Dive into the 2026 NY Wastewater Exam – Flush Away the Competition with Confidence!

High volatile acid concentrations can be an important indicator of digester health, particularly because they often signify problems within the digestion process. Elevated levels of volatile fatty acids can suggest that the anaerobic digestion system is experiencing issues such as overfeeding of substrate or inadequate mixing of contents. When too much organic material is introduced into the digester without sufficient time for the microbes to break it down, it can lead to a buildup of volatile acids. This, in turn, can result in a drop in pH and adversely affect the microbial community necessary for effective digestion.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the implications of high volatile acid concentrations. While efficient digestion would typically correlate with lower volatile acid levels, a stable temperature does not inherently produce high volatile acid concentrations, nor do balanced nutrient levels necessarily reflect such an imbalance in the metabolic byproducts of the digestion process. Therefore, understanding the relationship between volatile acids and digester operation helps in maintaining optimal conditions for effective anaerobic digestion.