Comparison of Stratified Sand Filters and Percolation Trenches for On-Site Wastewater Treatment
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 1
Abstract
Two separate on-site wastewater treatment systems were constructed at premises in eastern Ireland, one using a conventional septic tank, the other using a septic tank followed by a naturally aerated peat filter. The respective effluents were then split at each site whereby half was directed into percolation trenches and the other half pumped into intermittently dosed, stratified sand filters for a year. Samples were taken at different depths in the subsoil beneath both the percolation trenches and sand filters and analyzed for chemical and bacteriological determinants. Samples were also taken at different layers within the sand filters, which were tested at various hydraulic loading rates. Although the sand filters require a much smaller surface area, the respective pollutants on each site were attenuated to the same level in the subsoil when compared to the percolation trenches. As a result of the trials, the recommendations for design hydraulic loading rates in Ireland were for filters receiving septic tank effluent and for filters receiving secondary treated effluent.
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the Irish Environmental Protection Agency for funding this research study under the Environmental Research Technological Development and Innovation (ERTDI) Programme as part of the National Development Plan 2000–2006.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 1 • January 2009
Pages: 8 - 16
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: May 1, 2007
Accepted: Aug 5, 2008
Published online: Jan 1, 2009
Published in print: Jan 2009
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