Installer performs emergency upgrades on adjacent lots

Problem: Neighboring residences on Three Mile Harbor in East Hampton, New York, had collapsing cesspools that needed to be replaced with a low-nitrogen treatment units pursuant to new government sanitary mandates. The project was complicated by the properties’ tight footprint, close proximity to the harbor and a high water table.

Solution: Advanced Wastewater Solutions and A&A Sewer and Drain teamed up to replace the failing cesspools with Fuji Clean USA CEN 5 onsite treatment units leading to pressurized shallow drainfields consisting of an Orenco Systems simplex pump station discharging into two rows of Infiltrator Water Technologies drainfield. The CEN units were designed to remove up to 80% of nitrogen from the wastewater effluent through contact filtration treatment. Wastewater is recirculated through aerobic and anaerobic chambers in direct contact with fixed-film media for biological digestion and mechanical filtration. The pressurized shallow drainfields further reduce total nitrogen and provide treatment of other contaminants by evenly distributing the effluent within 18 inches of the topsoil horizon, where increased microbial activity and nutrient absorption occur.

Result: Due to a special “emergency replacement” program adopted by Suffolk County, the installers were able to bypass the usual monthslong sanitary design and approval process and replace both of these failed cesspools with advanced systems in three days. 207-406-2927; www.fujicleanusa.com.

Modules enable drainfield placement on undersized property

Problem: The owners of a three-bedroom home on Pelican Lake in Wisconsin utilized a holding tank and wanted to have a drainfield installed. The wooded property had limited space for a septic system due to multiple setbacks, including a well located at the side of the house, an S-curved driveway and the lake behind the house.

Solution: H&H Construction designed and installed a pump-to-gravity system that navigated through the wooded area. The installation included adding a 660-gallon pump chamber in series following the existing 1,000-gallon septic tank, with effluent pumped to the drainfield. A 77-by-6-foot trench was constructed to follow the setback from the curved driveway. The drainfield consists of a base of ASTM C33 sand and 14 Eljen GSF (Geotextile Sand Filter) B43 modules. The pipe on top of the GSF modules was connected using elbow fittings.

Result: The homeowners were able to stop costly pump-and-haul services by having a code-compliant drainfield. The Eljen GSF system ensures effluent is treated to secondary treatment standards before reaching the groundwater and lake. 800-444-1359; www.eljen.com.