Up To the Challenge

Advanced onsite industry products restore systems, protect the environment
Up To the Challenge
Surface ponding eliminated

Restaurant’s drainfield restored

Problem

A new restaurant owner with no history of his septic system called Aalco – The Drain Doctor in Knoxboro, N.Y, after noticing septage coming up in the yard.

 

Solution

Upon inspection, it was found the septic tanks were full of heavy sludge as were the grease pits outside. The three distribution boxes also were full of sludge and not draining. Replacing the three leach fields would cost $12,000. It was decided to waterjet the leach lines and Terralift between each line to fracture the soil around the stone ditches.

 

Result

After two, 50-foot runs, water in the drainage box began to recede. Five years later the drainage is still working. 800/223-2256; www.callthedraindoctor.com.

 

Trench dispersal system accommodates small lot

Problem 

Breland Home builders near Huntsville, Ala., needed a system for a three-bedroom house with a much smaller footprint than a typical trench type dispersal system. The lot had a soil perc rate of 120 mpi and a seasonal high water table of approximately 20 inches. Barbara Lehman of Geo-Solutions searched for alternative products hoping to avoid the added expense of an ATU.

 

Solution

Geo-Solutions designed an Advanced Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System (AES) with Bron Bradley of Bradley Environmental. Since AES combines treatment and dispersal in the same footprint, the area required was only 1,607 square feet, less than half that needed for a trench system. The system was divided into two separate sand beds, each including three 40-foot rows of AES pipe placed 18 inches on center. The system also included a 1,500-gallon septic tank and D-box. No mechanical devices were needed to support the passive biological treatment process. Sid Nayman installed the system in one day with minimal equipment and labor.    

 

Result

The AES System provided an easy and affordable installation on a very small lot. 800/473-5298; www.presbyenvironmental.com.   

 

All-in-one treatment system meets space needs

Problem

A three-bedroom home on a small lot in Juneau, Alaska, had a failed drainfield. There wasn’t enough room for a conventional drainfield and direct discharge of treated effluent was not an option. Needed was a robust all-in-one treatment and dosing system to provide effluent bypass protection and quality effluent for disposal in a limited area.

 

Solution

Sloan Swedsen, co-owner of Juneau Septic Services, designed a system using an Anua Platinum submerged aerated filter for secondary treatment and clarifier with integrated pump package along with two Puraflo peat fiber biofilters for final polishing of the secondary treated effluent and in-ground pad for dispersal of the effluent weeping from the base of the Puraflo modules.

 

Result

The submerged aerated filter and peat fiber biofilter provided high quality effluent in a small footprint, with greatly reduced nitrogen and pathogen levels. 336/547-9338; www.anua-us.com.

 

Bio-augmentation restores FOG-damaged drainfield

Problem

A large, quick-serve restaurant suffered habitual drainfield failures due to the buildup of fats, oils and grease. The drainfield was replaced three times in the first five years of business. After failing again, the health department demanded the installation of an aerobic wastewater treatment plant at an estimated cost of $40,000.

 

Solution

The restaurant obtained an experimental variance to utilize bio-augmentation. An initial inoculation of 20 gallons of BioOne was applied directly to the distribution box. A BioOne Auto Dispenser was installed, dispensing 5 gallons of BioOne per month.

 

Result

After 30 days, the drainfield was fully restored and the health department rescinded its demand for the wastewater treatment plant. 800/951-4246; www.1biotechnology.com.

 

Fusion Treatment System saves lake from contamination

Problem

A mobile home park in Michigan had a failed septic system resulting in surfacing effluent and contamination of a nearby lake. The site had an existing 20,000-gallon septic tank and the owner was restricted to pumping and hauling the waste away. A replacement drainfield was not possible due to site constraints that included limited space, poor soil conditions and a high water table.

 

Solution

After careful consideration, a new system was designed to treat 5,000 gpd, utilizing the existing septic tank and a Clarus Environmental WW4 effluent filter. Two ZFL-2400 Fusion Treatment Systems were installed in parallel with influent evenly split using a Tru-Flo Splitter box. Treated effluent was collected in a 1,500-gallon dose tank. Two Zoeller Model N153 pumps were used to dose the low pressure drainfields.

 

Result

Since startup, the system has performed perfectly. System maintenance is performed twice a year. 877/244-9340, www.clarusenvironmental.com.

 

Health department completes repairs for low-income residents

Problem

In 2011, the Clermont County, Ohio, General Health District obtained a grant to help pay for septic system repairs for low-income county residents.

 

Solution

The health district selected the SABER septic system from Advanced Wastewater Systems LLC for four repair projects, which included new septic tanks with an aerobic treatment kit installed in the second compartment of each tank. Each system dosed a reduced-size, elevated sand mound for effluent disposal. The high quality effluent allowed the mounds to be smaller than normal and fit the existing lots. The decant pump dosed the mounds directly, eliminating a separate pump tank, reducing overall system cost.

 

Result

The health district specified the equipment and bid the projects to local contractors. All were completed and operating successfully. 812/926-4282; www.saberseptic.com.

 

Chemical drainfield restored

Problem

A residential customer in Reading, Pa., had a raised bed system that failed. The system was set on a non-conforming lot. Replacement cost was $35,000.

 

Solution

The customer contacted Scott Fick of PW Essig Inc. The local plumbing contractor recognized sodium buildup in the drainfield and recommended Septic Drainer restorative. After having the tank inspected and pumped, he exposed the D-box and removed biomat from the leach lines using a 4,000 psi jetter and poured 4 gallons of Septic Drainer into the sewer jet water holding tank, leaving enough water in the tank to jet each leach line once. The process forced Septic Drainer into the leach lines, ensuring a consistent application of the product.

 

Result

The system was restored and operating normally in less than two hours. The customer adds one gallon every six months via inside drain lines to maintain the system. 518/812-0000; www.septicdrainer.com.

 

Surface ponding eliminated

Problem

A 40-year-old, four-bedroom home with three occupants and 890-gallon septic tank in Springfield, Mo., had a 12-month average flow rate of 174 gpd with a monthly low average of 150 gpd and monthly high of 209 gpd. In 2002, the system experienced surface ponding and surface discharge in a 20-foot diameter area.

 

Solution

The system was pneumatically ruptured, improving performance for two years when effluent again began to surface. Green County issued violation notices. The next step would be condemnation of the home. On Dec. 16, 2009, a Remediator system from Aero-Stream was installed.

 

Result

After 10 days, most of the effluent surfacing had ceased. Within 60 days of installation, surface ponding was eliminated. 877/254-7093; www.aero-stream.com.



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