Prospects of Activated Sludge Process in Japan - Its Past, Present, and Future -

Our life totally depends on activated sludgeprocess for treatment of wastewater: sewage and industrial wastewater. Activated sludge process was the epoch-making technology in Environmental field. One century has been almost passed since the process was developed in England, and the process is still on the development of improvement. Here, history of activated sludge process, its mechanismsof treating the wastewater, expectations that we had on the process in the past, and future image and possibility on the process were presented. By reviewing the events related to the process, we can foresee potentials for new possibility of activated sludge process.