Wastewater renovation in buried and recirculating sand filters

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1992.00472425002100040030x· OSTI ID:6840981

Gold, A J; Lamb, B E; Loomis, G W; Boyd, J R; Cabelli, V J; McKiel, C G ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston (United States)

A replicated, multiyear field study was conducted to assess the reduction of N, P and microbial indicators by a recirculating sand filter (RSF) and a buried multilayer sand filter patterned after the RUCK filter. The RSFs received 38 L m[sup [minus]2] d[sup [minus]1] of septic tank effluent, while the buried sand filters were loaded at 76 L m[sup [minus]2] d[sup [minus]1]. The RSFs had significantly greater reductions of N and P (21 and 31%, respectively) than the buried filters (8 and 1%, respectively); however, N reduction was not significantly different per unit area. The lower daily loading rate and even distribution of effluent on the recirculating filters may have contributed to the elevated P reductions noted. Total Kjeldahl N (TKN) reductions in the RSFs were markedly lower during the cold season ([le] 10[degrees]C) than the warm season. In contrast, TKN reductions in the buried sand filters were relatively constant, except during the coldest periods of winter. Substantial TKN reductions occurred under acidic conditions. During warm weather sampling, both types of filters dramatically reduced levels of fecal coliform, enterococci, and F male-specific bacteriophage. During cold conditions, the buried sand filters produced greater reductions of fecal coliform and enterococci levels, while neither filter consistently reduced the levels of Clostridium perfringens or F phage. Increased reductions in fecal coliform, enterococci and F phage were associated with lower effluent pH for both sand filters. 51 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6840981
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Vol. 21:4; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
FILTERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
WASTE WATER
FILTRATION
AEROBIC DIGESTION
BACTERIOPHAGES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS
DENITRIFICATION
KJELDAHL METHOD
PHOSPHORUS
SAND
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE PROCESSING
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLOSTRIDIUM
DIGESTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TESTING
VARIATIONS
VIRUSES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
320603* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Public Utilities- (1980-)