Recent Legislative Successes, 8 - SPRING 2022 - National Onsite Wastewater Recycling ...
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Recent
Legislative
Successes, 8
INSIDE: ONSITE ADAPTABILITY
A Case Study in High Strength
SPRING 2022 Wastewater Treatment, 12
NEW Emerging
Professionals Committee
We are pleased to announce the
formation of a new committee within
NOWRA - the Emerging Profession-
als Committee. This committee was
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
formed after interest and discussions Executive Director’s Message...........................4
with young professionals at the 2021
Onsite Wastewater Mega-Confer- A Note From The President..............................5
ence. NOWRA defines an Emerging
Professional as a student, a young State Affiliate News..........................................6
professional, or a new professional Legislative Update............................................8
to the onsite wastewater treatment
field. 2022 Backhoe ROE-D-HOE® Championship....10
The Mission of the committee is as Corporate Members.......................................11
follows: Feature: Onsite Adaptability...........................12
NOWRA's Emerging Professionals NOWRA Board of Directors............................22
Committee is dedicated to work-
force development, recruitment,
and advocacy on behalf of young
and early career professionals in the
ADVERTISER INDEX
onsite wastewater treatment sector. Polylok........................................................................................ 2
Hiblow, Inc.................................................................................. 5
If you are interested in finding out BioMicrobics, Inc........................................................................ 7
more, or joining this committee, Presby Environmental................................................................ 9
please contact the Chairperson, Jet, Inc...................................................................................... 11
Robert Bair, at rbair@usf.edu.
Salcor, Inc................................................................................. 13
For more information on any of
NOWRA's Committees, check out Eljen Corporation..................................................................... 15
our Committee web page or email Roth Global Plastics, Inc.......................................................... 17
the NOWRA office at info@nowra. Infiltrator Water Technologies ................................................ 19
org. American Manufacturing Company ...................................BACK
PUBLISHED FOR THE NATIONAL ONSITE
WASTEWATER RECYCLING ASSOCIATION
National Onsite Wastewater For Advertising Inquiries:
Recycling Association Editor/Publisher: Amy Wobbema
Thomas Groves, Executive Director (701) 947-2417
P.O. Box 982, Westford, MA 01886 amyw@transcriptpublishing.com
Phone: 978-496-1800
Fax: 703-997-5609 ©2022. All rights reserved.
Email: executivedirector@nowra.org Contents may not be reproduced by any means,
in whole or in part, without prior written permis-
Published by Transcript Publishing sion from Transcript Publishing or the National
817 Central Avenue; PO Box 752 Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.
New Rockford, ND 58356
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S
MESSAGE
members holding over 50 in-per- also excited that we secured the
Thomas Groves, Exec. Director son ZOOM meetings over the location of our 2024 Mega-Con-
Wow, I can’t believe that a year two days. For more on NOWRA’s ference for Spokane, Washing-
has gone by since I have taken Legislative activities, please read ton, and believe it or not, work is
the helm as Executive Director of the Legislative Update on page 8 beginning on 2025.
this great organization. A lot of inside.
progress has been made in the Our Online Learning Academy
last 12 months, but there is still As we are returning to our normal, had an extremely successful
much more work to do. pre-COVID routines, we are start- year, as many professionals used
ing to gather once again in indus- NOWRA’s online courses to help
We concluded 2021 with the try trade shows and conferences. them achieve the training hours
exciting news of the President’s NOWRA kept a strong presence that they need for their license or
signing of the Infrastructure Bill at many of our affiliate organiza- certification. We plan to continue
that creates a Decentralized tion events in early 2022 by either to roll out NOWRA courses as
Wastewater Grant Program. But providing an update of our activ- well as some of our state affiliate
unfortunately, our work has just ities, and/or attending the events courses to enhance the portfolio
begun, as now we need to do in person. In late February, I of courses that are available.
our part to make sure that Con- attended the WWETT Show in In-
gress appropriates enough mon- dianapolis where NOWRA hosted Thank you for allowing me to
ey to properly fund the program the 2022 Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe® serve as Executive Director of
so EPA can begin it’s develop- National Championships. Check this organization. I am looking
ment. The Bill included language out some of the action from the forward to another great year
that authorized the Decentralized Roe-D-Hoe on page 10. We are here at NOWRA.
