A biotower is an alternative to what wastewater treatment process?

A biotower is an alternative to the trickling filter process in wastewater treatment. Both systems are designed to enhance the biological treatment of wastewater, promoting the growth of microorganisms that break down organic pollutants.

In a trickling filter, wastewater is distributed over a bed of media that supports biofilm growth. As wastewater trickles down through the media, microorganisms in the biofilm digest the organic materials present in the effluent.

Similarly, a biotower operates on the principle of biological treatment but does it in a more structured manner. In a biotower, wastewater is distributed over a series of plastic or other lightweight media that is typically arranged in a vertical configuration. This design increases the contact time between the wastewater and biofilm, enabling enhanced microbial activity and more effective treatment of the wastewater.

The focus of both systems is on maximizing surface area for microbial colonization while maintaining adequate aeration and hydraulic conditions. This is why the biotower is considered an alternative to the trickling filter in terms of the overall function of treating wastewater biologically.