Basics of Wastewater Treatment for the Home

The home water treatment system is a step forward forms the older septic tank system for wastewater treatment. It will provide a cleaner environment.

Home systems and small commercial systems are designed to handle waste treatment in areas that cannot be serviced by city sewer systems. Without a home treatment system, many homes could not be built in areas with very slow percolating soils, clay, rock or high water tables. Some of these conditions can allow effluent from a septic tank to move through the soil without treatment, polluting underground water supplies, ditches and streams. Home treatment systems can remedy those situations by using the same treatment process used by large central treatment plants. They are simply treatment plans down-sized to accommodate smaller requirements.

Disposal Alternatives

Gast linear compressor

Because of the high quality of effluent discharged from home treatment systems, many alternative methods are now possible. Some regulatory agencies allow direct discharge of the effluent to streams, lakes, bays and other bodies of water. In areas where this is not allowed, other methods are used such as irrigation or drip irrigation for lawns, pastures, landscaped areas and golf courses. With additional accessories, recycled effluent can be used for many other non-potable water uses.

The Concept

rotary vane compressor

When a stream or small river runs through rocks and over logs, turbulence is created. Oxygen is captured in the water. Aerobic bacteria utilize this oxygen to thrive and grow, speeding up their digestive process allowing the stream to purify itself. In the same way, a wastewater treatment system speeds up the aerobic bacteria process through repeated aeration of the effluent. Air is brought in to the system by an air compressor.

regenerative blower

The air is diffused into thousands of tiny bubbles. As these bubbles move through the wastewater, oxygen is captured and the purification process takes place just like the stream. The air compressor is located outside the treatment system for ease of service. This keeps the compressor away from the corrosive environment and the potential problem of flooding.

*This guide is written to familiarize general terms and system layout for home sewage treatment systems. It is not intended for any design purposes. It should be noted that several pneumatic technologies are used when supplying compressed air. In our experience, rotary vane, regenerative blowers, and linear pumps have all been used as air sources. It is up to the system installer to determine the air requirements and the Gast sales person to provide the pneumatic solution.

How it Works

To accomplish this aeration and purification, most systems use two separate compartments within a single treatment tank. Effluent from the home will enter the aeration compartment of the system. In this area, thousands of tiny air bubbles provide oxygen for the aerobic digestion process and mixes the compartment’s entire contents. These tiny bubbles quicken the aerobic digestion process. Aerobic bacteria then use the oxygen in the solution to break down the wastewater, converting it to an odorless liquid.

Wastewater Treatment Unit

wastewater treatment unit

Flow Volume – is the hydraulic load or flow which is referenced as GPD or Gallons per Day. A typical three bedroom home with four people will have an approximate system flow volume of 360 GPD. Many factors contribute to flow volume such as flush toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers and floor drains. Also to consider is the condition of these areas. Do the faucets leak? Do the toilets run? Is the homeowner conscious of water usage? There are systems available from several manufacturers as high as 1000 GPD and even 1500 GPD.

Waste Strength – The waste strength is referred to as the biological load on the system. The primary parameters used to measure the waste strength are: Biochemical Oxygen Demand or BOD, Total Suspended Solids or TSS and Fats, Oils, and Greases or FOG’s.