Wastewater Grant
Program at the level
of $50M per year for
five years.
SAVE THE DATE!
NOWRA held our
annual Legislative
Fly-In on April 5 and
6, and like 2021, we A collaboration of the
conducted the Fly-In following organizations:
in a virtual format.
NOWRA members
met with staff mem-
bers of their congres-
sional delegation to
discuss the need for
adequately funding
the Decentralized
Grant Program, along
with several other Onsite Wastewater Event of 2022 OCTOBER 30 –
NOVEMBER 2
messages related
to our industry. The CALL FOR ABSTRACTS University Plaza Hotel and
Convention Center
meetings were very Now open until June 17 Springfield, Missouri
successful, with 25
4 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
I do not know about you, but I am state to state there is much to learn
ready for spring! This winter has from each other. Networking is not
been a real one in the Midwest about just connecting with people.
and it is good to know that warmer It is about connecting people with
temperatures are on the way. people, people with ideas, and
people with opportunities. Here
It was fabulous to get to attend are highlights of the opportunities
several state affiliate shows this NOWRA has been working on to
year including Washington, Texas, expand our industry over the last Sara Heger, President
Minnesota and be involved with few months:
training in Ohio, Pennsylvania, 1) Updating our by-laws to as- 4) Developing design training to
Indiana, Alberta, British Columbia sure we are current and relevant to train more designers, engineers,
and Iowa. Being at these events the membership we represent. and regulators on the design of
reminded me the value of net- 2) Publishing Research Needs to septic systems.
working. I personally think the further the knowledge base of our
networking opportunities through industry. With these and the many other
NOWRA and your state affiliates 3) Planning a virtual Legislative activities going on at the nation-
are the #1 benefit of being part of Fly-in to meet with federal repre- al and local level, we are making
an organization focusing on septic sentatives to assure septic systems good progress in making a differ-
system design, installation, and are kept in mind when federal ence which is ultimately what we
management. Even though things resources are being allocated and should all be striving for.
may vary from county to county or policies developed.
The Onsite Journal Spring 2022 5
STATE AFFILIATE NEWS
NEBRASKA ONSITE WASTEWATER our industry in Washington State! There were 575
ASSOCIATION (NOWWA) people in attendance at this year’s conference and
trade show, which also included more than 40 of the
The 2022 Nebraska Water Industries Convention &
industry’s leading exhibitors. It is always encouraging
Trade Show was a resounding success!
to see the investment that businesses and employers
are willing to make in the education of their work-
During February 15-17, 2022, Orton Management
force. SEPTIC-CON provided an incredible 43 distinct
and Associates put on the Nebraska Water Industries
industry training sessions. Smart business owners see
Convention and Trade Show at the newly christened
education as an investment in an employee’s future
Crowne Plaza & Younes Convention Center in Kear-
and their own. We have already begun planning for
ney, Nebraska. The Nebraska Well Drillers and the
SEPTIC-CON 2023 and it’s going to be BIG. Be sure
Nebraska Onsite Waste Water Associations were
to mark your calendars for January 27 & 28, 2023.
excited to finally have all their constituents, members,
and exhibitors face-to-face again after the pandemic
SEPTIC-CON 2022 was full of incredible achieve-
hiatus. Fifty-six exhibitors and over 500 attendees
ments. At this year’s conference, we awarded William
spent three days reconnecting and gaining Profes-
Stuth the second ever WOSSA Lifetime Achievement
sional Development Hours and Continuing Education
Award. Not only did he receive the award, but the
Credits for certification of Nebraska’s Water Well
name of the award was changed to the Stuth and
Drillers and Onsite contractors. These attendance
Stonebridge Award in honor of both William Stuth
figures were at near record numbers and we expect
and Jerry Stonebridge. The WOSSA Scholarship and
the statewide attraction of this annual event to contin-
Legislative Fundraiser was epic to say the least. The
ue growing.
auction and raffle raised a record setting amount of
OHIO ONSITE WASTEWATER money … topping a mind-blowing $126,000!
