Introduction to Onsite Introduction to Onsite Wastewater Treatment for Wastewater Treatment for Single Family ResidencesSingle Family Residences

Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceTexas AgriLife Extension Service

IntroductionIntroduction HandoutsHandouts

ManualManual PresentationsPresentations

EvaluationEvaluation

Introduction to Aerobic Introduction to Aerobic Treatment Units Treatment Units

The introduction to aerobic treatment units The introduction to aerobic treatment units program provides:program provides: Body of knowledge for homeowners to be informed Body of knowledge for homeowners to be informed

about aerobic treatment of wastewater and the about aerobic treatment of wastewater and the activities needed to maintain an onsite wastewater activities needed to maintain an onsite wastewater treatment system. treatment system.

Goals of the training are:Goals of the training are:• Provide basic outline of operation and Provide basic outline of operation and

maintenance activities for an ATUmaintenance activities for an ATU• Make homeowner better consumers in the onsite Make homeowner better consumers in the onsite

wastewater treatment industry, and wastewater treatment industry, and • Help homeowners develop a professional Help homeowners develop a professional

relationship with their service provider.relationship with their service provider.

Introduction to Aerobic Introduction to Aerobic Treatment Units Treatment Units

The Homeowner Maintenance training The Homeowner Maintenance training program will not cover:program will not cover: Detailed instruction on step by step Detailed instruction on step by step

maintenance of an entire onsite wastewater maintenance of an entire onsite wastewater treatment systemtreatment system

Repairs and TroubleshootingRepairs and Troubleshooting

To become completely trained in proper To become completely trained in proper operation and maintenance (O&M), an operation and maintenance (O&M), an individual must gain additional information on individual must gain additional information on their particular product.their particular product.

Introduction to Aerobic Introduction to Aerobic Treatment UnitsTreatment Units

If an individual attempts to carry out If an individual attempts to carry out maintenance activities that are beyond the maintenance activities that are beyond the scope of their training the results could scope of their training the results could include:include:

Voided warrantiesVoided warranties Destruction of componentsDestruction of components Generating more problems with the systemGenerating more problems with the system Increased cost of repairIncreased cost of repair Personal injury or even death.Personal injury or even death.

Homeowner Maintenance Homeowner Maintenance Exemption 285.7(d)(4)Exemption 285.7(d)(4)

At the end of the initial two-year service policy At the end of the initial two-year service policy period, the owner of an OSSF for a single family period, the owner of an OSSF for a single family residence shall either maintain the system residence shall either maintain the system personally or obtain a new maintenance contract.personally or obtain a new maintenance contract.

Limitation: An owner may not maintain an OSSF Limitation: An owner may not maintain an OSSF under the provisions of this section for commercial, under the provisions of this section for commercial, speculative residential, or multifamily property.speculative residential, or multifamily property.

You are managing a wastewater treatment plant: You are managing a wastewater treatment plant: do you have effluent or sewage in your yard?do you have effluent or sewage in your yard?

Permitting Wastewater Permitting Wastewater Treatment Systems in TexasTreatment Systems in Texas

Texas Commission on Environmental Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Chapter 285, 5000 gallons Quality (TCEQ), Chapter 285, 5000 gallons per day or lessper day or less Local Authorized Agent – Usually local Health Local Authorized Agent – Usually local Health

Department Department TCEQ Regional OfficeTCEQ Regional Office

TCEQ, Chapter 217, Greater than 5000 TCEQ, Chapter 217, Greater than 5000 gallons per day.gallons per day.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment SystemOnsite Wastewater Treatment System

Malfunctioning Onsite SystemMalfunctioning Onsite System

MalfunctionMalfunction

Malfunctioning OSSFMalfunctioning OSSF – An on-site – An on-site sewage facility that is causing a nuisance sewage facility that is causing a nuisance or is not operating in compliance with the or is not operating in compliance with the 285 OSSF regulations.285 OSSF regulations.

