Generally, technological start-up times for nutrient removing
conventional activated sludge (CAS) plants range anywhere between
30 and 40 days, assuming the biomass inoculated is adapted
to the wastewater and adequate amounts are available. Otherwise
longer start-up times are needed to grow and adapt the biomass.
Start-up times with respect to effluent quality required for the AGS
plant were similar. In this case, the start-up period was a bit longer
due to the requirement to achieve full effluent quality standards at
all times, even during start-up conditions. This resulted in a 3
months stepwise increase in redirected influent flow from the ABplant
towards the aerobic granular sludge plant