ASSOCIATION (OOWA) Through both Federal and State grant funding sourc-
Greetings from the Buckeye State! The Ohio Onsite es, WOSSA continues to partner with organizations
Wastewater Association (OOWA) held their annual throughout the US to deliver industry specific safety
conference January 4-5 at the Nationwide Confer- training for on-site professionals. WOSSA has been
ence Center in Lewis Center. Mike Stiger of Stiger awarded its 10th safety specific training grant for
Precast Inc. was awarded the Trent Lydic Memorial workers in the on-site industry, titled: “Workplace
Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association Distinguished Safety and Health Training on Infectious Diseases,
Service Award. Including COVID-19 for On-Site Septic Profession-
als.” Funding for this grant is provided by OSHA’s
Board nominations for OOWA recently took place Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. WOSSA has
and the following individuals will be holding a leader- already had the privilege of providing no-cost safety
ship position in 2022. Zak Sherman of Infiltrator Water training for NOWWA, NEKES and TOWA in 2022.
Technologies is President, Chris Mandich of Jet, Inc.
is Vice President, Mike Rogich of Delaware General
Health District is Past President, Clermont County Wisconsin ONSITE WATER recycling
Public Health’s Robert Wildey is Treasurer, and Jason ASSOCIATION (WOWRA)
Menchhofer with the Mercer County Health District is WOWRA held its Joint Winter Conference on Janu-
Secretary. Dominic Dowell with Jet, Inc. and Ed Nolan ary 13 and 14 in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Session topics
with Proformance Fields & Landscape were appointed included Pharmaceuticals in Septic Systems; Driving
to the board. The OOWA Board of Directors is excit- Safety + CDL Changes + Substance Abuse Testing;
ed for the upcoming year! Contracts - Material Shortages and Delays; Septic
Systems Around the World; PFAS/PFOS – What You
Need to Know; Pooper Bloopers; Soils; and POWTS
WASHINGTON ON-SITE SEWAGE and High Water/Flood Plain. An exhibitor show was
ASSOCIATION (WOSSA) also held, along with the annual meeting of the asso-
SEPTIC-CON 2022 was an enormous success and ciation.
we couldn’t be more excited about the strength of
6 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022
The future of an existing POWTS replacement
program was a hot topic at the Conference,
as was the state’s allocation of staff resources
to help reduce plan review times during peak
season. Funding for a septage characterization
study was approved, and that study will be com-
pleted by Fall 2022. The association will need to
prepare for possible opportunities and/or threats
that may result from the survey.
Overall, the number of systems installed in the
state is on the rise and 2022 is expected to be
another big year.
YANKEE ONSITE WASTEWATER
ASSOCIATION (YOWA)
YOWA remains committed to providing training
opportunities, available to both members and
non-members. Our latest offering occurred on
March 22. Onsite system professionals from the
Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test
Center (MASSTC), including George Heufelder,
presented on the following topics:
• Title 5 Setbacks: How far is far enough?
The experts share their experience with
respect to regulation-driven setback require-
ments involving property lines, foundations,
wells and groundwater, and wetlands as
well as their expertise in dealing with other
challenging site situations.
• Layer Cakes: Are they still on the dessert
menu?
Continuing research on so-called “layer
cake” systems will be discussed with a focus
on assessing whether treatment perfor-
mance increases or decreases over time.
YOWA also welcomes Alyssa Rusiecki as its new
President. Alyssa has taken the reins following
three years of active leadership provided by
outgoing President Dan Ottenheimer. She has
been involved with YOWA since its inception in
the mid-1990s and has been active in advancing
educational opportunities provided by YOWA.
