Small Community Wastewater Alternatives

Section VAdvanced Treatment

Advanced Treatment Process• House sewer conveys sewage to aerobic

treatment unit• Aerobic treatment unit treats the sewage

similar to a sewer plant (secondary treatment)• Effluent pipe conveys treated effluent to

absorption area• Absorption area now serves primarily as a

dispersal area for treated effluent

Courtesy of OTN

Most Advanced Treatment Technologies Produce “Secondary” or Better Quality

Effluent!

Advanced Treatment

• Pre-treatment of wastewater– Usually requires dosing– Often requires electric– Always requires maintenance

• Applicable to:– Difficult sites– Sensitive environments

May be required by design or to “lift” wastewater to the absorption area

Delivers a calculated “dose” of wastewater Allows for rest periods, promotes aerated and unsaturated soil conditions

Extends system life

Dosing Options

Advanced Treatment• Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU)• Media Filters:

– sand– textile– peat– foam

• Nutrient Reduction

Advanced Treatment

• Difficult Sites

Courtesy of Skaneateles Lake Demonstration Project

NSF Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU)

Peat FilterCourtesy of OTN

Peat Filter

Courtesy of OTN

Combination Peat / Textile Courtesy of OTN

AdvanTex Packed Bed Filter

AdvanTex

Courtesy of OTN

Textile Sheets

Courtesy of Orenco

20x more surface area than sand

GravelSand

Courtesy of Orenco

Residential InstallationCourtesy of OTN

Courtesy of Skaneateles Lake Demonstration Project

Media Filter with Bottomless Sand Filter

Courtesy of OTN

Media Filter with Bottomless Sand Filter

Courtesy of OTN

FoamCourtesy of OTN

The more advanced the treatment technology, the greater attention required to

assure proper performance.