Innovative Products & Solutions Education Track
(Afternoon of October 26)
Onsite Wastewater System Solutions for Shallow Installations, Dennis Hallahan, Infiltrator Systems, Inc.
The need to design and install effective shallow onsite septic systems is an ongoing challenge for septic system design and installation professionals. Installations where a high groundwater table impacts treatment, systems where soils have low permeability, or other situations where restrictions limit vertical separation distance all fall into this category. With new technology, system design options, and products specifically designed for these tough applications available, solutions to these challenges are here. This presentation will explore the science, the regulatory issues, and the solutions that will help engineers and contractors with this challenge.
Methane Management, Rodney Ruskin, Geoflow, Inc
Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is proven both as a water efficient method of irrigating crops and a method of disposing and reusing sewage effluent. This paper demonstrates the synergy of combining studies by the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) on CO2, Crop Growth, and Water-Use Efficiency (WUE) and by U.C. Davis on the conversion of methane to CO2. The effects of CO2 enrichment on crop growth have been verified to enhance photosynthesis and WUE. Plants combine CO2 with water to fix carbon and produce biomass. Crop and water productivity increase in elevated CO2 conditions. CIT has injected CO2 through SDI with the anticipated results. U.C. Davis has been funded by WERF to conduct the following research: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG); equivalent to 21 times that of CO2. The EPA has determined that a majority of the methane emissions associated with wastewater originate from septic tanks. Gases from the septic tank will be injected with wastewater into a SDI system. It is anticipated that microbial activity will oxidize methane gases to CO2. As one molecule of CH4 can at most be converted to one molecule of CO2 this conversion, if 100% efficient, reduces GHG by about 95%. The CO2, as shown by CIT, is then taken up by the vegetation resulting in improved production and WUE. The logic of CH4 -> SDI -> CO2 -> plants can be applied to any source of CH4. Methane or CO2 could be applied to aerated wetlands as well as soil.
Use of Aerated Storage Ponds Following Packed-Bed Filters for Improved Performance and Lower Costs, Larry Stephens, Stephens Consulting Services, P.C.
When applying for an N.P.D.E.S. permit in the State of Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) sets performance requirements based upon its analysis of the assimilative capacity of the watershed. Applicants are many times given the choice whether they wish to discharge continuously or seasonally. A seasonal discharger would store the treated wastewater during the warm summer recreational periods and during periods when the receiving waters are likely to be ice-covered. These are times of the year when aquatic life is more vulnerable, and/or public contact with receiving waters presents an elevated exposure risk. Of course, seasonal discharges also have the added benefit of reducing the discharge measuring and monitoring costs to a fraction of what a continuous discharger would spend.
The author is the owner of a consulting engineering firm that has designed a number of cluster treatment systems that build on this concept of seasonal or intermittent discharge by pre-treating the wastewater with packed-bed filters and then storing it in aerated storage ponds for lengthy periods of time. Doing so provides a long-term stabilization and composite mixing of the treated wastewater, as well as significantly reduced performance sampling costs. And added benefit is that the storage ponds serve as a buffer between the pre-treatment works and the point of discharge; providing time for the operator to react to any performance deviations. Results of two case studies will be presented which illustrate a very high level of treatment.
(Morning of October 27)
Innovative Approaches Allowing Surface Discharge of Treated Effluent, Roger Lacasse, Premier Tech Aqua
There are many challenges associated to surface discharge of treated effluent from wastewater treatment system. The treated effluent quality must respect discharge criteria established to protect the receiving environment and the water usages (drinking water, human contacts, etc.). Global evaluation of watersheds in terms of water quality, water usage and protection of specific sensitive environment, allows establishment of the discharge criteria for different lakes and rivers of a watershed. Discharge criteria may concern low concentrations in TSS, BOD5, phosphorus, bacteria, turbidity, ammonia, etc. All of the targeted parameters have an impact on the receiving water quality but phosphorus discharge is an emerging concern because of its direct impact on lakes eutrophization process (blue algae problematic) and disinfection of wastewater without by products generation (ex: trihalomethane from chlorination) is of first importance for health protection.
For decentralized wastewater treatment, cost-effective phosphorus removal (DP) and disinfection (DI) processes represent important challenges to overcome; phosphorus removal without pH increases over discharge limit sets to 9.5 and reliable disinfection processes without intensive maintenance requirements. Over the last three years, Premier Tech Aqua tested different approaches to integrate DP and DI options into decentralized wastewater treatment system for flow rate from 500 to 50,000 gpd. First, extensive testing has been performed with simple system based on electro coagulation process integrated into the Ecoflo® Biofilter treatment train allowing reduction of total phosphorus below 0.3 mg/L and fecal coliform level below 200 counts/100 mL. Second, a wastewater disinfection approaches based on auto cleaning UV systems has been experimented with success in real conditions at many different sites. Finally, very high performance in phosphorus removal has been reached (total phosphorus below 0.1 mg/L) by combining an innovative chemical addition system to a membrane technology (MBR).
