit further provides for seeding the water which gets returned to the clear well of the lift station with high concentrations of bacteria. The bacteria are used downstream to begin to treat the wastewater prior to entering the WWTP. 
         [0037]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the illustrative embodiment of the water treatment unit  10  is preferably designed to provide dewatering and biological breeding. The unit  10  includes at least one membrane  22  housed in a membrane chamber  24 . Any membrane known to those of skill in the art can be used, such as but not limited to vacuum driven MBR membranes. The at least one membrane  22  should have the characteristics of being capable of separating solids and liquids and preferably provide for the separated water to be clean enough under regulatory statutes to be usable as potable water. The unit  10  preferably contains a biological element delivery device  26  which is in fluid communication with the membrane chamber  24  through piping  28 . The biological delivery device  26  provides a delivery system for delivering one or more biological elements, such as one or species/subspecies of bacteria to the membrane chamber  24 . A nutrient source  30 , which is in fluid communication with the membrane chamber  24  through pipe  32 , provides growth and support for the biological elements delivered by the biological element delivery device  26 . Oxygen is provided to the at least one membrane  22  through several features, including an air intake inlet  34  having an air intake filter  36 , one or more blowers  38 , and fine air diffuser  40 . 
         [0038]    In addition, the unit  10  may include other hardware to provide water treatment capability in addition to the dewatering/bio-breeding. For example, the device may employ an anoxic tank  40  and anoxic tank agitator if de-nitrification is desired, or may contain hardware to provide aerobic conditions and processes prior to entry of the wastewater into the membrane chamber  24 . Several pumps, such as a feed pump  46 , an aerobic to membrane pump  48 , an aerobic to anoxic sludge wasting pump  50 , and a permeate pump are utilized throughout the system to move the fluids through various parts of the of the unit  10  and at various points in the treatment process. To allow the unit to run smoothly, a chemical feed pump  54  is used to provide chemicals, such as acids, to the membrane chamber  24  for cleaning and/or pH. Mechanisms for preventing the clogging of wastewater flow throughout the unit  10  resulting from foreign objects or large debris being inserted within the system such as, but are not limited to, a bar screen  56  and solids drop chute  58 . The final dewatered fluid can be placed within a storage tank  60  prior to being passed through an ultraviolet sterilization unit  62 . The flow of permeate can be controlled through use of permeate control valves  64 . A control system  66  is contained in an single enclosure and contains a combination of hardware (such as display panels or monitors, motor starters, electrical hardware) and software components, such as a programmable logic control unit or direct manipulation interface units such as graphical user interfaces and/or touch screen interfaces, which provide visualization (visualize operating information graphically, digitally, lights and buttons), monitoring (capable of accessing data such as pump operating trends, alarm history, pump failures, system parameters such as alarm set points, timers), programming (customization of pump operations), and/or control capabilities. The unit  10  may further contain an electrical distribution panel  68  located in a separate enclosure or as part of the control system enclosure. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic generalized flow diagram utilized by the MBR/BBR unit  10 . Portions of the wastewater from the sewer lift station  70  are moved through fluid flow lines, i.e. pipe  72 , by injector or sum pump  74  located between high and low level controls of the lift station pumps above any potential sludge layers within the lift station, past a debris removal device, such as a 0.12 inch screen  76 . The wastewater is then placed in an anoxic tank  78  containing a mixing device  80 . After treatment in the anoxic tank  78 , the fluid is transported to an aerobic tank  82  through flow line  84 . Any sludge generated from the aerobic process can be moved through line  88  by pump  90  either to the anoxic tank  78  through flow line  90  or back to the lift station  70  through flow line  92  for further processing or removal by other means. Once the wastewater has undergone aerobic treatment, the fluid is transported via flow line  96  to the membrane reactor tank  98  by pump  100 . While in the membrane reactor tank  98 , the fluid can be dewatered as well as seeded for bacteria treatment further down stream and/or released as permeate  100 . Alternatively, the wastewater from the sewer lift station  70  can be directed into the membrane tank  98  for dewatering without undergoing aerobic processes or de-nitrification. 
