Patent ID: 8083944

Claim:
A method of improving ammonia removal from waste water during cold weather months comprising: in a sewage treatment system comprising a submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR), said SAGR having an inlet distribution point proximal to an inlet end of the SAGR for receiving an influent and at least one additional downstream distribution point downstream of the inlet distribution point, transferring a low carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) and high nitrogen effluent to the SAGR at said inlet distribution point during warm weather months, thereby establishing and maintaining an inlet population of nitrifying bacteria proximal to the inlet distribution point; transferring a low carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) and high nitrogen effluent to the SAGR at said downstream distribution point during said warm weather months, thereby establishing and maintaining a downstream population of nitrifying bacteria at a discrete location separate from the inlet population of nitrifying bacteria, proximal to the downstream distribution point; and transferring a high carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) and high nitrogen effluent to the SAGR at said inlet distribution point during cold weather months, wherein the downstream population of nitrifying bacteria are available to remove ammonia from the effluent not removed in the region of the inlet distribution point.