Can You Clean Sewage Lagoons Organically?
When most people hear the words sewage lagoon, they picture a stagnant, smelly pond of foul water hidden somewhere out of sight on the edge of town. For many communities, sewage lagoons are a fact of life — a simple, low-cost way of handling wastewater without the need for a fully mechanised treatment plant. But over time, these lagoons often become overloaded, smelly, and environmentally hazardous. This leads to a big question: can they be cleaned and restored in a way that is safe, natural, and environmentally responsible — without dumping harsh chemicals into the water or dredging it mechanically at great cost?
The short answer is yes. With modern organic enzyme technology, sewage lagoons can be cleaned, sludge can be reduced, odours can be controlled, and water quality can be restored — all while keeping the ecosystem intact. At Bioglobe, we have developed a bespoke Organic Enzyme Remediation solution that tackles these problems in a natural, sustainable way.
This article explains what sewage lagoons are, why they sometimes become a problem, what happens if nothing is done, and how Bioglobe’s solution offers a safe and effective way to treat the issue without harm to the surrounding environment.
The Problem: What Happens in Sewage Lagoons
Sewage lagoons, also known as waste stabilisation ponds, are large open bodies of water designed to treat wastewater using natural biological processes. When designed and maintained properly, they are surprisingly effective. They allow solids in the wastewater to settle to the bottom, and they rely on natural bacteria and algae to break down organic matter. Sunlight, wind, and oxygen play a role in keeping the system balanced.
However, lagoons are not immune to problems. Over time, as more and more wastewater enters, sludge begins to accumulate at the bottom. This sludge is made up of organic solids that have settled but have not fully decomposed. As the sludge layer thickens, oxygen cannot penetrate to the bottom, and conditions become increasingly anaerobic — meaning that bacteria that thrive without oxygen begin to dominate.
Anaerobic decomposition is slower and produces gases such as methane, hydrogen sulphide, and ammonia — all of which smell unpleasant and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The more sludge there is, the less volume is available for fresh wastewater, reducing the lagoon’s treatment efficiency. This is a vicious cycle: less capacity leads to poorer treatment, which leads to more odour, more sludge, and a bigger problem.
In addition to sludge buildup, lagoons often suffer from:
- Nutrient overload – high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus encourage algal blooms, which can turn the water bright green and create dead zones when they die and decompose.
- Pathogen risk – sewage lagoons can harbour bacteria and viruses that can spread to animals or contaminate nearby water sources if not properly managed.
- Solids resuspension – when sludge is disturbed (for example, by strong winds or heavy inflows), solids can resurface and make the water cloudy, releasing odour.
- Poor aesthetics – communities near lagoons may complain of strong smells, unsightly scum, and flies or mosquitoes breeding in the water.
The Consequences of Ignoring the Problem
If nothing is done to clean or restore a failing sewage lagoon, the consequences can affect not only the local environment but also human health, community relations, and even the local economy.
1. Environmental Damage
Sewage lagoons that are overloaded or poorly functioning can release untreated or partially treated effluent into nearby rivers, streams, or groundwater. This can lead to:
- Eutrophication – an overgrowth of algae in receiving waters, followed by fish kills and loss of biodiversity when oxygen levels collapse.
- Pollution of drinking water sources – if nitrates, phosphates, or pathogens leach into groundwater, nearby wells may become unsafe for human consumption.
- Damage to soil and vegetation – spills or overflows can kill grass, damage crops, or contaminate farmland.
2. Health Risks
High pathogen levels in untreated wastewater pose a risk of spreading disease. Communities near a malfunctioning lagoon may experience higher risks of gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, or other health issues if contact with contaminated water occurs.
3. Odour and Community Complaints
Perhaps the most immediate and obvious problem is odour. Hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg smell), ammonia, and other gases produced by anaerobic decay can drift for hundreds of metres, causing discomfort for residents, reducing property values, and generating complaints to councils or water authorities.
4. Regulatory and Financial Costs
Water companies or local authorities responsible for sewage lagoons must meet discharge standards for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS). Failure to comply can result in fines, mandatory upgrades, and reputational damage. Cleaning lagoons mechanically — for example, by dredging — is expensive, disruptive, and can create a large volume of sludge that needs to be transported and disposed of safely.
The Solution: Bioglobe’s Organic Enzyme Remediation
Fortunately, there is a better way. Bioglobe has developed a suite of organic, enzyme-based solutions that can be applied directly to sewage lagoons to accelerate the natural breakdown of sludge, improve water quality, and restore the lagoon to a healthier state.
Unlike chemical treatments, which can kill both harmful and beneficial organisms indiscriminately, or mechanical dredging, which is expensive and disruptive, enzyme remediation works with nature rather than against it.
