Effects of Sand Depth on Domestic Wastewater Renovation in Intermittently Aerated Leachfield Mesocosms
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 13, Issue 8
Abstract
The depth of soil below the absorption trench of a septic system is considered an important factor in protection of groundwater. We examined the effects of depth on the ability of intermittently aerated sand-filled leachfield mesocosms to renovate domestic wastewater. Mesocosms consisted of lysimeters with a headspace concentration maintained at and containing 7.5, 15, or of sand that were dosed with septic tank effluent every for 328 days . Sand depth had no effect on pH, dissolved , , , or levels in percolate water. Nitrate levels in percolate water were higher for than for 7.5 and during the first of the experiment, after which no differences were observed. Time-averaged removal rates of N, P, fecal coliform bacteria, and were 22–28, 13–18, 81–92, and 81–99%, respectively, and were unaffected by depth. Wastewater renovation in intermittently aerated leachfield mesocosms appears to take place in a narrow zone below the infiltrative surface, with the medium below contributing little to renovation.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank Kevin Johns, Janet Atoyan, John Richard, and Nicole Schwarz for technical assistance. This research was funded by grants from Geomatrix, LLC, the Center for Innovative Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station (Contribution No. 5101).
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Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 13 • Issue 8 • August 2008
Pages: 729 - 734
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 24, 2006
Accepted: May 21, 2007
Published online: Aug 1, 2008
Published in print: Aug 2008
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