The　control　problem　of　the　wastewater　treatment　process　(WWTP)　has　been　a　longstanding　study　topic　due　to　the　uncertainties　and　nonlinearities.　Dissolved　oxygen　(DO)　content　is　the　key　factor　to　ensure　the　operation　efficiency　and　effluent　quality　of　WWTP.　To　optimize　the　controller,　an　adaptive　tracking　control　method　based　on　echo　state　network　is　proposed　to　achieve　accurate　tracking　and　rapid　control　of　DO　concentration.　Firstly,　the　paper　uses　echo　state　network　to　identify　the　dynamic　parameters　of　WWTP　online,　the　efficiency　and　reliability　of　wastewater　treatment　process　are　improved.　Additionally,　the　stability　of　the　designed　controller　has　been　demonstrated.　Finally,　through　experimental　results　illustrate　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　controller.　Compared　with　PID,　FNN　and　ESN,　the　advantages　of　the　control　method　in　reducing　error　and　improving　control　precision　are　shown.　©　2024　Copyright　held　by　the　owner/author(s).