Aerobic Granular Sludge Technology for Wastewater Treatment
In this course you will learn all about the history of and latest developments in the AGS technology, also known as Nereda technology. You will understand its underlying processes and learn how to implement AGS.
Delft University of Technology
Starts
Apr 22, 2026
Language
EnglishCertification
Accredited by CIWEM: 35 CPD creditsDuration:7 weeks
4 - 6 hours per weekCourse Type
OnlineMember fee(LMIC): €542.50
Member fee: €976.50
Standard fee: €1,085.00
Course Description
The introduction of the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process represents a significant and evolutionary step in wastewater treatment technology.
AGS deploys the treatment characteristics of granular biomass in highly automated sequencing batch reactors. This results in reductions in land footprint, costs, electricity, sludge production, chemical consumption and delivers improved environmental compliance and robustness compared with established wastewater treatment technologies.
In this course you will learn all about the history of and latest developments in the AGS technology, also known as Nereda technology. You will understand its underlying processes and learn how to implement AGS.
You will visit different AGS treatment plants through online excursions and share the experiences of operators, policy makers and innovators from water authorities using this technology. The course offers a basic design sheet for an AGS treatment plant. Additionally, on our discussion forum, after comparing your preferred options –whether you want to be more cost-effective, improve energy efficiency or make environmental improvements to your wastewater treatment plant– you will be able to share your questions and your fellow participants and the course team will help you in your choices!
- IWA Members can avail a 10% discount on the ConnectPlus platform
- An exclusive 50% discount available to IWA members from LMIC countries
Course Audience
This course is primarily geared towards working professionals.
Prerequisites:
You should have prior knowledge of basic wastewater treatment processes, like BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus removal and activated sludge plants. If you don't have this knowledge, we recommend that you take our Urban Sewage Treatment course. High school mathematics, biology and chemistry are required.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the basics of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology.
- Describe the differences between activated sludge and AGS and explain the microbial conversions in AGS.
- Calculate conversion rates of aerobic granular sludge processes and the dimensions of aerobic granular sludge reactors.
- Explain and design process control strategies for AGS processes.
- Decide on the advantages and disadvantages of the technology in your own situation.
- Create a simple design of an AGS wastewater treatment plant.
Learning Format
Related IWA Specialist Groups
Nutrient Removal and Recovery
The Nutrient Removal and Recovery (NRR) SG focuses on cutting edge fundamental and applied research in nutrient removal and recovery technologies, and applications of those technologies in the design, operation, and optimization of wastewater treatment systems. With the new demand for sustainable nutrient removal and recovery, there are many exciting research opportunities in the following areas
- Conventional biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes,
- Sidestream and mainstream deammonification,
- Nutrient recovery from source separated wastewater and sludge handling processes,
- Technologies for maintaining biomass in NRR reactors (membranes, granular sludge, biofilm carriers, hybrid systems),
- Microbiological methods for identification of microorganisms involved in NRR processes,
- Operation and control of NRR in wastewater treatment plants,
- Mathematical modeling of NRR processes and the integration of instant process simulation and monitoring with operational control.
With the traditional aim of protecting receiving waters against eutrophication, nutrient removal has become one of the key challenges for wastewater treatment facilities all over the world. However, most of the currently used technologies are not focused on minimization of resource consumption recovery from wastewater. The facilities may become more environmentally sustainable through maximizing removal while delivering nutrient and energy recovery technologies with economically attractive return on investment. Such an approach will ultimately contribute to efficiently managing water and resources in urban areas.
The promising paradigm-shifting technology is fully autotrophic nitrogen removal via deammonification (partial nitrification and anammox) in sidestream and mainstream systems. A special interest is given to the application of that technology at low process temperatures.