Presently, Alyssa is the Assistant Director for the
environmental health program at the University
of Massachusetts, where she oversees public
health issues on the campus. She is looking
forward to leading YOWA for the next several
years.
NOWRA conducts bimonthly calls with our state
affiliate organizations. For more on NOWRA’s
affiliate state organizations, visit our web site at:
www.nowra.org/.about/state-organizations/
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
communication with our partners the environment. The PIPES Act
at the Agency throughout the would require the EPA to estab-
process to ensure the program lish standards for the flushability
best serves homeowners who rely of disposable wipes and would
by Tracy Hammond, Polsinelli on decentralized wastewater sys- impose serious, yet reasonable,
The NOWRA Board of Governors tems; as well as those who serve financial penalties on companies
and our government relations and supply them. who are knowingly not in com-
team in Washington continue to pliance with these standards.
work with congressional champi- While H.R. 3684 authorizes up NOWRA supports this measure
ons, the Senate Environment & to $50 million annually for the and would like to thank the bill’s
Public Works Committee and the Decentralized Wastewater Grant sponsors, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-
House Transportation & Infra- program, Congress must still ap- MI) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-
structure Committee in order propriate the money each year to CA) for their efforts in developing
to secure millions of dollars in the EPA. It is now up to NOWRA’s this much-needed legislation.
funding for decentralized waste- members and our team in Wash-
water system grants in the Build ington to work with congressional Finally, NOWRA’s Board of Gov-
Back Better economic recovery appropriators to secure funding ernors and our team in Wash-
package. The House approved a for this new program through the ington conducted several dozen
version of this legislation last fall, annual appropriations process meetings with our Congressional
but progress has slowed in the beginning this spring. representatives on April 5 and
Senate. 6. Like last year, these meetings
At the same time, NOWRA and were held virtually because of
The Build Back Better Act (H.R. allied stakeholders will keep COVID-19 and increased security
5376) approved by the House advocating for funding for De- on Capitol Hill due to the events
of Representatives would direct partment of Agriculture’s Decen- last January 6. We will use these
money to the EPA this year to tralized Water Systems program. discussions to further educate
provide grants to states, munic- This program received $5 million members of Congress on the im-
ipalities and nonprofits to dis- in the current 2022 fiscal year, the portant role onsite systems play
burse to homeowners for the con- same amount it received in 2021. in America’s water infrastructure
struction, repair, or replacement NOWRA is coordinating with and push for increased support
of their individual decentralized other groups and congressional and resources for our customers
wastewater treatment systems. allies to increase this funding up and our industry through the
NOWRA sent a letter to Speaker to $20 million in the coming year 2023 appropriations process.
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Major- to provide additional assistance
ity Leader Chuck Schumer (D- to those in rural areas who need
NY) detailing the importance of assistance to install, repair or Tracy Hammond is a Senior Policy
this funding and expressing our replace decentralized treatment Advisor with Polsinelli’s Public
support for the inclusion of this systems. Policy Group in the firm’s Wash-
funding in any final package that ington Office. He advises clients
can be enacted. In February, NOWRA formally en- on federal legislation and regula-
dorsed H.R. 6591, the Protecting tion in the areas of infrastructure,
The EPA is now beginning the Infrastructure and Promoting En- water and environmental policy
process of drafting new rules and vironmental Stewardship (PIPES) and serves as one of NOWRA’s
regulations to implement the Act. The PIPES Act would provide lobbyists in Washington, DC.
