Patent ID: 7854842

Claim:
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of: a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a first treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first population profile; b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream to an off-line treatment vessel comprising a unitary uncompartmented tank; and c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream in the off-line treatment vessel so as to establish, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second population profile different from the first population profile, and monitoring levels of at least one of ORP and pH and a content of at least one of ammonia, phosphorus, and nitrate in the drawn-off portion to optimize further treatment of the waste stream while minimizing sludge yield, wherein (i) during the controlling step, there is no flow from the off-line treatment vessel to the first treatment vessel, and (ii) the off-line treatment vessel sequentially subjects the entire drawn-off portion within the unitary uncompartmented tank to both aerobic and anaerobic or anoxic conditions, and wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of: a. controlling decrease of the pH level in the drawn-off portion to a targeted pH range while acting on the drawn-off portion by at least one of aeration and mixing; b. terminating acting on the drawn-off portion; c. allowing the ORP level to decrease, causing release of at least one of ammonia and phosphorus; d. controlling the ORP level to prevent significant sulfate reduction, thereby selectively modifying and destroying at least obligate aerobic bacteria; and e. modifying and destroying at least one of biology and biological material until a desired content of the at least one of ammonia and phosphorus is achieved.