NuisanceNuisance sewage, human excreta, or other organic sewage, human excreta, or other organic

waste discharged or exposed in a manner that waste discharged or exposed in a manner that makes it a potential instrument or medium in makes it a potential instrument or medium in the transmission of disease to or between the transmission of disease to or between personspersons

an overflow from a septic tank or similar an overflow from a septic tank or similar device, including surface discharge from or device, including surface discharge from or groundwater contamination by a component of groundwater contamination by a component of an on-site sewage facility; or an on-site sewage facility; or

a blatant discharge from an OSSF. a blatant discharge from an OSSF.

What is an Onsite Wastewater What is an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System?Treatment System?

1.1. Wastewater SourceWastewater Source2.2. Collection and StorageCollection and Storage3.3. Pretreatment componentsPretreatment components4.4. Final Treatment and Dispersal componentsFinal Treatment and Dispersal components

Wastewater sourceWastewater source

UserUser DomesticDomestic CommercialCommercial IndustrialIndustrial

CollectionCollection

Piping from Piping from facility with facility with cleanoutcleanout BlackwaterBlackwater GraywaterGraywater

Collection OptionsCollection Options

Holding tanksHolding tanks Composting toiletsComposting toilets Incinerating toiletsIncinerating toilets

PretreatmentPretreatment Septic tanksSeptic tanks Aerobic treatment Aerobic treatment

unitsunits Media filtersMedia filters Constructed wetlandsConstructed wetlands Membrane Membrane

bioreactorsbioreactors DisinfectionDisinfection

Final Treatment and Dispersal Final Treatment and Dispersal ComponentsComponents

Trench and bed Trench and bed distributiondistribution

Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration bedsbeds

Low pressure Low pressure distribution trenchdistribution trench

Drip fieldDrip field Spray fieldSpray field

How do we make the How do we make the wastewater system work?wastewater system work?

Evaluate the wastewater Evaluate the wastewater sourcesource

Evaluate siteEvaluate site Wastewater treatmentWastewater treatment Wastewater acceptanceWastewater acceptance

Choose a final treatment Choose a final treatment and dispersal componentand dispersal component

Choose the appropriate Choose the appropriate pretreatment systempretreatment system

Operation and Operation and MaintenanceMaintenance

Roles with Septic System Roles with Septic System ManagementManagement

Site evaluationSite evaluation DesignDesign InstallationInstallation StartupStartup InspectionInspection OperationOperation MaintenanceMaintenance MonitoringMonitoring Pumping Pumping

Site EvaluationSite Evaluation

Comprehensive Comprehensive evaluation of evaluation of soil and site soil and site conditions for a conditions for a given land use.given land use.

DesignDesign The process of selecting, sizing, locating, The process of selecting, sizing, locating,

specifying and configuring treatment train specifying and configuring treatment train components that match site characteristics components that match site characteristics and facility use as well as creating the and facility use as well as creating the associated written documentation. associated written documentation.

A design is also the written documentation A design is also the written documentation of size, location, specification and of size, location, specification and configuration.configuration.

InstallationInstallation

The assembly The assembly and placement of and placement of components of a components of a system, including system, including final grading and final grading and establishment of establishment of an appropriate an appropriate covercover

StartupStartup

The process of The process of setting operational setting operational controls, verifying controls, verifying component function component function and documenting and documenting initial operating initial operating conditions of a conditions of a systemsystem

InspectionInspection

The evaluation The evaluation of and reporting of and reporting on the status of on the status of a wastewater a wastewater treatment treatment systemsystem

OperationOperation The action of The action of

assessing whether assessing whether eacheach component of component of the system is the system is functioning properlyfunctioning properly

Each component Each component must be operational if must be operational if the system as a the system as a whole is to achieve whole is to achieve the desired the desired performanceperformance

MaintenanceMaintenance The action of The action of

conducting required or conducting required or routine planned routine planned performance checks, performance checks, examinations, upkeep, examinations, upkeep, cleaning, or cleaning, or mechanical mechanical adjustments to an adjustments to an onsite system.onsite system.

Includes Replacement Includes Replacement of pumps, filters, of pumps, filters, aerator lines, valves or aerator lines, valves or electrical components.electrical components.