         [0040]    The process for dewatering is typically allowed to run for predetermined times and/or lengths of time. Preferably, the dewatering system is run during high use times when high levels of wastewater are generated. At times of low wastewater generation, the dewatering system is shut down to allow for biobreeding activities. Preferably, such biobreeding activities include developing high concentrations of one or more species/subspecies of bacteria within the membrane tank  98 . As the dewatering process system is shut down and the membrane is relaxed, predetermined levels of bacteria having one or more strains are dispensed into the membrane reactor tank  98  through the use of a dispensing device such as a dosing station  104 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is an illustrative embodiment of the dosing station  104  shown in  FIG. 3 . The dosing station  104  is designed to hold a bacteria consortium and comprises of a back panel  106  containing side walls  108  and  110  arranged in parallel fashion, and walls  112  and  114  arranged in parallel fashion. The dosing station  104  also contains a front panel  116 , not illustrated in order to show the internal components of the dosing station  104 . Back panel  106 , walls  108 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114 , and the front panel  116  interconnects to form an enclosed interior portion  118 . The interior portion  118  contains the working elements of the dosing station  104 . The dosing station  104  is powered by a power source, illustrated herein as a battery pack  120 . A pump  122 , illustrated herein as a solenoid pulse pump, is operated by a small circuit board  124 . A nozzle (not illustrated) may be used to help dispense the microbial consortium in a directed manner. The dosing station  104  holds a source of microbes which is stored in a reservoir  126  and dispensed through tubing  128  to the outside through opening  130 . In order to populate the membrane tank  98 , the dosing station  104  can be configured to continually deliver a pre-determined amount of the microbial consortium over a period time. Delivery of the microbial consortium may be overridden by the main control system for increased delivery during bulking periods based on loading. The dosing station may also fluidly connect to the aerobic tank  82  so that depending operation and loading, the microbial consortium could be delivered to the aerobic tank  82 . 
         [0042]    Referring back to  FIG. 3 , a nutrient source  132  is in fluid communication with the membrane tank  98 . The nutrient source is used to allow the bacteria placed within the membrane tank from the dosing station  104  to rapidly divide, thereby providing a high concentration of the bacteria. Accordingly, the composition of the nutrient source will vary depending on the make-up of the bacteria used. The nutrient source will be optimized to provide rapid growth for a given time period. The timing of the shut down of the dewatering process and the beginning of the biobreeding process is preferably at a time when generation of wastewater is low. At a predetermined time, the fluid in the membrane tank  98  containing highly concentrated levels of predetermined types of bacteria is dumped back to the sewer lift station through fluid line  134 . In doing so, a high concentration of bacteria will be distributed throughout the wastewater treatment system as the wastewater from the lift station travels downstream to the WWTP. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an illustrative embodiment of the method, generally referred to as  200 , utilizing the device and system of the membrane bioreactor and biobreeding reactor unit  10  is shown. An illustrative example of a method of treating wastewater upstream of a wastewater treatment plant which reduces the hydraulic load of the wastewater treatment plant in combination with providing highly concentrated microbial population includes the steps of: 1) identifying at least one wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant, the wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant may be for example a wastewater lift station and the wastewater treatment plant may be capable of processing municipal waste, industrial waste, or combinations thereof; 2) placing or providing a membrane bioreactor and biological breeding reactor unit which is adapted to dewater wastewater at or near the wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant; 3) fluidly coupling the membrane bioreactor and biological breeding reactor unit to the wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant; 4) turning on a dewatering process by directing or diverting wastewater from the wastewater flow channel to a membrane reactor tank within the membrane bioreactor and biological breeding reactor unit; 5) forming a dewatered wastewater by separating liquid portions of the diverted wastewater from solid portions of the wastewater in the membrane tank (including but not limited to a permeate having characteristics of water that conforms to local and national usable water standards) of the wastewater from the solid portions by contacting the wastewater with a membrane within the membrane tank, the contact resulting in the wastewater being separated into in a liquid potion and a solid portion, the liquid portion being directed to a separate holding tank and used for other purposes such as providing water reuse at intermediate points within the WWTP system, the solid portion being discarded or directed to the one or more sources of wastewater located upstream of a wastewater treatment plant; 6) turning off the dewatering or liquid separating step after a predetermined time or number of dewatering cycles; 7) providing the membrane reactor tank with a predetermined microbial consortium to aid in wastewater treatment, the microbial consortium preferably one or more species/subspecies of bacteria, and more preferably facultative bacteria; 8) allowing the microbial consortium to reproduce for a predetermined amount of time, forming a highly concentrated microbial solution; 9) introducing or directing the highly concentrated microbial solution to at least one wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant; and 10) performing optional additional processes, include de-nitrification process, aerobic treatment process, membrane cleaning processes, ultraviolet purification process, or combinations thereof, whereby the dewatered wastewater which is diverted to other uses reduces the hydraulic load on the downstream wastewater plant and the highly concentrated microbial solution introduced into said flow channel functioning to modify the sewer biofilm. 