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Decentralized Wastewater Systems, Reza Shams-Khorzani, PhD, Bio-Microbics, Inc.
The term membrane bioreactor (MBR) defines a combination of a biological process and membrane separation. The MBR forms an important advancement in the treatment of wastewaters. In comparison with conventional treatment techniques the MBR technology displays several advantages such as very high effluent quality, limited space requirements and possibilities for a flexible and phased extension of the treatment plant.
Generally, treatment of the residential wastewater by the MBR system would produce effluent with non-detectable TSS, BOD concentration of less than 2 mg/L, ammonia-nitrogen concentration of less than 0.5 m/L, fecal coliform count of less than 20 per 100 mL, and with proper design, total nitrogen concentration of less than 5 mg/L. The MBR effluent can easily be considered for reuse in various applications. The MBR system is also ideal for treating challenging wastewaters such as low temperature conditions and compounds that are difficult to treat.
In the last 15 years, the MBR technology has extensively been applied to treat both municipal and industrial wastewaters. Currently, there are more than 2,000 small and large (56 MGD) MBR treatment plants in operation in the world.
This paper will focus on the design and application of the MBR system n Decentralized Wastewater Applications. The unique features and challenges of this new technology for the decentralized applications will be reviewed. Several examples of installations will be discussed along with detailed operational procedures.
(Afternoon of October 27)
Ecological, On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Re-Use System Centerpiece of Large Commercial Portland Building, William Kirksey, Worrell Water Technologies
Advanced ecological wastewater treatment technology is a viable strategy to address the growing gap between increasing water demand and limited resources to build and maintain infrastructure. Cities, such as Portland, Ore., are working on multi-pronged strategies to extend the life of their water and wastewater systems. Integrating decentralized, ecological wastewater treatment systems reduces strain on the regional infrastructure and limits the need for new construction and upgrades.
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This presentation will feature a case study on the Port of Portland’s new headquarters, a recently completed 205,000 sq-ft structure at the Portland International Airport that is a showcase for sustainable practices.
At the centerpiece of this building is the latest generation of advanced ecological wastewater treatment systems, which reduces the facility’s water consumption by treating up to 5,000 gal. of wastewater per day for reuse in the building’s lavatories and for cooling towers. It is a primary component of the building’s water-efficient features that decrease water usage by 75%.
Located in the lobby, the odorless wastewater treatment system offers beautiful indoor landscaping with greenery and ornamental flowers while treating full strength sewage from the building’s toilets and sinks. Under the lush vegetation are treatment cells that are alternately filled and drained to create multiple tidal cycles to cleanse the water. This wastewater treatment system, called the “single most impressive green strategy of the building” by the architect, is an example of biomimicry using advanced ecological engineering combined with 21st century technology.
In addition to the case study, presenters will discuss how this advanced technology can be widely applied to help address the difficult infrastructure and environmental issues facing municipalities.
Advanced ecological wastewater treatment technology is a viable strategy to address the growing gap between increasing water demand and limited resources to build and maintain infrastructure. Cities, such as Portland, Ore., are working on multi-pronged strategies to extend the life of their water and wastewater systems. Integrating decentralized, ecological wastewater treatment systems reduces strain on the regional infrastructure and limits the need for new construction and upgrades.
Onsite solutions for challenging sites, Anish Jantrania, NCS Wastewater Solutions
In this presentation, we will discuss the results from an ongoing real world experiment being conducted in Westmorland County, Virginia. Specifically, the presentation will cover five topics: performance goals of any effluent dispersal system, soil properties that affect the performance, placement of effluent dispersal pipe in relation to seasonal water table, performance of an effluent system installed in Lenoir Soil, and suggestions for loading rate assignments in wet clay soils. One of the main goals of this experiment was to determine the effects, in terms of hydraulics and pollutant movement, of dispersing disinfected effluent below seasonal water table year around.
The system serves one home but the performance was observed at a design-loading rate of about 4 gallons per day per square foot of trench bottom area. The system is installed and operated year around below seasonal water table. Secondary effluent is disinfected using UV light before time dosed into the effluent dispersal system.
Homeowner is happy with the system and overall performance data collected so far indicate no threat to Public Health or Environmental Quality on and around the property from the system’s operation. The question now is what purpose does the vertical standoff to seasonal water table serves in onsite industry and can the regulations allow considerations for dispersal of adequately treated effluent into seasonal water table? A new method for loading rate assignment is proposed.
