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OSST

This document summarizes different types of wastewater treatment systems. It begins by describing community wastewater treatment plants, which serve most buildings through underground piping networks. These plants typically treat 50-100 gallons of wastewater per person daily using multi-stage processes. It then discusses on-site individual sewage treatment systems, which serve about 1/5 of buildings not connected to community plants. These systems usually include a septic tank and drainage field to treat wastewater on or near a property. The document provides details on preliminary, primary, secondary, and other treatment stages used in both large community plants and individual on-site systems.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
509 views7 pages

OSST

This document summarizes different types of wastewater treatment systems. It begins by describing community wastewater treatment plants, which serve most buildings through underground piping networks. These plants typically treat 50-100 gallons of wastewater per person daily using multi-stage processes. It then discusses on-site individual sewage treatment systems, which serve about 1/5 of buildings not connected to community plants. These systems usually include a septic tank and drainage field to treat wastewater on or near a property. The document provides details on preliminary, primary, secondary, and other treatment stages used in both large community plants and individual on-site systems.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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OSST/ALTERNATIVE WASTE TREATMENT

SYSTEMS COMMUNITY WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND


DISPOSAL
Wastewater
 A community wastewater treatment and disposal
 As described in the previous chapter, wastewater system, a network of pipes that transport wastewater
(sewage) is “used” water. to treatment plants where it is treated and released to
the environment, serves most buildings in the United
 It contains the waste products, excrement, or other States.
discharge from the bodies of human beings or  At a typical wastewater treatment plant, several
animals, and other noxious or poisonous substances million gallons of wastewater are treated each day,
that are harmful to the public health, or to animal or about 50 to 100 gallons for every person using the
aquatic life, or to the use of water for domestic water system.
supply or for recreation.  In these systems, wastewater is carried from the
building to the community treatment facility through
 Although the terms wastewater and sewage are used below-ground piping systems that are generally
interchangeably, sewage technically contains waste classified according to the type of wastewater flowing
products or excrement from human beings or animals through them.
and wastewater may not. Buildings nearly always  Sanitary sewage is typically separated from storm
generate sewage, and thus wastewater. water (from rain and snowmelt) by a separate piping
arrangement. In less modern systems, known as
Domestic Wastewater combined systems, the system carries both sanitary
water and storm water.
 Wastewater from residences, apartments, motels,
office buildings, and other similar types of buildings is Sewage Treatment and Disposal
referred to as domestic wastewater. There are two
types of domestic wastewater: gray water and black  Sewage treatment is a multistage process designed
water. to restore the quality of wastewater before it reenters
a body of water such as a stream, river, or lake.
Gray water is wastewater that typically contains the  The objective is to reduce or entirely remove organic
residues of washing processes. It is generated in the matter, solids, nutrients, disease-causing organisms,
bathtub, shower, sink, lavatory, and clothes washing and other pollutants from wastewater.
machine. Gray water accounts for about two-thirds of the  Community wastewater treatment plants are
wastewater produced in a typical residence. operated by a municipality or special district and
serve a community.
Black water is wastewater that contains fecal matter and  Processes involved in large wastewater treatment
urine. It is produced in water closets (toilets), urinals, and plants are usually classified as being part of
bidets. preliminary, primary, secondary, or tertiary treatment.

Commercial Wastewater 1) Preliminary Wastewater Treatment

 Commercial wastewater is nontoxic, nonhazardous  Preliminary treatment to screen out, grind up, or
wastewater from commercial and institutional food separate debris is the first step in wastewater
service operations and beauty salons. It is usually treatment. Sticks, rags, large food particles, sand,
similar in composition to domestic wastewater, but gravel, toys, and so on are removed at this stage to
may occasionally have one or more of its constituents protect the pumping and other equipment in the
exceed typical domestic ranges. treatment plant.

