small community sewage solutions

NNECAPA Conference, Woodstock, Vermont September 2008

Small Community SewageSolutions

Mary K. Clark,Director of Market Development,

Eastern U.S.

Premier Tech Environment

• What are centralized/decentralized systems?• What are potential impacts from decentralized?• How do regulations affect choices of systems?• Where are we going with wastewater management decisions?• How can we overcome current barriers?

►OUTLINE

►What are Decentralized Systems?

►Traditional Onsite Treatment System

►Advanced Onsite Treatment

TECHNOLOGY Ecoflo® Biofilter Chosen by more than 35,000 families in

North America and Europe

Areas with soil and site constraints Limited available space Allows soil to do final treatment without clogging Can allow for reduced vertical separations to water table & clay Can allow for reduced sized drainfield (double loading rate) Failed system repair or renovation Nutrient reduction in environmentally sensitive areas

►Why Use Advanced Treatment?

► Products Approval can be based on results from NSF Bench tests or fieldverification tests

115 115 n TSS / n CF948236,400F.C. / 100 mL*2 ±138 ±BOD5 (mg/L)2 ±

Effluent

170 ±TSS (mg/L)

InfluentParameters

* Geometric mean

► Treatment efficiency obtained in thefield*

234,262F.C. / 100 mL*

0.12 ± 0.045.9 ± 0.9Total Phosphorus(mg/L)

8 ± 9**

Effluent at 12 inches ofsoil after Ecoflo

45 ± 24Total Nitrogen(mg/L)

InfluentParameters

•Mean efficiency (+/- std deviation)

•**Groundwater = 4+/- 4

►LANDSCAPING EXAMPLES

►TYPICAL LAYOUT – COMMUNITY SIZE

STEP, STEG or Septic tank

Domestic wastewater

Effluent criteria:CBOD5 and TSS : 10

mg/L

Equalization tank

Settling tank

EcoflexTM

Textile Filter

BioSegTM trickling filters, 1 or 2 tower(s) in 1 stage

(parallel)

►GENERAL DESCRIPTIONEcoflexTM packed-bed Textile Filter

Applications:• Domestic wastewater or wastewater with similar characteristics

(example: office building)• Optimal flow range : 1 to 30 homes, i.e. 500 to 8,000 gpd• Community, commercial or residential applications

►GENERAL DESCRIPTIONEcoflexTM packed-bed Textile Filter

► COMMUNITY APPLICATIONSMunicipality of St-Joseph de Kamouraska

Quebec, Canada

► COMMUNITY APPLICATIONSMunicipality of St-Joseph de Kamouraska

Quebec, Canada

► COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

Chics-Chocs Hotel, Quebec, Canada

PeatLand Community System

Distribution pipe network

Grass or other vegetation Local wetland

plant speciesNatural insulating

blanket

River, stream or ditch

Treated effluent

Selected granular media

Sampling basin

Collecting pipe

Peat covering

Septictank

effluent

Aggregate layer(usually sand)

Peat Filter(Peat Moss and Selected Media)

Subsurface Constructed Wetland

Adds water back in to the groundwater aquifersDisperses back into the environment in small scattered patterns – no widespread failures can occur

Water Supply Protection – Individual and community wells

►WATER QUALITY IMPACTS

Nitrogen a concern in coastal watersPathogens cause swimming & shell fishery closuresPhosphorus is emerging as a water quality concern in many freshwater systems

►WATER QUALITY IMPACTS

The blue algae problem is growing fast in many locations

►WATER QUALITY IMPACTS

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2004 2005 2006 2007

Num

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f lak

es o

r rive

rs af

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Lakes and rivers

Provinceof

Quebec

• Each state, county, municipality has regulations• Different requirements for size of systems (flows)• Trying to fit small-scale systems/projects into centralized sewer model – priority rankings, funding

►REGULATIONS AND FUNDING

Utility structures – dealing with current old sewersDesign/build/own/operateLocal/regional management districtsWatershed management

►WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

• Consultants and town administration• Regulators, regulations & financing• Innovation/forward thinking approaches• Green Community Technologies

►MOVING FORWARD

Questions?Mary Clark

(802) 472-3074clam@premiertech.com

www.premiertechenv.com