Enhancing Lagoon-Based Wastewater Treatment with Aspiral™ Flex
Bring Your Lagoon System Into Compliance Quickly with Aspiral™ Flex
Across the U.S., over 4,500 lagoon wastewater treatment systems serve small communities, offering a cost-effective, low-maintenance solution. However, many of these systems struggle to meet modern discharge standards, particularly for nutrients like ammonia, total nitrogen, and phosphorus. Seasonal fluctuations in temperature and loading further challenge their ability to maintain compliance.
Traditionally, upgrading lagoon systems required costly and disruptive expansions. Fluence’s Aspiral™ Flex provides an affordable, energy-efficient, and modular solution to enhance lagoon performance without extensive civil work or major modifications.
Benefits of Aspiral™ Flex
- High-quality effluent that meets regulatory standards
- Rigorous nitrogen and phosphorus removal
- Up to 50% reduction in aeration energy costs compared to conventional activated sludge aeration processes.
- Lower OPEX (combination of chemicals, power, and maintenance)
- Minimal operational maintenance
- Seamless integration with existing lagoon systems
- Rapid installation with minimal disruption
- No major infrastructure changes required
- Fully operational upon deployment
- Resilient to changes in temperature, flow, and loading
- Odor free
- Easily scalable to meet growing demand
How Fluence’s Aspiral™ Flex Enhances Lagoon Treatment
Aspiral™ Flex features Fluence’s proprietary membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) technology for ultra-effective, energy-efficient nutrient removal.
MABR introduces oxygen in a more efficient way than traditional aeration methods. Instead of relying on energy-intensive bubble diffusion, MABR delivers oxygen directly through a gas-permeable membrane, allowing beneficial bacteria to efficiently break down pollutants.
By enabling simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, MABR helps lagoon-based treatment facilities meet strict nutrient discharge limits, while maintaining a low-maintenance process.
Modular & Containerized Wastewater Treatment
Aspiral™ Flex is a pre-engineered, containerized system that integrates MABR and other advanced treatment technologies. Its modular design allows customers to get just the solution that they need to complement their existing lagoon system with the option of scaling in the future if needed. The pre-engineered system is factory tested before delivery, allowing for a quick plug-and-play set up and start up.
This add-on approach eliminates the need for costly new treatment plants or extensive lagoon expansions, allowing communities to upgrade their wastewater treatment capacity in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Lagoon-Based Wastewater Treatment FAQ
How is Aspiral™ Flex integrated with existing lagoon-based wastewater treatment systems?
Aspiral™ plants are comprised of containerized units that can be installed as a supplement to existing lagoons to improve treatment efficiency without the need for major infrastructure overhauls. The systems are the size of a standard shipping container with no noise or odor. The technology enhances nutrient removal, allowing small towns to meet new regulatory requirements without building entirely new treatment systems.
How does the Aspiral™ Flex’s MABR system perform in cold weather?
MABR has demonstrated effective nitrification even at low temperatures (~37°F or ~2.5°C). While traditional lagoon systems struggle with ammonia removal in cold weather, the MABR biofilm remains active, enabling year-round compliance with regulatory standards.
How long does it take to install an Aspiral™ Flex?
What are the operational requirements for an Aspiral™ Flex?
The system requires routine monitoring, but it is largely automated. Operators need to check for membrane integrity, manage aeration and biofilm growth, and ensure proper sludge removal. Training is provided to ensure operators can manage the system efficiently.
How does the cost of implementing an Aspiral™ Flex compare to other wastewater treatment upgrades?
What funding opportunities are available for small towns to implement Aspiral™ Flex?
Several funding sources exist, including:
- SRFs such as those available through Iowa's DNR
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
- USDA Rural Development funds
- Legislative appropriations and forgivable loan programs
- BOO or Fluence leasing options
Can an Aspiral™ Flex system be scaled for larger communities?
Yes, Aspiral™ Flex systems are modular and can be scaled to meet the needs of different communities. Multiple units can be installed in parallel to accommodate higher flow rates.
Wastewater treatment technology that uses a self-respiring membrane to remove biological nutrients from wastewater. Learn more about MABR.