MonitoringMonitoring

The action of The action of verifying verifying performance performance for a regulatory for a regulatory authority or a authority or a manufacturermanufacturer

PumpingPumping

The action of The action of removing removing septage from a septage from a wastewater wastewater treatment treatment system system componentcomponent

RepairRepair

Is the action of Is the action of fixing or replacingfixing or replacing substandard or damaged components.substandard or damaged components. Required repairsRequired repairs Recommended repairsRecommended repairs UpgradesUpgrades

Why Perform Operation and Why Perform Operation and Maintenance?Maintenance?

Keep systems Keep systems functioning properlyfunctioning properly

Maintain effluent Maintain effluent qualityquality

Early detection of Early detection of problems problems

Public HealthPublic Health Environmental Environmental

Protection Protection System ReliabilitySystem Reliability Customer SatisfactionCustomer Satisfaction

System BenefitsSystem Benefits

Keep system functioning properlyKeep system functioning properly Maintain effluent qualityMaintain effluent quality Early detection of problemsEarly detection of problems

Public HealthPublic Health Wastewater can contain disease causing Wastewater can contain disease causing

PathogensPathogens BacteriaBacteria VirusesViruses ParasitesParasites ProtozoaProtozoa

Hepatitis A Virus

Ascaris lumbricoides(roundworm)

Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection

Treat contaminants before they reach Surface or Treat contaminants before they reach Surface or GroundwaterGroundwater NutrientsNutrients

• PhosphorusPhosphorus• NitrogenNitrogen

Organic LoadingOrganic Loading PathogensPathogens

• Fecal ColiformsFecal Coliforms

EPA Water Quality ProgramsEPA Water Quality Programs Onsite Wastewater Onsite Wastewater

Treatment Systems Treatment Systems Non-point source of Non-point source of

pollutionpollution Total Maximum Daily Total Maximum Daily

LoadsLoads Coastal Zone Coastal Zone

Management Management ProgramProgram

System ReliabilitySystem ReliabilityPerformance of all system components must be Performance of all system components must be

functional to achieve full treatmentfunctional to achieve full treatment Components require Components require maintenancemaintenance Service/maintenance Service/maintenance should extend life of should extend life of componentscomponents

Customer SatisfactionCustomer Satisfaction SatisfiedSatisfied if system works if system works

Enjoys the use of their propertyEnjoys the use of their property DissatisfiedDissatisfied if system does if system does

not worknot work ComplaintsComplaints

• Permitting AuthorityPermitting Authority• State AuthorityState Authority• LegalLegal

Tells Everyone that will listenTells Everyone that will listen Protection of property valueProtection of property value

Water Quality Monitoring / Water Quality Monitoring / Operation and MaintenanceOperation and Maintenance

Monitoring system Monitoring system performanceperformance

All systems require All systems require operation and operation and maintenancemaintenance Frequency Frequency Types of activitiesTypes of activities Types of inputsTypes of inputs

System CostSystem Cost Traditional CostsTraditional Costs

InstallationInstallation Parts replacementParts replacement DisinfectantDisinfectant ElectricalElectrical Pumping of sludgePumping of sludge Maintenance contractMaintenance contract

Additional CostsAdditional Costs Involvement – time to Involvement – time to

add disinfectantadd disinfectant Access/use of propertyAccess/use of property Water use/waste – Water use/waste –

adjusting lifestyle to adjusting lifestyle to match system capabilitymatch system capability

Property values – Property values – systems must be systems must be maintainedmaintained

SummarySummary Decentralized management will play a Decentralized management will play a

vital role in our future infrastructure vital role in our future infrastructure needs.needs.

Technologies are available for meeting Technologies are available for meeting our needs.our needs.

Environmental regulations will continue Environmental regulations will continue to be more stringent.to be more stringent.

Environmental health is ultimate form of Environmental health is ultimate form of public health protection.public health protection.

SummarySummary

A site evaluation is critical to determining A site evaluation is critical to determining the potential for a site to treat the potential for a site to treat wastewater.wastewater.

Advanced pretreatment and final Advanced pretreatment and final treatment and dispersal technologies are treatment and dispersal technologies are available for most situations.available for most situations.

Select the most appropriate technology Select the most appropriate technology and scale of system for your site.and scale of system for your site.

Operation and maintenance is critical for Operation and maintenance is critical for long-term functionlong-term function