Triplepoint Environmental

We had an incredible time at the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings preseason game during #WEFTEC! A big thank-you to everyone who joined us for a great night of hockey. It’s always a pleasure connecting with the people who share our passion for better water and better communities. Special thanks to our guests from: Hamlett Environmental Technologies Fishbeck City of Charlotte City of Saginaw Fleis & VandenBrink Milano & Grunloh Engineers We appreciate you spending your evening with us!

WEFTEC 2025 is officially underway! 🚀 Triplepoint is all set up at Booth 2820. Stop by, talk lagoons with the team, and grab one of our new hats while they last. #WEFTEC #LagoonsDoItBetter #WastewaterTreatment

Meeting low ammonia effluent limits is possible with lagoons. Lagoons have a reputation for being simple and low-cost—but many assume they can’t meet modern ammonia limits. That’s not accurate. With proper DO levels, nitrifier-supporting media, and complete mixing, lagoons can reliably hit non-detect NH₃-N—even in cold conditions. We’ve seen lagoon systems in the upper Midwest operate our NitrOx system through winter without supplemental heat and still meet discharge requirements. Ammonia removal is achievable. The challenge is designing for it—and that's what we do.

Algae blooms aren’t just visual. They’re a risk to compliance. Sometimes operators often notice green surface scum or duckweed overgrowth and assume it’s cosmetic. But algae contributes to: BOD₅ spikes from die-off TSS elevation in effluent DO swings that stress the microbial community Managing light, nutrients, and circulation can reduce bloom intensity—and in some cases, eliminate the need for downstream filtration. We recommend algae control plans be incorporated into seasonal SOPs, especially during summer.

Heading to WEFTEC 2025? Let’s make it more than a booth stop. Triplepoint will be at Booth #2820, but the best way to connect is by booking a dedicated time with our team. We’ll sit down with you to talk about your lagoon’s challenges — from ammonia and phosphorus removal to mixing, aeration, and retrofit options. 📅 Meeting slots are limited, and they fill quickly. Reserve your time now so we can focus on your project without the trade show rush. ➡️ Book your meeting here: https://ow.ly/jsUW50WY9MV See you in Chicago! #WEFTEC2025 #LagoonTreatment #WastewaterTreatment

We hear it often: “We’re thinking about replacing our lagoon with a mechanical plant.” But in most cases, the lagoon isn’t the problem. The technology it’s using is. With the right upgrades—a tailored design, smarter aeration and mixing, tertiary nutrient removal processes—most lagoons can meet modern effluent standards without massive capital investment. It’s time to shift the narrative. Let’s stop asking, “Should we replace our lagoon?” And start asking, “What’s keeping our lagoon from doing better?”

Effluent TSS limits under 30 mg/L require tighter process control—especially in lagoons. When operators notice rising TSS, it's often linked to biological instability—floating solids, algae proliferation, or dead zones. Lagoon design doesn’t always account for: Wind-driven circulation patterns Poorly mixed corners Duckweed or algae loading We’ve worked with facilities that brought effluent TSS down from >60 mg/L to <20 mg/L without clarifiers—just through strategic aeration layout and algae management. It's not about overhauling the lagoon. It's about understanding its flow, biology, and behavior.

Lagoon sludge surveys aren’t optional—they’re compliance tools. EPA research confirms that removing accumulated sludge in lagoons improves treatment of BOD, TSS, and ammonia. Short‑circuiting and reduced retention time are key drivers of failure. Proactive sludge management—including surveys every 3–5 years—can restore lagoon performance without drastic redesigns. Adding aeration and mixing can chew up settled sludge and reduce the need for expensive, disruptive dredging. Sludge is not just a clean‑up challenge. It's a process efficiency issue. How often do you assess sludge depth in your lagoons?

SOTE in the lab vs. in the field: Why the numbers don’t always match. Aeration efficiency is often measured using Standard Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (SOTE). In lab tests, aerators are evaluated in clean water under standardized conditions—giving engineers a baseline for comparison. But lagoons aren’t clean water tanks. In real-world operation, factors like temperature, depth, organic loading, biofilm growth, and diffuser fouling all affect how efficiently oxygen actually dissolves into the water. This is why Field Transfer Efficiency (FTE) is a more valuable number for operators—it measures oxygen transfer under actual operating conditions, with real wastewater. A diffuser tested at 2.4%/ft SOTE in clean water might deliver an FTE closer to 1.8%/ft in a lagoon with 250 mg/L TSS at 25°C. Without factoring this into design, the installed system may not meet process oxygen demand, leading to compliance risk. Lab results are useful—but field performance is what keeps you in compliance. Always design for the water you actually treat. #LagoonTreatment #WastewaterLagoons #WastewaterTreatment

When small communities face new permit limits, the best option is often already in place. For many towns under 10,000 people, a lagoon has been the backbone of wastewater treatment for decades—reliable, low-maintenance, and cost-effective. When new nutrient or ammonia limits appear, it’s easy to assume a mechanical plant is the only way forward. But more often than not, a lagoon can be retrofitted to meet those same standards—without taking on the capital and operational burden of a mechanical system. A well-engineered lagoon upgrade can: Use the infrastructure you already have Achieve low effluent limits for BOD, TSS, ammonia, and phosphorus Maintain operator-friendly, low-maintenance operation Save millions in long-term costs At Triplepoint, we believe lagoons should be rehabilitated, not replaced. With the right process design and technology, lagoons remain one of the most effective and sustainable treatment options for small communities. Before replacing your lagoon, find out what it can really do. You might be surprised. #LagoonTreatment #WastewaterLagoons #WastewaterTreatment #MunicipalWater