Industrial Wastewater  Treatment equipment such as bar screens,


comminutors (a large version of a garbage disposal),
 Industrial wastewater is process and nonprocess and grit chambers are used as the wastewater first
wastewater from manufacturing, commercial, enters a treatment plant. The collected debris is
laboratory, and mining operations, including the usually disposed of in a landfill.
runoff from areas that receive pollutants associated 
with industrial or commercial storage, handling, or 2) Primary Wastewater Treatment
processing. Industrial wastewater requires special
handling, and such treatment is not discussed in  Primary treatment is the second step in wastewater
detail here. treatment. It separates suspended solids and greases
from wastewater.
 Wastewater is held in a quiet tank for several hours, often add a chlorine-neutralizing chemical to the
allowing the solid particles to settle to the bottom and treated wastewater before stream discharge.
the greases to float to the top.  Other treatments include the following: aeration, the
 The solids drawn off the bottom and skimmed off the exposure of treated water to air, which removes
top receive further treatment as sludge. The clarified odors and improves taste; corrosion removal, to
wastewater then flows on to the next stage of balance the pH (acidity) of the treated water to
wastewater treatment. Clarifiers and septic tanks are prevent corrosion damage to pipes, remove odors,
usually used to provide primary treatment. and improve taste; and to soften the water.
 The softening process removes calcium and
3) Secondary Wastewater Treatment magnesium that have dissolved in water, making the
hard water soft. Hard water leaves deposits on
 Secondary treatment is a biological treatment plumbing fixtures and does not allow soap to clean as
process to remove dissolved organic matter from effectively.
wastewater. Sewage microorganisms are cultivated
and added to the wastewater. The microorganisms ON-SITE INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT
absorb organic matter from wastewater as their food
supply. On-Site Sewage Treatment
 Three approaches are used to accomplish secondary  Individual sewage treatment systems are used in
treatment: fixed film, suspended film, and lagoon areas not served by a community wastewater
systems. treatment plant. In the United States, about one-fifth
 Fixed film systems grow microorganisms on of the building stock relies on onsite individual
substrates such as rocks, sand, or plastic. The sewage treatment systems to treat wastewater.
wastewater is spread over the substrate, allowing the  On-site sewage treatment (OSST) systems,
wastewater to flow past the film of microorganisms traditionally called septic systems, usually consist of
fixed to the substrate. As organic matter and nutrients the building sewer, which leads from the building into
are absorbed from the wastewater, the film of a septic tank and then into a distribution box that
microorganisms grows and thickens. Trickling filters, feeds the fluid (effluent) into a drainage field or
rotating biological contactors, and sand filters are disposal field.
examples of fixed film systems.  Complex systems may contain a mound drain field
 Suspended film systems stir and suspend system, an aerobic treatment unit, a gray water
microorganisms in wastewater. As the system tank, a grease interceptor, a dosing tank, and
microorganisms absorb organic matter and nutrients a solids or effluent pump.
from the wastewater, they grow in size and number.  An OSST system can be installed beyond the
After the microorganisms have been suspended in building sewer on land of the owner or on another
the wastewater for several hours, they are settled out nearby site to which the owner has the legal right to
as sludge. Some of the sludge is pumped back into install a system.
the incoming wastewater to provide “seed”  OSST systems treat wastewater from rural and
microorganisms. The remainder is wasted and sent suburban homes, mobile home developments,
on to a sludge treatment process. Activated sludge, apartments, schools, retail facilities, and businesses
extended aeration, oxidation ditch, and sequential that do not have access to a community wastewater
batch reactor systems are all examples of suspended treatment and disposal system. (See Figure 15.1.)
film systems.
 Lagoon systems are shallow basins that hold the
wastewater for several months to allow for the natural
degradation of sewage. These systems take
advantage of natural aeration and microorganisms in
the wastewater to recondition wastewater.