         [0044]    The process  200  utilizes the MBR/BBR unit  10  which are coupled to wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant, such as a standard lift station. However, the unit  10  may be coupled to any source of wastewater flow channel feeding a wastewater treatment plant or other wastewater source that is placed upstream of the main wastewater plant. Arrow  202  indicates a predetermined amount of wastewater removed from the lift station, such as from a clear well, and pumped in to fluid flow lines, such as pipe  204 , through a pump  206 . Use of a filtering system, such as a screen  208 , can be used to remove large debris in order to prevent blockage of the fluid flow lines throughout the device. The solids removed as a result of the use of the screen  208  can be removed from the system and disposed of or placed back into the lift station for further processing or for removal as part of the lift station filtering system, see arrow  210 . Should de-nitrification be desired, pipe  204  directs the wastewater into a tank  212  which provides for anoxic conditions and de-nitrification process in accordance with well known procedures. The anoxic tank  212  contains an agitating or mixing device  214  as well as sensors and indicators for monitoring one or more important parameters involved with the de-nitrification system, including, but not limited to, an overflow sensor  216 , high water level sensor  218 , low water level sensor  220 , or combinations thereof. The de-nitrification process within the broken-lined box  222  is an optional part of the process. If de-nitrification is utilized, once the process is complete, the wastewater can be moved through the unit  10  for further processing. The wastewater stored in the anoxic tank  214  may also be transferred to the clear well of the lift station, see arrow  223  through pipes  225  and  227 . 
         [0045]    Should the de-nitrification process not be utilized, wastewater siphoned from the clear well tank of the lift station can be directed directly into tank  224  for aerobic processing (in accordance with wastewater aerobic treatment processes known in the art) through methods known to one of skill in the art. The aerobic tank  224  contains one or more sensors and indicators for monitoring one or more important parameters involved with the aerobic wastewater processing system, including, but not limited to temperature  226 , MLSS  228 , pH  230 , air levels  232 , low water levels  234 , or combinations thereof. To provide aerobic processing, the dewatering/biobreeding unit  10  includes oxygen providing system, generally referred to as  236 . The air providing system  236  includes an air diffuser  238  which is in fluid communication with an inlet air filter  240  through use of air fluid lines  242  and  244 . Air is drawn into the system through the inlet air filter  240  and moved to two parallel fluid lines  246  and  248 . Air is moved through fluid lines  246  and  248  to fluid line  244  through the use of bi-directional pumps or air blowers  250  and  252 . The system  236  contains a plurality of valves, including, but not limited to a safety PSV valve  254 , check valves  256 , pneumatic valves  258 , and fluid rotometer  260 . One or more monitoring devices, such an air temperature gauge  262 , flow switch gauges  264 , and pressure gauges  268  are used throughout the system to monitor important parameters of the system. If the de-nitrification process is used in combination with aerobic treatments, the treated wastewater can be transferred from the anoxic tank  212  to the anaerobic tank  224  through pipe  270 . 
