Title

Comparative Assessment Of Two Standard Septic Tank Drain Fields Using Different Sands With Recirculation For Nutrient Removal

Abstract

On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) using a septic tank followed by a recirculating sand filter (RSF) with effluent discharged to an unlined standard drain field are now typical performance-based treatment facilities for nutrient removal. The types of effluent distribution in standard drain field systems include gravity systems, low-pressure dosed systems, and drip irrigation systems. Within the gravity systems, the standard drain field may be constructed of a series of parallel, underground, perforated pipes with slopes, allowing the septic tank effluent to percolate into the surrounding soil in the vadose (unsaturated) zone, where most of the residual nutrients can be assimilated. The inclusion of an RSF may improve the nitrification to some extent, promoting denitrification in the drain field finally. With such designs, most residual nutrients in wastewater are expected to be consumed as the wastewater passes through the soil. The aim of this chapter is to present the effectiveness of an RSF and a comparative study with two different drain field sands for nutrient removal in the vadose zone. They were astatula sand (i.e., citrus grove sand) and washed building sand, popular in central Florida, for drain field use. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to prove that the nitrification and denitification processes can be sustained naturally as expected. The use of such a gene identification method is novel in supporting the biological removal. Research findings show that the performance of washed building sand and astatula sand in terms of ultimate nutrient removal is about the same. Because astatula sand is less costly, it may be an appropriate replacement for the more expensive washed building sand.

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Publication Title

Effects of Urbanization on Groundwater: An Engineering Case-Based Approach for Sustainable Development

Number of Pages

224-250

Document Type

Article; Book Chapter

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784410783.ch09

Socpus ID

85031010728 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85031010728

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