Final Treatment (Disinfection)

 Final treatment involves disinfection; the removal of


diseasecausing organisms from wastewater. Treated
wastewater can be disinfected by adding chemicals  An OSST system consists of a primary treatment
to the water such as chlorine, bromine, iodine and component, such as a septic tank, and a disposal
ozone, or by exposing it to ultraviolet light. component, which is typically the drainage field.
 Chlorination has become the standard method of Household and human wastes flow in a pipe from the
disinfection because it remains in the water after the building’s sanitary drainage system to a septic tank.
treatment. Although chlorine introduces an unnatural  Inside the septic tank, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria
taste and smell to the water, it does remove or mask convert the wastes into minerals, gases, and a liquid
tastes and odors caused by other potential waste called the effluent.
ingredients. High levels of chlorine may be harmful to  Clarified effluent leaves the septic tank and flows in a
aquatic life in receiving streams. Treatment systems pipe to a drainage field. If the drainage field piping is
higher in elevation than the septic tank outlet, a pump  The baffles allow only the liquid effluent between the
tank and pump are required. The effluent is then scum and sludge to leave the tank and enter the
distributed as evenly as possible throughout the drainage field.
drainage field where it percolates through the soil.
 Gravity is typically the driving force behind
wastewater and effluent flow.

Primary Treatment Equipment

Wastewater from a building is first treated in


primary treatment equipment such as tanks or filters. In
the primary treatment process, anaerobic digestion and
settlement of solids in wastewater takes place.

Types of primary treatment equipment used in OSST 2. Aerobic Tank


systems include the following:  Aerobic tanks are a substitute for a septic tank.
 They consist of a trash tank, an aeration chamber,
 Septic Tank and a settling chamber.
 Aerobic Tank  Some systems require a trash tank to be installed
 Pump Tank external to and in front of the unit.
 Sand Filters  Premanufactured aerobic tanks use wastewater
 Trash/Grease Tank treatment processes similar to municipal wastewater
 Cesspool treatment processes.
 The clarified effluent is then usually discharged into a
1. Septic Tank drainage field.
 Aerobic tanks work more effectively than septic tanks
 The septic tank is a watertight, covered container and thus can be smaller in size. To remain effective,
designed to settle out and hold solid wastes and aerobic treatment components require regular
partially treat wastewater with beneficial bacteria. maintenance and continuous monitoring.
 It represents a relatively low-cost, low maintenance  Additionally, an aerobic tank must be used on a
method for primary treatment of wastewater. regular basis to maintain the aerobic unit’s microbe
 Septic tanks are constructed of concrete, metal, digestion process. Treatment bacteria survive on a
fiberglass, or plastic (fiberglass and polyethylene) constant flow so aerobic systems should not be used
and are commonly placed underground with the top for weekend vacation homes and similar non regular
surface covered with grass. uses.
 An access cover built into the top of the tank allows
periodic inspection and removal of sludge and scum 3. Pump Tank
that collects in the tank.
 A septic tank can be thought of as a separating  A pump tank is a watertight container used to
device. temporarily store clarified effluent before it flows into
 It allows heavier solids to settle to the bottom of the a drainage field. Wastewater is first treated in an
tank and lighter particles such as grease and soap aerobic or septic tank.
float to the top of the tank. The lighter particles form a  The effluent then flows by gravity into the pump tank.
layer known as the scum. When the level of stored effluent reaches a preset
 Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria digest up to 50% of elevation, a float switch turns on the pump. The pump
the wastewater solids that enter the septic tank. The discharges the effluent to the drainage field several
remaining solids accumulate as sludge in the bottom times a day.
of the tank.  Excess effluent produced during periods of high
 The bacteria require at least 24 hr for proper generation of wastewater can be stored in the pump
digestion of solids. The greater the surface area of tank temporarily and then discharged in the drainage
the liquid in the tank, the more solids the bacteria can field during low generation periods.
digest, thus improving the clarity (quality) of effluent  A remote alarm sounds if the effluent level in the tank
discharged to the drainage field. becomes too high. Pump tank materials are typically
 A typical septic tank is divided into two compartments concrete; plastic (fiberglass and polyethylene) tanks
to enhance the treatment process. are also used.
 The first compartment is usually larger than the
second. For larger flows, two or more non 4. Sand Filters
compartmented tanks can be arranged in series.
 A septic tank is equipped with baffles to prevent the  A sand filter is a lined, impermeable container
scum and sludge from leaving the tank. containing a bed of granular material that provides
additional treatment of effluent as it flows from the
primary treatment tank to the drainage field.
 They are usually placed underground with the top
surface covered with grass. At sites that have near- Types of drainage fields are described below:
surface bedrock or a high water table, sand filters are
usually constructed with aboveground concrete walls.  Absorption Drainage Field
 There are two types of sand filters: the intermittent  Gravel-Less Drain Fields
sand filter and the recirculating intermittent sand filter.  Evapotranspiration Bed or Trench Drainage Field
 In an intermittent sand filter, the effluent is dispersed  Low-Pressure Dosing Drainage Field
throughout the upper portion of the granular bed  Absorption Mounds
through perforated pipes. The effluent then flows by  Spray Distribution
gravity through the granular material until it reaches  Leaching Chamber Drainage Field
another series of perforated pipes, where it flows to a  Subsurface Drip Drainage Field
pump tank. The effluent is then pumped from the
pump tank to the drainage field. 1. Absorption Drainage Field
 A recirculating intermittent sand filter requires a
recirculating pump tank. The pump is used to mix  An absorption drainage field consists of rows (called
filtrate with incoming septic tank effluent. The effluent lines) of underground pipes through which the
is circulated several times through the sand filter clarified effluent passes.
media before it is pumped to the drainage field.  Perforated pipes are laid in shallow underground
 beds or narrowly cut trenches filled with gravel, then
5. Trash/Grease Tank are typically covered with grass.
 Effluent from a septic or pump tank is discharged into
 A trash tank is occasionally used in conjunction with the drainage field, where it is distributed to the soil
an aerobic tank. The trash tank removes materials bed or trench and percolates through the soil.
that treatment microorganisms are unable to degrade.  Absorption drainage field soils must have good
Several types of aerobic tanks used for small absorption and filtration qualities.
wastewater flows have the trash tank enclosed inside  Dense clay soils and gravel soils do not absorb or
the unit. Grease tanks are used with septic and filter the effluent properly and therefore are
aerobic tanks, usually in commercial applications. considered unacceptable soils.

