In the midwest, oxidation ponds are used extensively for the treatment of domestic sewage from suburban areas. The high cost of land and a few operational problems resulting from excessive loadings have created the need for a wastewater treatment system with the operational characteristics of the oxidation pond but with the ability to treat more organic matter per unit volume.

Research at Fayette, Missouri on oxidation ponds has shown that the BOD in the treated effluent varied from 30 to 53 mg/l with loadings from 8 to 120 lb BOD/day/acre. Since experience indicates that effluents from oxidation ponds do not create major problems at these BOD concentrations, the goal for the effluent quality of the accelerated treatment system was the same as from conventional oxidation ponds. Recent studies by Weston and Stack had indicated that a turbine aerator could be added to an oxidation pond to increase the rate of oxygen transfer. Their study showed that it was possible to transfer 3 to 4 lb of oxygen/hr/hp.

O'Connor and Eckenfelder discussed the use of aerated lagoons for treating organic wastes. They indicated that a 4 -- day retention, aerated lagoon would give 60 to 76 per cent BOD reduction. Later, Eckenfelder increased the efficiency of treatment to between 75 and 85 per cent in the summer months. It appeared from the limited information available that the aerated lagoon might offer a satisfactory means of increasing the capacity of existing oxidation ponds as well as providing the same degree of treatment in a smaller volume.