Transcript Certified Maintenance Provider Program

Introduction to Onsite
Wastewater Treatment for
Single Family Residences
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Introduction
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Handouts
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Manual
Presentations
Evaluation
Introduction to Aerobic
Treatment Units
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The introduction to aerobic treatment units
program provides:
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Body of knowledge for homeowners to be informed
about aerobic treatment of wastewater and the
activities needed to maintain an onsite wastewater
treatment system.
Goals of the training are:
• Provide basic outline of operation and
maintenance activities for an ATU
• Make homeowner better consumers in the onsite
wastewater treatment industry, and
• Help homeowners develop a professional
relationship with their service provider.
Introduction to Aerobic
Treatment Units
 The
Homeowner Maintenance training
program will not cover:
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Detailed instruction on step by step
maintenance of an entire onsite wastewater
treatment system
Repairs and Troubleshooting
To become completely trained in proper
operation and maintenance (O&M), an
individual must gain additional information on
their particular product.
Introduction to Aerobic
Treatment Units
If an individual attempts to carry out
maintenance activities that are beyond the
scope of their training the results could
include:
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Voided warranties
Destruction of components
Generating more problems with the system
Increased cost of repair
Personal injury or even death.
Homeowner Maintenance
Exemption 285.7(d)(4)
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At the end of the initial two-year service policy
period, the owner of an OSSF for a single family
residence shall either maintain the system
personally or obtain a new maintenance
contract.
 Limitation: An owner may not maintain an OSSF
under the provisions of this section for
commercial, speculative residential, or
multifamily property.
 You are managing a wastewater treatment plant:
do you have effluent or sewage in your yard?
Permitting Wastewater
Treatment Systems in Texas
 Texas
Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ), Chapter 285, 5000 gallons
per day or less
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Local Authorized Agent – Usually local Health
Department
TCEQ Regional Office
 TCEQ,
Chapter 217, Greater than 5000
gallons per day.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment System
Malfunctioning Onsite System
Malfunction
OSSF – An on-site
sewage facility that is causing a nuisance
or is not operating in compliance with the
285 OSSF regulations.
 Malfunctioning
Nuisance
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sewage, human excreta, or other organic
waste discharged or exposed in a manner that
makes it a potential instrument or medium in
the transmission of disease to or between
persons
an overflow from a septic tank or similar
device, including surface discharge from or
groundwater contamination by a component of
an on-site sewage facility; or
a blatant discharge from an OSSF.
What is an Onsite Wastewater
Treatment System?
Wastewater Source
2. Collection and Storage
3. Pretreatment components
4. Final Treatment and Dispersal components
1.
Wastewater source
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User
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Domestic
Commercial
Industrial
Collection
 Piping
from
facility with
cleanout
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Blackwater
Graywater
Collection Options
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Holding tanks
 Composting toilets
 Incinerating toilets
Pretreatment
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Septic tanks
Aerobic treatment
units
Media filters
Constructed wetlands
Membrane
bioreactors
Disinfection
Final Treatment and Dispersal
Components
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Trench and bed
distribution
Evapotranspiration
beds
Low pressure
distribution trench
Drip field
Spray field
How do we make the
wastewater system work?
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Evaluate the wastewater
source
 Evaluate site
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Wastewater treatment
Wastewater acceptance
Choose a final treatment
and dispersal component
 Choose the appropriate
pretreatment system
 Operation and
Maintenance
Roles with Septic System
Management
 Site evaluation
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Design
Installation
Startup
Inspection
Operation
Maintenance
Monitoring
Pumping
Site Evaluation
 Comprehensive
evaluation of
soil and site
conditions for a
given land use.
Design
 The
process of selecting, sizing,
locating, specifying and configuring
treatment train components that
match site characteristics and facility
use as well as creating the associated
written documentation.
 A design is also the written
documentation of size, location,
specification and configuration.
Installation
 The
assembly
and placement of
components of a
system, including
final grading and
establishment of
an appropriate
cover
Startup
 The
process of
setting operational
controls, verifying
component function
and documenting
initial operating
conditions of a
system
Inspection
The
evaluation
of and reporting
on the status of
a wastewater
treatment
system
Operation
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The action of
assessing whether
each component of
the system is
functioning properly
 Each component
must be operational if
the system as a
whole is to achieve
the desired
performance
Maintenance
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The action of
conducting required or
routine planned
performance checks,
examinations, upkeep,
cleaning, or
mechanical
adjustments to an
onsite system.
 Includes Replacement
of pumps, filters,
aerator lines, valves or
electrical components.
Monitoring
 The
action of
verifying
performance
for a regulatory
authority or a
manufacturer
Pumping
 The
action of
removing
septage from a
wastewater
treatment
system
component
Repair
 Is
the action of fixing or replacing
substandard or damaged components.
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Required repairs
Recommended repairs
Upgrades
Why Perform Operation and
Maintenance?
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Keep systems
functioning properly
Maintain effluent
quality
Early detection of
problems
Public Health
Environmental
Protection
System Reliability
Customer Satisfaction
System Benefits
 Keep
system functioning properly
 Maintain effluent quality
 Early detection of problems
Public Health
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Wastewater can contain disease causing
Pathogens
Ascaris lumbricoides
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Bacteria
Viruses
Parasites
Protozoa
(roundworm)
Hepatitis A Virus
Environmental Protection
Treat contaminants before they reach Surface or
Groundwater
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Nutrients
• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen
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Organic Loading
Pathogens
• Fecal Coliforms
EPA Water Quality Programs
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Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Systems
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Non-point source of
pollution
Total Maximum Daily
Loads
 Coastal Zone
Management
Program
System Reliability
Performance of all system components must be
functional to achieve full treatment
 Components require
maintenance
 Service/maintenance
should extend life of
components
Customer Satisfaction
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Satisfied if system works
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Enjoys the use of their property
Dissatisfied if system does
not work
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Complaints
• Permitting Authority
• State Authority
• Legal
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Tells Everyone that will listen
Protection of property value
Water Quality Monitoring /
Operation and Maintenance
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Monitoring system
performance
 All systems require
operation and
maintenance
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Frequency
Types of activities
Types of inputs
System Cost
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Traditional Costs
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Installation
Parts replacement
Disinfectant
Electrical
Pumping of sludge
Maintenance contract
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Additional Costs
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Involvement – time to
add disinfectant
Access/use of property
Water use/waste –
adjusting lifestyle to
match system capability
Property values –
systems must be
maintained
Summary
 Decentralized
management will play a
vital role in our future infrastructure
needs.
 Technologies are available for meeting
our needs.
 Environmental regulations will continue
to be more stringent.
 Environmental health is ultimate form of
public health protection.
Summary
A
site evaluation is critical to
determining the potential for a site to
treat wastewater.
 Advanced pretreatment and final
treatment and dispersal technologies
are available for most situations.
 Select the most appropriate technology
and scale of system for your site.
 Operation and maintenance is critical
for long-term function