OutlineOutline

BackgroundBackgroundConventional on-site systemsConventional on-site systemsAdvanced treatment systemsAdvanced treatment systems

Water Quality ProblemsWater Quality Problemson a National Scaleon a National Scale

10-30% of systems failing 10-30% of systems failing annuallyannually

Over 50% of systems >30 yrs. Over 50% of systems >30 yrs. oldold

Not meeting Clean Water Act Not meeting Clean Water Act goalsgoals

Wastewater treatment systems Wastewater treatment systems have an impact on our marine have an impact on our marine

resources.resources.

All wastewater treatment systems All wastewater treatment systems produce a discharge.produce a discharge.

The better the system – the The better the system – the cleaner the discharge.cleaner the discharge.

Dirty discharges hurt nearby Dirty discharges hurt nearby marine or water resources.marine or water resources.

The EPA admits that the CT River was at one time called

“America’s best landscaped sewer.”

Conventional Septic System Conventional Septic System Consists of a Minimum 1000 Consists of a Minimum 1000 Gallon Septic Tank, With Two Gallon Septic Tank, With Two Compartments and an Effluent Compartments and an Effluent Filter Discharging to an Filter Discharging to an Approved Leaching SystemApproved Leaching System

CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC TANKTANK

Effluent Filter Installed in the Outlet Baffle

The Septic SystemThe Septic SystemThe Proper SettingThe Proper Setting

Ground Water

Basement

Septic Tank

Leaching Trenches

Septic System Effluent

18” Minimum Vertical Separation Distance Required

What is an Advanced Treatment What is an Advanced Treatment System?System?

These are on-site wastewater systems These are on-site wastewater systems that have features beyond typical septic that have features beyond typical septic systems, which can provide a higher systems, which can provide a higher degree of treatment than conventional degree of treatment than conventional septic systemsseptic systems

Still uncommon in Connecticut. Still uncommon in Connecticut. (Requires a management plan.)(Requires a management plan.)

All of these systems use biological All of these systems use biological processes to provide treatment.processes to provide treatment.

What is an Advanced Treatment What is an Advanced Treatment System? (Continued)System? (Continued)

The basic biological treatment concepts (e.g. The basic biological treatment concepts (e.g. trickling filters, activated sludge systems, etc.) trickling filters, activated sludge systems, etc.) have been in use for many years in larger scale have been in use for many years in larger scale settings.settings.

They are now packaged to scale down They are now packaged to scale down applications to serve individual homes and applications to serve individual homes and clusters.clusters.

Systems take advantage of newer materials of Systems take advantage of newer materials of construction and more powerful controllers.construction and more powerful controllers.

Advanced Treatment Systems Use Air Blowers or Advanced Treatment Systems Use Air Blowers or Pumps to Recirculate Fluids. Some Systems Pumps to Recirculate Fluids. Some Systems Have Multiple Control Units. Have Multiple Control Units.

VARIOUS COMPONENTSVARIOUS COMPONENTS

FILTERFILTER

RISERRISER TRICKLING TRICKLING FILTERFILTER

AIR AIR COMPRESSORCOMPRESSOR

An Advanced Technology System An Advanced Technology System Could be as Simple as a Could be as Simple as a Recirculating Trickling Filter, or a Recirculating Trickling Filter, or a Recirculating Sand FilterRecirculating Sand Filter

Sand Filters May be Recirculated Sand Filters May be Recirculated to the Septic Tank or Installed as to the Septic Tank or Installed as Part of the Leaching System in the Part of the Leaching System in the Single Pass Mode.Single Pass Mode.

RECIRCULATING MODERECIRCULATING MODE

BOTTOMLESS LEACHINGBOTTOMLESS LEACHING

COMMUNITY SYSTEMSCOMMUNITY SYSTEMS