Decentralized

Wastewater
Treatment
Technologies, Management, and Issues
Carl Etnier
Hudson River Watershed Alliance
Garrison, New York
March 16, 2006
2
Contents and
Take-Home Messages
1 Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A
permanent part of the wastewater
infrastructure.
2 Wastewater Planning with Decentralized
Options: Understanding what the site
allows can save money and lead to more
environmentally friendly treatment.
3 Major Issues for the Industry: Nutrient
recycling is feasible, and barriers to
equitable consideration of decentralized
abound.
Plan for an energy-scarce future
3
World Oil Discovery vs.
Consumption
4
Without massive mitigation more than a decade before the fact, the
problem will be pervasive and will not be temporary. Previous energy
transitions (wood to coal and coal to oil) were gradual and
evolutionary; oil peaking will be abrupt and revolutionary.
The Hirsch Report (US DOE, 2005)
Peak Oil
5
Contents and
Take-Home Messages
1 Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A
permanent part of the wastewater
infrastructure
2 Wastewater Planning with Decentralized
Options: Understanding what the site
allows can save money and lead to more
environmentally friendly treatment.
3 Major Issues for the Industry: Barriers
abound to equitable consideration of
decentralized
Plan for an energy-scarce future
6
Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
Source: US EPA
Centralized Approach Decentralized Approach
7
Types of Decentralized Wastewater
Systems
Cesspools and Drywells
Seepage Beds and Leach Trenches
At-grade and Mound Systems
Sand Filters and Other Innovative/Alternative (I/A) Systems
Cluster Systems
8
9
Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
10
Mound System
(Converse and Tyler, 1990)
11
At-grade System
(adapted from Converse and Tyler, 1990)
12
13
Drip Soil Treatment
viruses
ip Tubing
solids
groundwater
well
Buffer from well
and SW
Air
14
Spray Irrigation
15
Advanced Treatment
Traditional septic
system
I/A system
when to use?
part of management
plan: replacement or
sensitive sites
16
Sand Filter
(Converse 1999, adapted from Orenco)
17
Constructed Wetland
Aerobic biofilter followed by a subsurface horizontal flow
constructed wetland using light-weight aggregates: 40-60%
nitrogen removal
Illustration source:Jenssen, Petter D. and Lasse Vrle. 2004. Greywater treatment in combined biofilter/constructed wetlands in cold
climate. In ecosan - closing the loop: Proceedings of the 2nd international symposium
18
Evapotranspiration Wetlands
Dimensioned for complete evapotransporation of water in
Danish conditions
Zero discharge of water, organic matter, or nutrients
Source: Zero-discharge of nutrients and water in a willow dominated constructed wetland.
Gregersen, P.; Brix, H. Water Science & Technology, 2001, Vol. 44, No. 11-12, pp. 407-412
19
Cluster Systems
For properties with limited or no capacity on site
Collection system and piping from 2 or more properties to
off-site large dispersal
Private or municipal system and site with permanent
easements
20
Community Systems
Small Cluster
STEP/STEG systems
traditional or I/A cluster
Large Cluster
services many connections
40, 50, 100 homes or more
STEP
STEP
STEP
Disposal
21
Management Needed
Adequately managed decentralized wastewater treatment
systems are a cost-effective and long-term option for
meeting public health and water quality goals. US EPA
1997
Who is responsible? Typically homeowner for onsite
Affected by Amount of water used, garbage disposals,
chemicals, drugs
22
Maintenance of Traditional Systems
Check/pump septic tank, check
distribution box, check area for
ponding
23
Maintenance of Pumped Systems
(Converse and Tyler, 1990)
Same as traditional system,
plus check pumps, wiring,
alarms, flush lines, sample
24
Contents and
Take-Home Messages
1 Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A
permanent part of the wastewater
infrastructure.
2 Wastewater Planning with Decentralized
Options: Understanding what the site
allows can save money and lead to more
environmentally friendly treatment.
3 Major Issues for the Industry: Nutrient
recycling is feasible, and barriers to
equitable consideration of decentralized
abound.
Plan for an energy-scarce future
25
Clustering in New Development
2-Acre Zoning
Conservation Development and
Clustered Treatment
26
Needs Assessment for
Existing Development
Saves money by helping to avoid unnecessary centralized
hookups
Shows where to concentrate wastewater management
resources
Reveals wastewater implications of growth proposals
Confers eligibility for State Revolving Fund loans
27
Start with the Parcels and Roads
28
Add the Buildings and Setbacks
29
Add Water Supplies and Protection A
30
Add Ponds, Streams, and Wetlands
WithSetbacks
Add Ponds, Streams, and Wetlands
WithSetbacks
31
ROWs, Drainages, Bedrock
ROWs, Drainages, Bedrock ROWs, Drainages, Bedrock
32
Results Area Available (Suitability
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Results Area Available (Suitability
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
33
Add Soils Data -
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Deep Pits, PercTests
Soil Mapping Units
Add Soils Data -
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Deep Pits, PercTests
Soil Mapping Units
34
Results Application Rate (Capacity)
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Results Application Rate (Capacity)
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
35
Confirmation based on -
Field survey and public input
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Confirmation based on -
Field survey and public input
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
36
Final Result
Recommendations based on need
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Final Result
Recommendations based on need