similar Decentralized Wastewater consumers with a flushability
Grant program that was enact- standard and the information
ed in the bipartisan Investment they need to properly dispose of
in Infrastructure and Jobs Act, wet wipes. This will both better
H.R. 3684. NOWRA will remain in protect their onsite systems and
8 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022
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2022 NATIONAL BACKHOE ROE-D-HOE® CHAMPIONSHIP In February, NOWRA rep- resentatives attended the WWETT Show in Indianapolis and crowned the Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe® champion of 2022. Josh Reading of Illinois outlasted over 150 contes- tants from all over the U.S. (and Australia) to become the NOWRA Roe-D-Hoe® champion. The Roe-D-Hoe® is a backhoe operator’s test of speed, agility, and accuracy. Contestants must traverse an obstacle course of basket- balls, bowling pins and golf balls. Congratulations to Josh who not only got to wear the NOWRA Roe-D-Hoe®- Championship Belt, but more importantly, won bragging rights over his competitors and $1,000 cash. Watch for NOWRA’s Roe-D-Hoe® at your state show and at the 2023 WWETT Show. 10 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022
CORPORATE
MEMBERS
Diamond Level:
Gold Level:
American Manufacturing Co. Norweco, Inc.
Jet, Inc. Salcor, Inc.
Silver Level: Bronze Level: Copper Level:
Bio-Microbics, Inc. Hoot Systems, LLC Ashland Water Group
Ecological Tanks Netafim USA Hiblow USA, Inc.
Orenco Systems Roth Global Plastics Residential Sewage Treatment
Polylok WaterColor Management Company
To learn more about or to join NOWRA’s Corporate Membership program, please contact us at (978) 496-
1800, by email at info@nowra.org, or on our website at www.nowra.org/about/corporate-members/.
The Onsite Journal Spring 2022 11Onsite
adaptability
Treatment of high strength wastewater
from a small rural slaughterhouse
and meat processing plant
By Dominic Mercier, P.E. Enviro-STEP Technologies, a Que- make the authorities (regulators)
Decentralized Wastewater appli- bec based company specializing realize that these types of small
cations and challenges come in in onsite and decentralized tech- operations do not follow the same
different sizes and shapes. But nologies engaged in accompany- design criteria and hypothesis
when it comes to tackling high ing the owner in finding a solution as their larger industry counter-
strength sewage from slaughter- while meeting the regulatory parts. Guidelines and handbooks
houses, it is often referred to as requirements and staying within on slaughterhouses and meat
the “king of sewage challenges.” the owner’s financial and technical processing plants exist, but they
In other words, if not approached capacities. suggest theoretical water use that
and engineered properly, all the greatly overestimate flow rates
ingredients for failure are present. Obstacles were clearly visible compared to the reality of smaller
This case study gives some in- from day one. The most important micro-operations. The only way to
sights on how one should ap- one was to educate the owner in demonstrate the lower water use
proach this type of project even understanding the impacts of day- and consequently smaller waste-
when stringent effluent quality is to-day operations and wastewater water flow rate was to undergo a
required. management practices performed thorough monitoring of the water
by him and his employees on the usage and use real data gathered
A small rural privately-owned quality and quantity of his pro- from several wastewater character-
slaughterhouse located in Eastern cess wastewater. For this type of ization studies. A water meter was
Canada (Photo 1) has been on the endeavor to succeed, the owner installed on the water well and
radar of the Ministry of Environ- and his staff must adopt best flow data collected every day for
ment for some time for its failing management practices reducing several weeks.
septic system discharging untreat- the variability of the waste stream
ed effluent towards a river. The and the organic load discharged. A log of the number of animals
owner hired a couple of different For example, they implemented slaughtered was also taken for
engineering firms over a 5-year rigorous practices for the recu- correlating water use with the
period to identify what were the peration of the blood and large number of animals killed. Two
best options to repair the failing solids. Blood is sold to a company such wastewater characterizations
system. The main obstacle was producing animal food. Blood has were done, first in 2011 by anoth-
that this type of business, regard- a chemical oxygen demand (COD) er firm and second in 2017/2018
less of its size, falls under specific of 375,000 mg/L. It is by far the by Enviro-STEP as shown in Fig-
regulation pertaining to industrial greatest contributor of the waste- ure 1. Data were compared with
applications. In other words, the water organic loading. Any mea- literature values and appropriate
requirements for effluent quality sured taken to reduce discharge design criteria were developed.