6. Cesspool

 A cesspool is a covered underground container that


receives untreated sewage directly from a building
and discharges it into soil.
 Openings in the cesspool walls allow untreated
sewage to pass through and seep into the
surrounding soil.
 Because of health concerns tied to the discharge of
raw sewage, use of a cesspool is considered
unacceptable today in most applications in developed
countries.

High-Level Alarms 2. Gravel-Less Drain Fields

 A high-level alarm is used to alert the homeowner or  A gravel-less drain field distributes effluent into the
building operator if liquid inside a tank reaches a level soils through gravel-less drain pipe instead of gravel.
that is higher than it would be if the pump were  As a result, these systems are also called no gravel
operating normally or if the liquid inflow is greater or no rock drain field systems.
than the maximum pumping capacity of the pump.  Like a conventional OSST system, gravel-less pipe
 High-level alarms are used in sump, sewage, or requires only a septic tank to pretreat the wastewater.
effluent installations. These alarms can either be  When installed, the pipe is not surrounded by gravel
purchased separately or as part of a preassembled or rock.
package.  These systems can be installed with small equipment
and in hand-dug trenches in areas with steep slopes
Secondary Treatment and Disposal Equipment where conventional gravel systems would not be
possible.
A drainage field provides secondary treatment  This pipe takes many forms, including geotextile
and is the final disposal location for clarified effluent from fabric-wrapped pipe and open-bottomed chambers.
wastewater.
A piping network carries effluent from a septic or
pump tank to the drainage field for further treatment within
the soil or disbursement into the air.
 The effluent moves downward through the mound by
gravity flow and is partially treated by the time it
reaches the natural soil.

