In the context of the development of treatment plant control techniques, th
ree measures for maintaining a high efficiency of treatment plants during r
ainfall events were tested. The three measures are increasing the nitrifica
tion volume by operating a facultative aeration, bypassing the primary sedi
mentation and adding flocculants before secondary sedimentation. Ammonia co
ncentrations and ammonia loads were used in combination with rainfall forec
asts as the criteria for putting the measures into operation. A simulation
based on the Activated Sludge Model No. 1 and a pilot scale plant were used
for testing the measures. The results show that all three measures may be
suitable to cope with peak loads of treatment plants during rainfall events
.