Virus Removal by Sand Filtration of Septic Tank Effluent
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 4
Abstract
Septic tank effluent (STE) is applied to stratified sand filter columns at a rate of 6.1 cm/day (1.5 gal/day/sq ft) and the ability of the sand filter to remove enteric viruses is demonstrated. The sites of virus retention are determined. Seven 10‐cm (4‐in.) diameter sand columns are constructed of 25 cm (10 in.) of dry, coarse sand, 10 cm (4 in.) of dry, fine sand, and 25 cm (10 in.) of glass sand, with the sand layers separated by 5 cm (2 in.) of 1.9‐cm (3/8‐in.) rounded gravel. Household septic tank effluent containing poliovirus vaccine (Type I, strain LSc) is applied to the filters, and influent and effluent samples are collected. Enterovirus analyses are performed using plaque assays in buffalo green monkey (BGM) kidney cell cultures. Following the filter runs, the columns are dissected into 2.5‐cm (1‐in.) discs and the discs were assayed for enteroviruses. The filter columns retain all viruses when the virus loading remains less than 33,000,000 PFU/1 (plaque‐forming units per liter). Analyses of the filter discs show most viruses are retained in the top few centimeters of biologically active sand, and a mass balance reveals virus inactivation in the sand filter.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bertucci, J. U., et al. (1983). “Confirmed viruses versus unconfirmed plaques in sewage.” J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 109 (2), Apr., 351–368.
2.
Dahling, D. R., Berg, G., and Berman, D., (1974). “BGM, a continuous cell line more sensitive than primary rhesus and African green kidney cells for the recovery of viruses from water.” Health Lab. Sci., II (4), Oct., 275–282.
3.
Drewry, W. A., and Eliassen, R., (1980). “Virus movement in groundwater.” J. Water Pollut. Cont. Fed., 40 (8), Aug., R257‐R271.
4.
Green, K. M., and Cliver, D. O., (1975). “Removal of virus from septic tank effluent by sand columns.” Proc. Nat. Home Sewage Disposal Symp., Amer. Soc. of Agric. Engrs., 1, 137–143.
5.
Gross, M. A. (1982). “Optimum depth of sand for filtering septic tank effluent,” thesis presented to the University of Arkansas, at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.
6.
Hathaway, R. J., and Mitchell, D. T., (1985). “Sand filtration of septic tank effluent for all seasons disposal by irrigation.” Onsite Wastewater Treatment, Proc., Fourth Nat. Symp. on Individual and Small Community Sewage Systems, Amer. Soc. Of Agric. Engrs., 4, 343–350.
7.
Lo, S. H., and Sproul, O. J. (1977). “Poliovirus adsorption onto silicate materials.” Water Resour., 8(11), 653–658.
8.
Rao, V. C., et al. (1972). “A simple method for concentrating and detecting viruses in wastewater.” Water Res., 6(12), 1565–1576.
9.
Renshaw, E. F. (1982). “Conserving water through pricing.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 74(1), 2–5.
10.
Residential water conservation projects. (1984). Summary Report, Jun., U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C.
11.
“Rules and regulations pertaining to outdoor bathing places.” (1964). Arkansas State Board of Health, Little Rock, Ark.
12.
Scalf, M. R., et al. (1977). “Environmental effects of septic tank systems.” EPA‐600/3‐77‐096, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, Okla.
13.
Scherer, B. P., and Mitchell, D. T. (1982). “Individual household surface disposal of treated wastewater without chlorination.” On‐Site Sewage Treatment, Proc., Third Nat. Symp. on Individual and Small Community Sewage Treatment, Amer. Soc. of Agric. Engrs.
14.
Sobsey, M. D., et al. (1980). “Modifications of the tentative standard method for improved virus recovery efficiency.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc, 72(6).
15.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (1980). American Public Health Association, 15th Ed., Washington, D.C.
16.
Stone, B. G. (1978). “Suppression of water use by physical methods.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 70(9), 483–486.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jul 1, 1990
Published in print: Jul 1990
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.