6. Spray Distribution

 Spray distribution systems spray the disinfected


effluent onto the ground surface in a manner similar
to a lawn irrigation system.
 They require an advanced treatment process that
purifies the water, a pathogen-removing disinfecting
system (chlorinating is the most common method), a
pump tank, distribution pipe, and a disposal area
containing the spray heads.
3. Evapotranspiration Bed or Trench Drainage Field  The wastewater must be treated to secondary-quality
effluent level, which usually requires an aerobic tank
 An evapotranspiration (ET) bed or evapotranspiration for primary treatment or an intermittent sand filter.
trench drainage field treats wastewater by  Spray systems can be used in almost all soil
evaporating the water from the soil and by transpiring conditions (subject to regulatory approval), but
the water into the air through plants and grasses. typically have higher cost and maintenance
 Vegetation covering the soil prospers on nutrients requirements compared with most other system types.
introduced by the effluent. An ET drainage field
typically consists of two sets of perforated drainage 7. Leaching Chamber Drainage Field
pipes and gravel, soil lining (if needed), and topsoil
backfill for vegetation growth.  Leaching chambers are proprietary, commercially
 The surface area of the ET drainage field is divided produced plastic chambers pre-molded into a dome
into two bed sections. By periodically alternating flow shape.
to a section of bed, the other section of bed is  They can be easily assembled and placed in trenches.
periodically rested. Depending on site conditions, leaching chamber
drainage fields can require less land area than other
4. Low-Pressure Dosing Drainage Field conventional absorption drainage fields.
 Leaching chambers distribute effluent to the soil in a
 Low-pressure dosing (LPD) drainage fields typically manner similar to conventional gravel-filled trench
consist of narrowly cut 6 to 12 in wide trenches, systems.
containing small-diameter PVC dispersion pipes. LPD  Each chamber dome supports the soil above it while
systems also include a pump tank and an electrical maintaining sufficient volume inside for effluent
control system. storage
 As effluent flows from the septic tank into the pump
tank, the water level rises inside the tank. 8. Subsurface Drip Drainage Field
 When a fixed water level is reached in the pump tank,
the pump introduces water into the drainage field. In  Subsurface drip systems consist of a septic tank, a
the drainage field, the effluent is introduced into the pump tank, a filtering device, and a drip distribution
drainage field through small holes in the drainage system. An aerobic tank is typically used for the
pipe. primary treatment process.
 The soil provides additional wastewater treatment.  When a septic tank is used, additional treatment in a
Soil particles filter the effluent, and microbes in the sand filter is required. Treated wastewater is pumped
soil kill the bacteria and pathogens. through a filtering device that removes larger particles
to reduce clogging of the drip emitters.
5. Absorption Mounds  The filtered effluent is distributed to tubing laid just
below the ground surface. Effluent is introduced to
 Absorption mounds consist of septic tank(s), a pump the soil through emitters spaced along and inserted
tank, effluent pump and controls, and an above-grade into the tubing wall, where bacteria and pathogens
drainage system. are removed. Emitters can become clogged and an
 The drainage system consists of perforated drainage ongoing maintenance contract is required.
pipes laid in a deep layer of sand to sandy loam soil  Subsurface drip systems can be installed on steep
that is placed above the natural soils. slopes and at sites containing dense clay soils and
 The mound created by this deep layer soil is a topsoil soils overlying shallow bedrock.
cap and grass cover. Effluent from the pump tank
flows through holes in the perforated drainage pipes
and into the mound.
Seepage Pit  Liquid wastes seep into the soil and percolate
through the soil. Solid wastes remain and partially
 A seepage pit is a deep underground container that decompose so the pit becomes full over several
receives clarified effluent from a septic tank. It has years, depending on size and the number of users.
openings in its walls that allow effluent to pass  When the wastes in the pit reach a certain depth
through and seep into the surrounding soil. from the ground surface, the pit is cleaned out or the
 A seepage pit functions like an absorption drainage outhouse is movedto another location and the pit is
field except that effluent seeps through openings in covered with earth.
the sidewalls of the pit rather than through the bottom  Cleaning the pit is an unpleasant job and may result
of a trench or bed. in exposure to fresh fecal material.
 A seepage pit tends to be deeper than an absorption
bed or trench. Composting Toilets
 It is designed on the basis of the sidewall area. It can
serve as an alternative to a drainage field, but only  A composting toilet is a self-contained waste
when surrounding soil has a good percolation rate treatment system that uses natural biological
(usually below 30 min/in) and the water table is very decomposition to convert toilet wastes into water
deep. vapor, carbon dioxide, and a stable compost like end
product.
General Regulations  It consists of a toilet seat and cover over a riser that
connects to a compartment or vault that receives,
 Typically, an OSST system should not be installed, holds, and converts human toilet wastes and other
repaired, or rehabilitated where a community sanitary composting materials. It is essentially an “in-house”
sewer system is available or where a local ordinance outhouse.
requires connection to a community system.  A venting system that extends up through the roof
 An OSST system is generally not permitted when a prevents sewer gases from entering the building.
building site is located within 200 ft from any  The decomposition process in a composting toilet is
community sewer. achieved by aerobic (oxygen-using) bacteria and
 When a community sanitary sewer becomes fungi.
available within 200 ft, any building then served by an  The complex population of microorganisms in the
OSST system should connect to the community composting material makes conditions unfavorable
sanitary sewer within a time frame or under for the growth of disease causing organisms that can
conditions set by the governmental authority. be present in human waste.
 Generally, it is illegal to discharge any wastewater  Pathogenic organisms die off or are consumed by
from OSST systems (except under a governmental the composting organisms as long as the composting
permit) to any ditch, stream, pond, lake, waterway, or process is proceeding normally and has adequate
drain tile, or to the surface of the ground. time to work.
 In older buildings, existing systems having any of
these prohibited discharges are typically required to Bi-Level Composting Toilet
eliminate these discharges by constructing a system
in compliance with current requirements.  Bi-level composting toilets are relatively large, two-
story, watertight containers equipped with a chute
ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT that connects the toilet receptacle to the composting
SYSTEMS unit located in the basement.
 The bottom of the composting unit often has an
 Alternative wastewater treatment systems serve as inclined floor where solid wastes decompose and
an option for the sewage treatment systems slide to the lower end as new waste enters at the
described previously. upper end.
 They may be required because one of the systems  Excess liquid is drained to the lowest part of the tank,
described earlier cannot be used or because they are where it is either evaporated or collected and
too costly (e.g., the geological conditions are not removed. Compared to self-contained composting
suitable). toilets (described below), bi-level composting toilets
 These systems do not use water to treat or transport have a large compost volume and long retention time.
human body wastes. If appropriately designed, they  Thus, the composting process is more stable than in
conserve water and avoid disposal of effluent and smaller units, is better able to cope with peak loads,
pollutants into waterways and the general and can withstand intermittent or seasonal use. This
environment. type of composting toilet is similar to an in-house
outhouse.
Privy/Latrine  In most units, a power vent removes excess gases
and discharges them outdoors. Compost generally
 One of the oldest and most basic methods of waste needs to be emptied every few years.
disposal is the pit privy or latrine, a pit dug below an
outhouse structure that collects human body wastes. Self-Contained Composting Toilet
 The second type of composting toilet is a smaller unit
in which the toilet receptacle and composting tank
comprise a single self-contained unit located on the
bathroom floor.
 These unit shave traditionally been installed for
intermittent use such as in vacation homes.

