The best microscope to monitor your biomass is the one you use daily - & you don't have to be an expert with the microscope to benefit

A simple microscope is all you need for routine wastewater exams.

The microscope can give you great information on a wastewater system's biomass  health. While expensive phase-contrast, high magnification/resolution microscopes are great, a simple low-cost microscope can provide much of the same information. Let's review what can be done with a microscope similar to the one pictured above.

• Floc size & density - simply look at floc shape, size, and density. You are looking for changes and relating what you see under the microscope to effluent quality. To see changes, you need to look at the biomass often!
  
  
• Indicator organisms - bacteria are usually too small to see under a low cost microscope, and aside from general shapes and motility, you don't see much. So, we look at indicator organisms which are much larger and more active than bacteria. As with the floc, you are looking for changes in indicator protozoa and metazoa (if present). Don't worry too much about exact ID for the protozoa. Look for general location methods, size, and relate what is there to your own system's operations. I have attached a "bug poster" for easy use in classifying common wastewater protozoa. Insteand of photos, I use drawings which makes you focus on the locomotion and main characteristics rather than exactly matching photos. By looking at the MLSS frequently, you learn what should be in your system when it is in good shape.

The big step up in microscopes comes when you add phase contrast capabilities to your microscope. This requires phase contrast objectives and diaphragm condenser. Phase contrast allows you to see more detail - it is very valuable in performing filament ID, evaluation of EPS, and looking at individual bacterial cells. These tests also require a bit more experience for the microscope operation and take more time. While phase contrast will make daily exam slightly better - it is overkill for most coursory exams. 

So just dust off the old microscope and start using it daily. A quick 5 minute look under the microscope using 10x and 40x objectives will give you good information and help improve your monitoring program.

If you don't have a bug poster near your microscope, I have included one that we made for Aster Bio here. 
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