Step 1: Bespoke Analysis
The first step in Bioglobe’s process is analysis. Every sewage lagoon is different. The type of waste entering the system, the temperature, the depth, and the age of the lagoon all affect its condition. Bioglobe conducts a detailed laboratory analysis of the lagoon water and sludge to identify:
- The chemical composition (nutrients, pH, contaminants)
- The biological activity (microbial community present)
- The depth and composition of the sludge layer
- The oxygen demand and current treatment performance
This allows us to create a tailored enzyme solution designed specifically for the lagoon in question.
Step 2: Enzyme Formulation
Bioglobe’s proprietary blends include enzymes that break down fats, oils, proteins, and carbohydrates — the main components of sewage. By breaking these down into smaller, simpler molecules, we make them easier for naturally occurring bacteria to consume. This means faster, more complete decomposition, and a significant reduction in sludge volume over time.
Because these enzymes are organic and biodegradable, they do not persist in the environment or cause harm to wildlife. They simply do their job and then naturally degrade into harmless amino acids and other natural by-products.
Step 3: Application and Monitoring
Once the tailored formulation is ready, it is applied to the lagoon in a controlled way, often by spraying or dosing at specific points to ensure maximum distribution. The process is monitored to track reductions in sludge, odour levels, and improvements in water quality parameters such as BOD, COD, and dissolved oxygen.
Step 4: Restoring Balance
As sludge levels drop and oxygen penetration improves, the lagoon’s natural microbial community begins to recover. Aerobic bacteria — those that thrive in oxygen — become more active, which means even faster decomposition and better odour control. The water becomes clearer, algal blooms are reduced, and the overall ecosystem moves towards a healthier balance.
Why Organic Enzyme Treatment is Better
- Environmentally Safe – No toxic chemicals, no risk to wildlife or surrounding vegetation, no harmful residues.
- Cost-Effective – Reduces or eliminates the need for expensive dredging operations and ongoing chemical dosing.
- Quick Results – Noticeable improvements in odour and water clarity can often be seen within weeks.
- Customised – Each treatment is formulated for the specific problem, ensuring maximum efficacy.
- Long-Term Benefits – By restoring microbial balance, the lagoon becomes more resilient and continues to function effectively, reducing the likelihood of future problems.
The Bigger Picture: Protecting Communities and Ecosystems
Cleaning sewage lagoons organically is not just about odour control. It is about restoring a vital part of our water infrastructure. Healthy lagoons mean cleaner water downstream, healthier ecosystems, fewer complaints from residents, and less strain on municipal budgets.
The beauty of Bioglobe’s approach is that it is proactive. Rather than waiting until a lagoon is in crisis and needs dredging, our system can be applied as part of regular maintenance to keep sludge levels low, odours minimal, and treatment efficiency high.
Conclusion
Yes, you really can clean a sewage lagoon organically — and not just clean it, but restore it to a condition where it continues to treat wastewater effectively, safely, and in harmony with the environment. Bioglobe’s Organic Enzyme Remediation solution is the future of lagoon management: a natural, targeted, and sustainable way to deal with one of the less pleasant but essential parts of modern life.
FAQs
What is a sewage lagoon?
A sewage lagoon is a large pond or series of ponds used to treat wastewater naturally. Wastewater enters the lagoon, solids settle to the bottom, and bacteria and sunlight work together to break down organic matter. Lagoons can be aerobic (oxygen-rich), anaerobic (oxygen-poor), or a combination of both.
How do natural treatments work on them?
Natural treatments use biology rather than chemistry. Enzymes break down complex organic molecules into simple forms, which bacteria then consume, turning them into harmless end products such as carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients. By enhancing this natural process with carefully selected enzymes, lagoon health can be restored without chemicals or mechanical dredging.
Will it reduce odour and sludge?
Yes. Odours are usually caused by anaerobic decomposition releasing gases like hydrogen sulphide. Enzyme treatments reduce sludge, allow oxygen to penetrate deeper, and speed up decomposition, which in turn reduces odours dramatically. Over time, sludge volume is significantly reduced, meaning less muck to remove and a longer-lasting, healthier lagoon.
Bioglobe offer Organic Enzyme pollution remediation for major oil-spills, oceans and coastal waters, marinas and inland water, sewage and nitrate remediation and agriculture and brown-field sites, throughout the UK and Europe.
We have created our own Enzyme based bioremediation in our own laboratory in Cyprus and we are able to create bespoke variants for maximum efficacy.
Our team are able to identify the pollution, we then assess the problem, conduct site tests and send samples to our lab where we can create a bespoke variant, we then conduct a pilot test and proceed from there.
Our Enzyme solutions are available around the world, remediation pollution organically without any harm to the ecosystem.
For further information:
BioGlobe LTD (UK),
Phone: +44(0) 116 4736303| Email: info@bioglobe.co.uk