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
fewlimitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
some limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
Parcels with
severe limitations
37
Example: Aesthetics/Drainage
Analyses (1 of 2)
Properties with older
systems identified
Properties with high
groundwater identified
38
Example: Aesthetics/Drainage
Analyses (2 of 2)
Properties with low
average slopes identified
Combination of older systems,
high groundwater, and low slope
39
Contents and
Take-Home Messages
1 Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A
permanent part of the wastewater
infrastructure.
2 Wastewater Planning with Decentralized
Options: Understanding what the site
allows can save money and lead to more
environmentally friendly treatment.
3 Major Issues for the Industry: Nutrient
recycling is feasible, and barriers to
equitable consideration of decentralized
abound.
Plan for an energy-scarce future
40
Source Diversion
Divert and recycle nutrients
Microflush toilets (1.0 L or less per flush), with holding tanks
for blackwater and separate treatment of graywater
Composting of feces and separate treatment of graywater
No-mix toilets that keep urine separate from feces
41
Phosphorus in Wastewater
Source: Vinners et al. (submitted)
42
Use small amounts of water;
air transports the feces,
urine, and toilet paper
Usually connected to
holding tank
Household applications
more common in
Scandinavia
Maintenance required
Can divert up to 75% of
phosphorus from waste
stream
Source Diversion: Microflush Toilets
Insert image here. It should fit in this
text box and should align vertically on
the left with the picture above. Delete
text box after inserting and sizing
picture.
A vacuum toilet with generator and holding tank. Source:
http://www.folkeweb.no/cgi-bin/webadm.cgi?gid=1022&c=1058.
43
Feces collected and
retained in the toilet system
Feces may be composted in
the toilet system or collected
and retained for treatment
elsewhere
Many designs and models
available
Maintenance required
Can divert up to 75% of
phosphorus from waste
stream
Source Diversion: Composting Toilets
44
Separate bowls for urine
and feces; urine diverted to
separate holding tank
Urine can be recycled to
agriculture
Proven track record in
Europe
Maintenance required
Can remove 30-50% of
phosphorus from waste
stream
Source Diversion: No-Mix Toilets
Insert image here. It should fit in this
text box and should align vertically on
the left with the picture above. Delete
text box after inserting and sizing
picture.
Urine-diverting toilets. BB Innovations Dubbletten Toilet (left) and the
Wost Man Ecology DS Toilet, both constructed from porcelain. Source:
Johansson 2000.
45
This project focuses on barriers to engineers giving
equitable consideration to decentralized solutions
Examples of inequitable consideration
Facilities plans that summarily dismiss decentralized
options
Utilities install sewers at the margin of their service area,
where decentralized can be competitive
Regulations discourage or prevent the use of decentralized
technologies
WERF Research on Barriers
46
Task 1: Identify barriers to equitable
consideration of decentralized
wastewater treatment within the
engineering community
Task 2: Develop ways to overcome
the barriers
Task 3: Communicate and publicize
the findings
Project Work Plan
47
Objectives
Research function: Help identify barriers
Communication function: Introduce barriers
in the report
Five case studies are included
Austin, Texas
Holliston, Massachusetts
NorthStar Engineering, California
BETA Group, New England
University of Wisconsin
Case studies
48
The community
Growing city of 657,000; 812,000 in Travis County
Austin Water Utilitys wastewater system serves 168,000
connections. Treatment at 3 plants with 130 MGD capacity.
Explored decentralized at edges in 1990s
Case study Austin, Texas
49
Numerous barriers encountered
Status
Decentralized wastewater approach never really got off the
ground
Austin, Texas (cont.)
50
The community
Growing unsewered community of 15,000 approx. 25 miles
southwest of Boston
Case study Holliston,
Massachusetts
51
Key barriers encountered
Early engineering consultants told community
what to do; did not gather local desires. May
have upsized system for economies of scale.
Inadequate methods of needs assessment:
Study area analysis based on generalized
criteria determined most areas (23 of 28)
needed centralized solution.
Lack of systems thinking: Regionalization
proposals did not adequately address hydrologic
impacts.
Holliston, Massachusetts (cont.)
52
Engineers lack of knowledge of decentralized systems
Engineers unfavorable perception of decentralized
systems
Engineers financial reward for using centralized
systems
Unfavorability of the regulatory environment for
decentralized systems
Lack of systems thinking
Five Barrier Categories
53
p(engi neer s
consi der
decent r al i zed
equi t abl y)
Engi neer s
f i nanci al r ewar d
f or usi ng
cent ral i zed
Unf avor abi l i t y of
r egul at or y
cl i mat e
Engi neers l ack
of knowl edge of
decent r al i zed
Engi neer s
unf avor abl e
per cept i on of
decent r al i zed

+
+
+ +
+ +
+
+ + +
+
Lack of syst em
t hi nki ng
+
+ +
+ +
+
+

+
+
Relationships among the five
barrier categories
54
Take-Home Messages
1 Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A
permanent part of the wastewater
infrastructure.
2 Wastewater Planning with Decentralized
Options: Understanding what the site
allows can save money and lead to more
environmentally friendly treatment.
3 Major Issues for the Industry: Nutrient
recycling is feasible, and barriers to
equitable consideration of decentralized
abound.
Plan for an energy-scarce future
55
Questions and Discussion
http://www.stone-env.com
56
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