Decentralized Sewage Treatment Disposal 10212010 Wayne Feiden FAICP

Decentralized Sewage Treatment & Disposal 10/21/2010 Wayne Feiden, FAICP-- Wayne@Feiden. org “one drop of sewage”

Decentralized!

• • • bad reputation Surface breakout Backup to building or septic tank Contaminate groundwater (esp. sand/gravel)

Decentralized NO LONGER Alternative Can be same or better treatment l Soils/hydrology critical (except for package plants) l • 25+% of population uses on-site systems • Most rural suburban areas will never be sewered.

Treatment: with proper siting and organic crust • • • TSS and BOD: to background conditions Pathogens (bacteria & viruses): 99. 99% reduction Nitrogen: Some reduction- Nitrate into groundwater www. geog. ouc. bc. ca/physgeog/contents/9 s. html Phosphorus: Removed by soil Groundwater: recharge Nitrogen Cycle

platey blocky columnar granular Single grained Soil Texture AND Structure Massive

Land Use 1. 2. 3. 4. Premature subdivisions Development in wrong places (e. g. farmland) Barriers to housing Total environmental footprint

Design Principles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Unsaturated conditions Maximize active biological zone Maximize native soils Avoid groundwater mounding Maximize dilution and dispersion Soil Biota v. depth

Maximum Native Soil Interface X

Uniform Distribution via Dosing l. Especially in rapidly permeable soils l. Reduce premature clogging in slowly permeable soils l. Asymmetrical laterals at different elevations l. Potential Nitrogen reduction

X Massachusetts Mound “Real” mounds= Uniform distribution and native soil interface

Uniform Distribution

Fixed Film/Media Filter • • Open Access AND Buried Sand Filters Recirculating AND Once-Pass Sand Filters Trickling Filters (continuous flow) Artificial medias www. feiden. org

Low Pressure Pipe (LPP) l. Pressurized with shallow and Narrow trenches Images by Orenco, Inc. OR

Sand Filter- (esp. re-circulating) biological treatment on sand l intermittent (v. trickling filters) l waste re-circulates 4± times l discharge needs polishing l Virginia Dept. of Health Image by Orenco, Inc. OR

Jet Images by Bio. Microbics, KS Fast Aerobic Tank pre-treatment Cromaglass

“Package” Treatment Plants Bioclere Solviva Biocarbon Waterloo Biofilter Amphidrome Krofta Clarifier www. feiden. org

“No loo, no ’I do. ’” -Melinda Gates on women in modern India (New Yorker, 10/4/10) www. feiden. org