are the same as mega-indus- of blood into the wastewater flow These values were accepted by
tries processing thousands of will yield huge benefits in terms of the ministry of Environment (per-
pounds of meat per day. This site cost of treatment and final effluent mitting authority) since they were
is slaughtering once a week and quality. the most representative of the
consequently had limited techni- operation.
cal and financial resources. Another major challenge was to
12 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022One interesting aspect clearly
7000
Water use during slaughter day vs number of animal killed seen in the Figure 1 is that there is
a minimum volume of wastewater
Year 2017 / 2018
6000 needed in the cleaning process
that is independent of the number
5000 of animals processed and that the
water use increases rather slowly
4000 with the number of animals pro-
Thanks For
cessed. The difference between
Visiting Us
3000
one and 45 animals slaughtered
was less than 1,500 liters. For this
2000
type of operation, the wastewater
volume was generally under 3,000
1000
L/d with an average around 2,500
0
L/d. (Note: 3.785 liters = 1 gallon)
1 3 4 5 5 6 6 9 9 101111111214141515161718191920202021222223232324252627282929303232363945
Looking at the wastewater charac-
terization data, we observe signif-
Figure 1: Water use vs the number of animal slaughtered study done
icant variations. These variations
by Enviro-STEP.
concurred with the wide range
The last but not least of the chal- climate that sees outside tem- of concentration reported by the
lenges was to comply with the peratures ranging from -20°F to literature. As explained earlier, the
effluent quality requirement, which 90°F. If succeeding with this task, cleaning and blood recuperation
was to pretreat the wastewater to the pretreated effluent would be practices play a huge role in the
values comparable to domestic authorized to be discharged to a wastewater strength. Consequent-
sewage. This needed to be done subsurface treatment and disper- ly, the design values were taken
consistently all year long in a sal system. with a certain level of safety factor.
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The Onsite Journal Spring 2022 13Treatment Strategy and Results
traditional septic system. consisting of 42 biofiltration GSF
modules over a 65 m² (700 ft²)
The treatment system installed subsurface dispersal area. (See
in this case has the following two Photo 3)
treatment trains:
The system, referred here as
Train #1: Pretreatment of the high “Phase I,” was installed and
strength wastewater commissioned late 2017. Table 1
• Two 5,000-liter (1,320-gallon) shows the effluent quality mea-
grease interceptor in series. Last sured in the septic tank of the
tank equipped with an effluent final treatment train. This is re-
filter with alarm. ferred to as the combined effluent
• One 12,000-liter (3,170-gal- (pretreatment effluent + domestic
lon) dual compartment tank. First sewage inflow). We observed that
compartment is a 4,000-liter com- BOD and TKN concentrations
pletely mixed bioreactor called were higher in the combined
BIO-REDOX followed by 8,000-li- effluent than in the pretreatment
ter settling and sludge holding effluent, suggesting that the low
compartment. (See Photo 2) domestic flow was in fact de-
Photo 2: Pretreatment system creasing the quality of the pre-
installation. Train #2: Final combined waste- treatment. We also confirm that
water treatment system (combin- highest effluent TKN values were
ing pretreated effluent and do- seen in the winter months. The
The strategy put forward for this
mestic sewage) BIO-REDOX unit was perform-
project was to divide the pretreat-
• One 5,000-liter (1,320-gallon) ing very well. Data taken at the
ment system into multiple stages
septic tank with effluent filter pretreatment stage showed an
to give as much room as potential
• One 4,000-liter flow equaliza- excellent BOD and TKN removal
for flexibility and adaptability.
tion tank around 80 to 90 percent. Phos-
For example, the use of multiple
• One ELJEN GSF combined phorus was on average higher
treatment steps would allow for
treatment and dispersal system than the target value of 10 mg/L.
better troubleshooting and iden-
tification of where improvements
should be done. It was decid-
ed that the main pretreatment
process should be a completely
mixed biological reactor. This
process is a simple technology
offering flexibility, can be easily
broken down in multiple stages
if needed, and it allows for future
modifications and enhancements.
