Abstract: A process for the secondary treatment of wastewater by a modified air activated sludge system comprising aerating wastewater containing bacteria until the BOD level of the wastewater is reduced by at least 90%, the food to microorganism ratio of the wastewater being greater than one, introducing the aerated wastewater under pressure to a flotation cell to separate suspended solids including bacteria from the pressurized wastewater by dissolved air flotation clarification, recycling said suspended soilds and bacteria to said aeration step in an amount sufficient to maintain said food to microorganism ratio and removing and disposing of the remaining reduced BOD level wastewater.