The Challenge of The Challenge of Wastewater Wastewater on Cape Codon Cape Cod

George HeufelderGeorge HeufelderBarnstable County Barnstable County

Department of Health and Department of Health and EnvironmentEnvironment

&&Massachusetts Alternative Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test CenterSeptic System Test Center

MASSTC@cape.comMASSTC@cape.com

Why is Wastewater Such a BIG Issue on Cape Cod?

• 85% of Cape buildings use on-site Septic Systems.

• Rapid population growth is adding more Septic Systems.

• All discharge nitrogen – even Title 5 systems.

• Nitrogen is the main cause of deteriorating coastal water quality.

Learn Act Keep

The Impacts of Nitrogen in Marine Settings

DAYTIME –O

xygen P

roduct

ion

It’s gonna be a long night.

O2

O2

O2

O2

O2

O2

O2

O2

NIGHT -O

xygen Deple

tion

Decomposition

O2

RespirationO2

O2

What is Wastewater Treatment ?

SEWAGE

CESSPOOL

SCUM

CALM

PAUSES

SEAS

COOL

What Wastewater is….

Complex organic molecules that are broken down and rearranged in our bodies.

•Some of these molecules are rearranged to help us sustain life.

•Unfortunately some are rearranged by harmful organisms and viruses to sustain their life (which is why we should have a healthy respect for wastewater and avoid direct contact without proper treatment).

What Wastewater is not….

Radioactive Waste

How do traditional treatment methods treat wastewater?

Septic

TankNH4

+

NO3-

Nitrosomonas – Ammonium to Nitrite

Nitrobacter – Nitrite to Nitrate

O2SOIL ABSORPTION SYSTEM

The standard septic system efficiently transforms the nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate which conservatively moves in the groundwater toward the ocean.

A B

TAP WATER

2 Ft. Medium Sand

The challenge, in our geological setting is to Remove Nitrogen from Wastewater

Nitrogen from the atmosphere is fixed into tissue by plants

We or animals eat the plants

We process the food and eliminate excess Nitrogen (as urea)

Septic tank bacteria convert urea to ammonium

Leachfield bacteria convert ammonium to nitrate

Oxygen deprived bacteria convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.

Nitrogen returns to atmosphere

Advanced treatment units manipulate the nitrogen cycle to return fixed nitrogen to the atmosphere

NITROGEN TRANSFORMATIONS IN WASTEWATER ARE MEDIATED PRIMARILY BY

BACTERIA

It’s all about ENERGY!

Are advanced treatment onsite septic systems a viable alternative to large treatment plants?

Performance Comparison of Selected Denitrification Systems Tested at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center 1999-2003.

What can we expect for treatment in “real” situations?

If you aren’t watchin’ they may not be working.

In real situations ………

Broad application of Broad application of advanced onsite treatment advanced onsite treatment systems requires features systems requires features

not often talked about, not often talked about, including…including… Operation and maintenance Operation and maintenance

Monitoring of system performanceMonitoring of system performance Oversight by regulatory officialsOversight by regulatory officials

0

20

40

60

80

All Technologies Combined - Systems Ranked by Median Value

Tot

al N

itro

gen

(mg/

L)

0

20

40

60

80

206 of 297 (69%) systems have median TN of 19 mg/L or less.

Single Family – All Technologies Combined

(four or more samples)

0

20

40

60

80N

itrex

Bio

cler

e

FAST RSF

Mod

ular

FAST

FAST

FAST

FAST RSF

Bio

cler

e

FAST

Bio

cler

e

Bio

cler

e

FAST

FAST

FAST

Bio

cler

e

Bio

cler

e

FAST

Bio

cler

e

FAST

FAST

FAST

FAST RSF

Bio

cler

e

FAST

Bio

cler

e

Bio

cler

e

FAST

FAST

RU

CK

Bio

cler

e

FAST

FAST

FAST

Bio

cler

e

FAST

Bio

ren

FAST

Bio

cler

e

Mod

ular RSF

FAST

FAST

Bio

cler

e

Bio

cler

e

RSF

RSF

Technology - Systems Ranked by Median Value

Tot

al N

itrog

en (m

g/L

)

0

20

40

60

80

30 of 50 systems (60%) have median TN of 19 mg/L or less.

Multi-Family – All Technologies Combined

(four or more samples)

Conclusions

•Innovative/alternative (I/A) onsite septic system technology can reliably remove approximately 50-70% removal.

• While there are some newer technologies that hold the promise of higher removal rates, the track record is not long enough for confident predictions.

The emerging picture is that large wastewater treatment plants are the most efficient way to remove nitrogen…… But what if ?

Other Means of Dealing with Wastewater?(Don’t create so much!)

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Work

Energy

Expense

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Work

Energy

Expense

Instead of taking a small amount of waste and adding it to a large amount of water only to have to remove it again later (at quite a cost)

Work

Energy

Expense

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

Why not prevent the small amount of waste from getting into a large amount in the first place.

So how can we do it?

Composting toilets allow for the separation of toilet waste (containing most of the nutrients and pathogens) from “graywater”

Composting toilets still need a means for safe graywater disposal

Composting

Toilets

Smaller carousel type compost toilet

Foam flush toilet eliminates the objections of the “dark hole”, but creates approximately 500 gallons of liquid waste/year/household.

Thinking about that 500 gallons?

Let’s do some math……

1000 homes using composting toilet = 0.5 million gallons per YEAR

1000 homes on sewer using 250 gallons per day produces 0.5 million gallons every two days that require treatment!

Envirolet

Urine Diversion

Diverting Urine to a tank for later collection and treatment/ recycling.

UREA IS THE MOST ABUNDANT NITROGEN-CONTAINING COMPOUND IN THE WASTE FROM OUR

BODIES

Although urine makes up only 1% of the total volume of wastewater, it accounts for 50–80% of the nutrient content.

Urine diversion may offer the opportunity to recover phosphorus and nitrogen as a fertilizer

Evapotranspiration Beds

Geoflow® Drip Irrigation

Surface and Subsurface Irrigation

Wastewater Management

How will we know what’s best?

To make the right decision regarding To make the right decision regarding wastewater planning in any community wastewater planning in any community

you need..you need.. Good assessment of the Good assessment of the

need (what are the real need (what are the real problems? – what are the problems? – what are the treatment objectives?)treatment objectives?)

Good information Good information regarding the various regarding the various alternativesalternatives

Good community Good community involvement ranging from involvement ranging from buying into the need to buying into the need to address the problems to address the problems to the selection of the the selection of the alternative necessary to alternative necessary to address it.address it.

EDUCATION

Questions ?