Amongst those potential modi-
fications that we identified were
increasing aeration, introducing
recirculation, mixing chemicals for
nutrient, pH or alkalinity adjust-
ments, or eventually adding a
fixed film media to transform the
process into a moving bed bio-
reactor. Once the process waste-
water was pretreated, it would
be mixed with the remaining of
the building domestic sewage
and further handled using a more Photo 3: Eljen Treatment and Dispersal System installation.
14 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022The Onsite Journal Spring 2022 15
Table 1: Effluent quality from phase I
Table 2: Combined effluent quality from phase II
Grease interceptors in series were stage #2 in front of the existing ent masking the real performance
doing their job well. one strictly dedicated to BOD of the pretreatment train. Never-
removal. The intent was to assure theless, we can definitely conclude
After analysis of the data, it was a low BOD environment entering that the treatment train can bring
concluded that Phase I, even stage #2 for the nitrifier bacteria the very high strength wastewater
though giving very encourag- to grow. from the slaughterhouse down to
ing and good results, could not domestic levels.
guarantee meeting the “domestic Feature #3: Create a circulation
wastewater” quality consistently loop between the final equalization Regarding the fluctuating phos-
all year long especially with the tank located just before the ELJEN phorus, we are now helping the
negative impact coming from GSF system back to the BIO-RE- owner to reduce the phosphorus
the domestic portion. A phase II DOX stage #1 to induce multiple discharge right from the start by
was developed to boost nitrogen passes and give the domestic sew- adding tablets of aluminum sulfate
removal and tackle some of the age a chance to pass through the (alum) in the wash water drain that
phosphorus. pretreatment phases. Recirculation slowly dissolve during the cleaning
ratio was set at 1 to 1. process, allowing phosphorus to
It was decided to add three fea- react and precipitate in the treat-
tures to the treatment system: Phase 2 was implemented in the ment train. This part is still under
summer of 2019. Effluent quality investigation.
Feature #1: Retrofit of a 3,000-liter from fall 2019, 2020 and 2021
(800-gallon) flow equalization tank (Table 2), clearly show the im-
between grease interceptor #2 proved BOD removal resulting Conclusion
and the BIO-REDOX. This mod- from the added features as well as The wastewater treatment from
ification would spread the high the enhanced TKN removal which slaughterhouses and many other
strength stream generated on a allowed us the reach an average high strength applications are
single day, over the entire week to concentration below the target often some the biggest tasks for
enhance even more the pretreat- value. We suspect again that the onsite designers. This project
ment performances. low water uses from the other clearly demonstrates an innova-
“domestic sewage” generating tive design approach for reducing
Feature #2: Add another 7,000-li- activities are causing higher con- very high levels of organic and
ter (1,850-gallon) BIO-REDOX centrations in the combined efflu- nitrogen pollution using simple
16 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022processes and readily available equipment.
This could have not been possible without these
essential ingredients that are: adequate data acqui-
sition (flow monitoring and wastewater characteri-
zation), education and involvement from the owner
and staff, good wastewater engineering knowledge
and practices and finally the use of adaptive tech-
nology.
The cost of this entire project ended up at around
$50,000 worth of equipment and tankage plus
installation. The total cost was less than half of the
other proposed solution bid obtained initially by
the customer before starting this project. In addi- Photo 4: Repaired system, final product
tion to the lower cost and higher performance, the
process selected still offers adaptability potential
for the future expansion. In the future, when neces-
sary, the recirculation ratio can be increased, fixed About the Author:
film media can be added in one or the two BIO-RE- Dominic Mercier is a Professional Engineer with over
DOX reactors stages and a coagulant can easily 25 years of expertise in the design of onsite wastewa-
be added for enhanced phosphorus removal in the ter systems. He is the owner of Enviro-STEP Technol-
reactor. ogies, a Canadian company offering onsite wastewa-
ter treatment technologies for residential, commercial
Adaptability of simple onsite wastewater technolo- and industrial applications. Information about onsite
gies makes compliance to stringent regulation and treatment solutions offered by Enviro-STEP Technolo-
effluent criteria possible and accessible. gies is available at www.enviro-step.ca.
