Lagoons and large treatment ponds play a vital role in managing wastewater for both municipal and industrial operations. They act as natural settling and biological treatment systems, allowing solids to separate and microorganisms to break down organic matter over time. However, these systems often face serious performance issues as they grow and age. Sludge build-up, rising turbidity (NTU) levels, and scaling treatment capacity are among the most common and costly challenges operators encounter.

When a lagoon becomes overloaded with suspended solids and organic waste, water clarity drops, oxygen levels decrease, and compliance with discharge limits becomes harder to maintain. To keep these large systems efficient and within environmental standards, many operators are now turning to TigerFloc, a natural flocculant that speeds up water clarification, controls sludge, and improves long-term lagoon performance.

Understanding the Core Problems

Over time, every lagoon or treatment pond begins to accumulate sludge. This layer of settled solids forms at the bottom, reducing water capacity and the efficiency of biological treatment. The thicker the sludge layer becomes, the less room there is for proper settling, leading to cloudy or turbid effluent that exceeds NTU discharge standards.

Turbidity, measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), is a key indicator of water clarity. High NTU levels show that the water contains a large amount of suspended solids. In simpler terms, this often corresponds to higher concentrations of particles, sometimes expressed as parts per million (ppm) of solids in the water.

For municipal and industrial facilities, maintaining low turbidity (or low solids content) is critical for compliance. Failure to do so can result in environmental penalties or restrictions on discharge permits.

Scaling up treatment to handle larger flows presents another difficulty. As communities or industrial operations expand, lagoons often receive more wastewater than they were originally designed to manage. When flow increases, solids remain suspended longer, biological activity weakens, and compliance risks rise. Traditional solutions like dredging or chemical coagulants are costly, labor-intensive, and sometimes harmful to the environment.

How TigerFloc Helps Lagoon Operators Stay Compliant

TigerFloc, developed by Floc Systems Inc., provides a simple, natural, and cost-effective way to tackle the main issues facing lagoon operators. It uses mineral-based compounds that attract and bind suspended particles, sludge, and fine solids into larger clusters that settle quickly. The process helps restore clarity and improve overall lagoon performance without disrupting existing treatment systems.

1. Reduces Sludge and Solids Accumulation

By binding together fine particles and organic debris, TigerFloc helps accelerate settling and reduces sludge build-up on the lagoon floor. Less sludge means higher water capacity, better oxygen transfer, and more consistent biological treatment. Over time, this reduces the need for costly dredging or mechanical sludge removal.

2. Achieves Low NTU Levels Quickly

TigerFloc rapidly lowers turbidity in lagoon water. In field applications, it has brought down NTU readings from several hundred to below discharge limits within minutes. This fast clarification allows operators to maintain compliance even during high-flow or storm events when solids are typically stirred up.

3. Scales Easily for Large Systems

Whether treating a small industrial retention pond or a multi-acre municipal lagoon, TigerFloc can be applied efficiently at any scale. It can be introduced as granules, flocculant belts, or through in-line treatment tubes, depending on system design. TigerFloc is also available in 50-lb bulk bags that can be used directly for large-volume applications. This flexibility makes it easy to integrate with existing infrastructure while improving performance.

4. Safe, Natural, and Environmentally Friendly

Unlike harsh coagulants, TigerFloc is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for aquatic life. It supports environmentally responsible water treatment and does not interfere with the biological processes already occurring in lagoons. Operators can maintain compliance without worrying about chemical residues or downstream effects.

Real-World Applications

Municipal Wastewater Lagoons
City-operated lagoons often face seasonal turbidity spikes and excessive sludge accumulation. Adding TigerFloc helps clear suspended solids quickly, maintaining NTU compliance and extending the lifespan of the lagoon. Municipalities benefit from reduced dredging costs and fewer compliance issues.

Industrial Lagoons and Retention Ponds
Industrial sites such as food processors, pulp mills, and manufacturing facilities use lagoons to manage process water. These ponds frequently deal with fine clays, organic matter, and byproduct sludge. TigerFloc clarifies the water efficiently, helping facilities meet strict discharge standards and keep operations consistent even as production scales up.

Stormwater and Combined Flow Basins
During heavy rainfall, stormwater systems can carry large amounts of sediment and contaminants into holding lagoons. TigerFloc binds the suspended particles quickly, allowing clean water to flow out and reducing the risk of overflows and permit violations.

Conclusion

Lagoons remain one of the most cost-effective and sustainable tools for wastewater management, but they are not without challenges. Sludge accumulation, high NTU levels, and treatment scalability can compromise their effectiveness over time. With TigerFloc, operators gain a simple, natural way to improve clarity, control sludge, and maintain compliance without resorting to expensive dredging or chemical treatments.

At Floc Systems Inc., we help municipalities and industrial operators improve the performance of their lagoons and retention systems with proven natural flocculant solutions. Our technology is designed to deliver measurable results quickly, saving both time and money while protecting the environment. Get a TigerFloc fact sheet or request a quote today. Contact us to learn how we can help you maintain clean, compliant, and high-performing lagoon systems with solutions designed and delivered with care.