         [0046]    Wastewater that has been processed within the aerobic tank  224  can be transported through several different fluid flow lines. For example, wastewater can be directed back to the lift station through  274  and  227 . Alternatively, the wastewater can be transported from the aerobic tank  224  to the anoxic tank  212 , and back to the aerobic tank  224  through an optional piping system, generally referred to by the broken lined box  272 . Wastewater exits the aerobic tank  224  through pipe  274  and is directed to pipe  276  and  278 , where it is split into two parallel pipes  282 . Both pipes  280  and  282  contain bidirectional valves and a plurality of ball valves  284 . Water from the two pipes  280  and  282  converge into pipe  286  which moves the water to the anoxic tank through pipe  288 . Alternatively, water from the pipe  286  may be directed to the pipe  274  and out to the lift station through pipe  227 . Wastewater leaving the aerobic tank  224  also can be directed a third tank, a membrane tank  288 . 
         [0047]    The membrane tank  288  contains at least one membrane  290  which is adapted to separate liquids and solids, providing a mechanism to remove clean water from the wastewater process. Accordingly, the wastewater passing through the membrane  290  should result in a water source which is within national standards or local standards for permeate. The membrane tank  288  is preferably provided with air coming from the air delivery system  236 . The system  236  contains two flow lines  292  and  294  which have the same features as that described in flow lines  246  and  248 . The flow lines  292  and  294  converge into flow line  296 . A flow line  298  diverges from the flow line  296  and eventually converges back into flow  296 . The flow line  296  provides the air source to the membrane tank  288 . 
         [0048]    Wastewater from the aerobic tank  224  is directed from pipe  274  to the membrane tank  288  for dewatering though pipe  300 . Water travels through pipe  300  to two parallel pipes  302  and  304  prior to being directed to the membrane tank  288  through pipe  306 . Pipes  302  and  304  each contain bidirectional pumps  308  and  310  as well as one or more ball valves. Water flow through pipe  306  can be controlled through the use of a membrane tank flow meter  314  and a gate valve  316 . Wastewater stored within the membrane tank  288  may be directed back to the aerobic tank  224  through pipe  318  or may be directed back to the filter station through pipes  320 ,  274 , and  227 . While the process  200  has been describes so far as including de-nitrification as well as aerobic processes prior to dewatering, wastewater from the lift station can be directly placed into the membrane tank  288  for dewatering without undergoing the other processes. In either case, it is preferable that such dewatering is performed during periods in which generation of wastewater is at its maximum. For example, during diurnal cycles, typically wastewater generation is high from a period of between 6 AM and 9 PM. During this time, the process is allowed to run so that the membrane tank  288  dewaters the wastewater, thereby reducing hydraulic load to WWTP. 
         [0049]    Permeate generated from the membrane tank  288  is directed to permeate water holding tank  318  through pipe  320  and a series of diverging and converging pipes  322 ,  324 ,  326  and  328 . Pipe  322  dispenses permeate directly into the permeate water holding tank  318 . Pipes  324  and  326  each contain bidirectional pumps  330  and  332  which are designed to reverse fluid flow automatically based on differential pressure from the membrane as the membrane becomes dirty. Pipes  324  and  326  may additionally contain one or more safety PSV valves  328  and ball valves  330 . Water flow from pipes  324  and  326  is directed through pipe  328  into permeate water holding tank  318 . The permeate water holding tank  318  may contain a fill valve  334  to control the flow of water into the tank. An overflow system  334  is used if too much water is placed into the tank. Overflow water is directed to pipe  338  which drain to a common drain, see arrow  340 , through pipe  342 . Permeate water may also be treated by ultraviolet purification. Under such a process, permeate from the permeate water holding tank  318  is transferred to UV filtration purifier  344  through pipe  346  and tested for turbidity  348  prior to being dumped into a common drain for reuse or a storm drain or outfall, see arrow  340 . Pipe  350  is designed to provide the membrane tank with  288  a source of clean, potable water, such as from the permeate water holding tank  318 , if needed. 