Septic Tanks • Water Cisterns Pump Tanks
Holding Tanks • Rain Water Harvesting
Multi Usage Multi Layer Multi Coverage
• Inner layer of FDA approved virgin HDPE,
two inside layers of PE for improved
stability, plus one outer layer of black and
UV-stabilized PE
• Lifetime* corrosion protection and 5 years
of labor insurance
• Strongest & heaviest poly tank on the
market
• No water for backfilling required
• Low profile
• 100% watertight
Our multi-layered tank construction,
Roth Global Plastics consisting of virgin material surrounded
www.rothmultitank.com 866-943-7256 by 3 layers of protection.
The Onsite Journal Spring 2022 17NOWRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021-22
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DEC 2020 - NOV 2022
Sara Heger, Ph.D. Jim King Allison Blodig Carl Thompson, P.E.
(President) (Treasurer) (VP/Pres. Elect) (Past President)
Research Engineer & Adjunct President Engineering Systems Vice President Sales & Delta
Asst. Professor Eljen Corporation Consultant Advanced
University of Minnesota Windsor, CT Infiltrator Water Technologies Infiltrator Water Technologies
Water Resources Center Ozawkie, KS Old Saybrook, CT
St. Paul, MN
Gary Hawkins, Ph.D. Claude Goguen Ed Schloss
Agricultural and Biological Engineer National Precast Concrete Association Sales Manager
University of Georgia Director of Outreach and Technical Education Jet, Inc.
Watkinsville, GA Carmel, IN Cleveland, OH
Kate Carney, P.E. Josh Gunia Tom Schimelfenig
Owner Vice President Owner
Church OWC, LLC. A Advanced Septic & Construction Schimelfenig Excavating
Golden, CO Services Bowdon, ND
Sumner, WA
Chris Chapman Tricia Scott
Owner Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A. Onsite Wastewater Program Specialist
Show Me Soils Associate Professor NE Dept. of Environment and Energy
St. Clair, MO Texas A & M University Lincoln, NE
College Station, TX
Marcia Degen, Ph.D., P.E. Morris Smith, P.E.
Environmental Technical Services Manager Chris LeClair, R.E.H.S. Morris Smith Engineering
Virginia Dept. of Health Director Palm Bay, FL
Roanoke, VA Land & Resource Mgmt.
Ottertail County
Fergus Falls, MN
We welcome Gary Hawkins to the University of Georgia. He has been
NOWRA Board of Directors. Haw- working with UGA for 21 years in
kins was appointed to the Board in various areas covering pollution
December by President Sara Heger prevention, water management
to complete the remaining term of and alternative energy. He grad-
Sergio Abit, who needed to step uated from Clemson University,
down from the Board. Gary was Auburn University and the Univer-
the Education Committee vice- sity of Tennessee with degrees in
chair and has also agreed to move Agricultural Engineering and works
up to be the chair of that commit- in the Crop and Soils Department.
tee. Welcome aboard Gary! His current focus is working with
water conservation in agricultural
Dr. Gary Hawkins is an Associate systems, stormwater management,
Professor and the Water Resource onsite waste treatment, but his
New Board Member Management and Policy Specialist job responsibilities also covers all
Gary Hawkins, Ph.D. with the College of Agricultural aspects of water quality, quantity
Category: Academic and Environmental Sciences at the and conservation.
18 The Onsite Journal Spring 2022Reimagining
Onsite Water Management
Engineered For Performance
Infiltrator Product Line
SNAP
9125 Comar Drive • Walker, LA 70785
(800) 221-4436 • www.infiltratorwater.com
IWT_NOWRA2020_FP.indd 1 8/11/20 12:53 PMP.O. Box 982 Westford, MA 01886
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