What could happen to the solids if flow rates into a clarifier exceed the surface hydraulic loading design?

When flow rates into a clarifier exceed the design parameters for surface hydraulic loading, the system can experience hydraulic overload. This situation refers to the volume of water entering the clarifier being too high for it to effectively manage. As a result, excess flow can cause solids that are meant to settle to remain suspended longer, which can lead those solids to be swept over the weir rather than settling to the bottom.

If the clarifier becomes overwhelmed, the retention time is reduced, which diminishes the settling efficiency of the solids. Consequently, instead of being captured and removed properly, the solids may bypass treatment and exit with the effluent, thereby affecting the overall treatment process and potentially leading to violations of discharge standards. This makes managing flow rates a critical component in wastewater treatment design and operation to ensure optimal performance.