         [0050]    At pre-determined time periods, the membrane  290  can be cleaned. Oxidants, such as but not limited to chlorine and hydrogen peroxide, stored in an oxidant tank  352  is feed via a feeder device  354  into pipe  356  through pipe  358 . Acids stored in an acid tank  360  are feed via an acid feeder device  362  into pipe  364 . Pipe  356  and  364  direct their contents to the membrane tank  288  through pipe  320 . Placement of the oxidant and the acid into the membrane tank  288  may be a single step or two step processes. Membrane cleaning is preferably performed when the wastewater system produces low levels of waste and the dewatering cycles have been stopped. As described previously, in a diurnal cycle, membrane cleaning may be performed sometime between 9 PM and 6 AM. Additionally, the unit  10  also contains a nutrient holding tank  366 . The nutrient holding tank is fluidly connected to the membrane tank  288  through pipes  356  and  320 . Nutrients are directed into the pipe  356  using a feeder device  368 . Fluidly connected to the membrane tank  288  through pipe  370  is a dosing station  372 . The dosing station, such as that described in  FIG. 4 , dispenses a microbial consortium containing one or more predetermined bacteria species and/or subspecies which aid in breakdown of wastewater. The type of bacteria depends on the type of wastewater generated at within the sewer system. The nutrient is composed of ingredients that provide optimal growth and/or reproduction for the specific bacteria used. The dosing station and the nutrient sources are designed to work in combination to create a biobreeding unit. Preferably, when the wastewater generation is low for a given system, the system  200  is tuned off (i.e. no dewatering) and the membrane is allowed to relax. The dosing station  372  is allowed to deliver bacteria into the membrane tank  288 . Nutrients are also delivered to the membrane tank  288 . The system remains off with the exception of air for mixing if required for a predetermined time to allow the bacteria to grow and provide a highly concentrated mixture. Prior to the system  200  being tuned back on (i.e. dewatering cycles begin), or concurrently with the system running, the membrane tank  288  dumps the highly concentrated bacteria solution back into flow channels, i.e. the lift station. This highly concentrated bacteria solution is then dispersed into the main wastewater system (lift station clear well) upstream of the WWTP and functions to provide an onsite continuous supply of bacteria which modify the sewer biofilm through the mechanism of competitive exclusion, thereby achieving both reduction/control of biologically caused odor causing gases and improvement of treatment plant operations as described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,578,211 and 5,788,841. 
         [0051]    The system  200  preferably contains a control system referred to generally as  374 . The control system contains a combination of hardware and software components which provide visualization, monitoring, programming, and/or control capabilities. As an illustrative example, the control system contains a programmable logic controlled (PLC) unit to control the MBR/BBR unit  10  and the system  200 . The control system may include indicators to alert the user with respect to various parameters, such as but not limited to the main control panel temperature  76 , the motor control panel temperature  378 , or contain an alarm warning device  380 . The components of the control system may be enclosed in a single unit positioned on site or may be positioned at a remote location and configured to allow for remote monitoring and controlling. The system  200  and the MBR/BBR unit  10  as described herein are designed to process 250,000 gallons of water per day under normal conditions. However, the system  200  and the MBR/BBR unit  10  unit can be scaled up and the number of membranes can be adjusted to provide for processing larger volumes if needed or can be operated for higher dewatering operation events such as rain events or inflow/infiltration (UI). 
         [0052]    The advantages of system, device, or process as described herein is that energy requirements associated with the wastewater treatments are reduced, the use of facultative bacteria remove odor issues suffered by prior art systems, and returning the biosolids to the sewer while decreasing the flow volume through MBR dewatering and BBR bacteria seeding increases the efficiency of the bioaugmentation system and ultimately of the WWTP. The result of this is a shift in wastewater treatment and reuse. What is provided is a distributed system which is able to treat wastewater within an existing sewer system to preclude the necessity of a massive distribution system that would otherwise be necessary. 
         [0053]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0054]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0055]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.