a)      Bacteria

Bacteria are single cell life form. They multiply by digesting food and dividing to form 2 new cells. If the right environment is available the reproduction of the bacteria is rapid.

Where the food source in the waste water is exhausted, the numbers will drop. Within any organically polluted water, there is a variety of bacteria that will digest specific types of waste, and in doing so product enzymes, carbon dioxide and water.

There are 2 categories of bacteria, aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic bacteria use oxygen and enzymes to break down the organic waste. Anaerobic bacteria use the same process , but without the need for oxygen. 

b)      Enzymes

Enzymes are chemical catalysts rather than living organisms. They assist the bacteria by breaking down the organic substances into simpler and soluble compounds.

The enzymes produced are specific to a certain range of bacteria and are therefore able to assist in the digestion of certain food wastes. Generally organic waste is a mixture of food stuffs, but some are predominantly a certain kind o waste.

For example, grease and fats require the enzyme, Lipase, to break it down. Therefore, waste oil or grease requires a certain strain of bacteria which products lipase.

Other enzymes for different purposes are:

Protease    breaks down protein (meat , fish etc)
Celluslase   breaks down cellulose (leafy vegetation, paper etc)
Amylase    breaks down carbohydrates and starches (sugar, potatoes etc)

c)      Nutrients

Nutrients are the food stuffs which are used to stimulate the types of bacteria that are preferred to be dominant in the waste water. Bacteria increase at an incredible rate when feeding on these preferred food stuff. Therefore, by supplying these nutrients, the potential to increase the bacteria rapidly is realized.

d)      Surfactants

Surfactants are organic detergents. Synthetic or chemical detergents persist for a long time in the environment and can cause problems, whilst organic surfactants are broken down by both physical and biotic forces.

The surfactants both assist in the modification of the water surface tension and stabilize or put the bacteria into a dormant state. Once dispersed by dilution, the bacteria accesses the nutrients, thus producing more enzyme

e)      Waste Water Regulator measurements

All businesses produce waste water of some kind, which varies from industry to industry. To treat them, large volumes of high quality, beneficial bacteria are required. Local Government controls the discharge of the effluent and waste water into the public sewers through the monitoring of the various regulatory measurements like:

1. BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)
   BOD is the rate at which micro-organisms use the oxygen in water or wastewater, while stabilizing decomposable organic matter under aerobic conditions. In decomposition, organic matter serves as food for the bacteria and energy that results from its oxidation. The BOD test procedure measures the rate of oxygen use under controlled conditions, usually incubation in the dark at 20^O C for 5 days
   
2. COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
   The COD test measures the levels of chemicals in the waste water. High COD waste can poison the natural population of waste degrading bacteria, thereby breaking the food chain and leading to problems associated with high BOD waste.
   
3. TSS (Total Suspended Solids)
   Total Suspended Solids are floating organic matter that cloud the water column and the beneficial bacteria are supposed to digest the floating organic matter.
4. Oil and Grease
   
5. pH (measuring acidity or alkalinity)

f)       Performance parameters

Certain conditions that affect the performance of For Earth UltraX-32

1. Excessive toxins entering the waste water ( e.g. bleaches, caustic soda, medication and sanitisers etc) that kill or damage the baceria
   
2. Depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water diminishes aerobic digestion by comparison to anaerobic digestion
   
3. Competition from unwanted or pathogenic bacteria
    
4. The bacteria work best between a temperature of 25^OC and 45^OC
   
5. A pH balance of between 5.5 and 9.0 is best
   
6. Organic degradation takes time to work. It is preferable if the waste water is held for a time in en effluent pond, settling tank, aeration or septic tank for at least between 6 to 8 hours
   
7. Frequency of application will be determined by the level of activity in each system

g)      Aquaculture

Good water quality is critical to intensive fish and prawn farming. Ideally water temperature should be between 23^OC and 32^OC, with a pH of approximately 8 and it should be oxygenated and should not contain any pathogenic bacteria, which is controlled through sanitization.

Intensive farming employs specifically formulated food that consists of proteins, lipids, fibre,  inorganic elements and minerals for growth and normal metabolism. Inadequate protein results in reduction and cessation of growth.  Lipids which are highly digestible sources of energy and carriers of fat soluble vitamins, are essential for health of prawns and fish. However, excess protein, undigested fibre and increased faecal production pollute the water environment. and causes debilitating disease, resulting in high mortality rates.

Farmers use chemical disinfectants to control these diseases. This non-discriminatory use of chemicals kill both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria. One option for ensuring healthy stock is to monitor the quality of feed, stock and water.

The other better option is to use For Earth Aqua X-28, which is 100% non-toxic, biodegradable and composed of beneficial bacteria to improve the water quality of the intensive farms. For Earth AquaX-28 breaks down the organic sludge and waste material, including faecal matter, decay of plant and animal tissues, and decay of excess food. It oxidizes the organic matter through its heterotrophic bacteria into carbon dioxide, ammonia and water.