Incinerating Toilet

 Incinerating toilets are self-contained waterless


systems that do not require being hooked up to a
sewer system or an in ground septic system (except
to dispose of gray water).
 They rely on electric power or natural or propane gas
to incinerate human waste to sterile clean ash. When
properly installed, these systems are simple to use,
safe, clean, and relatively easy to maintain.
 These waterless systems look much like a standard
household water closet. Between the gas and electric
incinerating toilets, there are some mechanical and
operational differences, but the overall treatment
processes work the same.
 Both systems accept human waste, both solid and
liquid, into a burn chamber. The burn chamber
reaches temperatures of 970° to 1400°F (520° to
760°C) and reduces human waste into clean sterile
ash.

Holding Tanks

 Holding tanks are used for wastewater disposal when


soil, slope, lot size, groundwater, or other features on
the site render all other tank/drainage field solutions
impossible to achieve.
 They are used as a method of last resort in vacation
homes or other short-term use facilities. Holding
tanks are rarely used in facilities that generate
wastewater on a daily basis.
 Holding tanks are typically sized to hold seven days
of wastewater flow. When the tank has been filled to
within 75% of its capacity, a visual and audible alarm
is automatically triggered, which alerts the user that
the tank must be promptly pumped. Because holding
tanks might have to be pumped on a regular basis,
they can be costly to maintain.

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