InspectAPedia TM
Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice Home
Conditioning
Inspection
Ventilate
Inspect/Test
Water
Septic
Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building
InspectAPedia TM Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| InspectAPedia Home |
| | Air Conditioning |
| | Electrical | | | Environment | | | Exteriors | | | Heating | | | Home Inspection |
| | Insulate Ventilate |
| | Interiors | | | Mold Inspect/Test |
| | Plumbing Water Septic |
| | Roofing | | | Structure | | | Contact Us |
| Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME HOME BUYERSGUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNS AEROBIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS DRYWELLS EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC MEDIA FILTERS How Septic Media Filters Work Single Pass vs. Recirculating Filters Dosing Control for Septic Media Systems Types of Media Filter Material Sand Septic Filters Peat Septic Filters Textile Septic Media Filters Foam Cube Septic Media Filters Septic Filter Capacity & Maintenance Septic Media Filter Source List SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS MOUND SYSTEMS RAISED BED SYSTEMS SAND BED SYSTEMS SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS TOILET ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS SEPTIC INSPECTIONS DEFINITIONS FAILURE LAWSUIT FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC AUTHORITIES BOOKS REFS CODES More Information InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Plumbing Water Septic Accuracy & Bias Pledge Contact Us |
More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and RepairsThis document discusses the how septic media filter systems work. When using a septic media filter system, effluent treatment is by both actual filtration and ultimately by a biochemical process as the filter "matures" and includes its own biomass. Both natural media filter septic systems (such as sand, gravel, or peat) and synthetic media filter septic systems (foam cubes, glass, slag) are used, and both single-pass and effluent recycling systems may be employed. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical review by industry experts has been performed and is ongoing - reviewers welcomed and are listed at "References." © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. How do Septic System Media Filters for Septic Effluent Treatment Work?Media filters are not a new idea, and have been in use in various forms for more than 100 years. An early form of media filtration used simple sand to filter drinking water, though the process used pressure and worked a bit differently from media filters used to treat septic effluent. For septic effluent treatment purposes, the filter strains the effluent, trapping small solids and debris.The principal septic effluent treatment performed by the filter is biochemical, as a biomass or film of microbes attaches to the filter surface. (I discuss biomats in the context of a conventional drainfield at Biomat Formation.) In contrast with the relatively thick biomass of a drainfield (.5cm to 10cm), a thin biomass film forms on the entire surface area of the media filter. So it's apparent that the term "media filter septic system" fails to make clear by its name that it's not just "filtering" septic effluent. Very important is the septic effluent and suspended solids treatment that takes place by microbes which form as a biomat on the surface of the filter media. Effluent passing through the media filter comes into contact with the biomass where the biomat's microorganisms further process and sanitize the liquid effluent by removing pathogens, nitrogen, and viruses. (Treatment that occurs in a septic tank does not remove any appreciable portion of nitrogen from the effluent.) The media filter, because of its porous nature, also supplies air (oxygen) to this process to assist the microbes in digestion of pathogens and organics in the wastewater effluent. The actual treatment process (slightly simplified) is a complex of filtering, adsorption, and oxidation by microbes in the biomat. For the media filtration system to work, effluent has to be provided from the settlement tank to the media filter at a slow rate, perhaps 5 gallons per day per square foot of media surface. Septic effluent may be passed through the media filter only once - a single pass septic media filter system - or it may be recirculated through the media filter - a recirculating septic media filter system. Septic media filters (discussed here) are an effluent treatment method. Other types of septic filters, such as greywater filters, washing machine filters, and filters at the effluent outlet of a conventional septic tank are all designed to protect the septic effluent absorption field or leach field. These other septic filters are discussed at Septic & Graywater Filters. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. | |
|
SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME HOME BUYERSGUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNS AEROBIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS DRYWELLS EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC MEDIA FILTERS How Septic Media Filters Work Single Pass vs. Recirculating Filters Dosing Control for Septic Media Systems Types of Media Filter Material Sand Septic Filters Peat Septic Filters Textile Septic Media Filters Foam Cube Septic Media Filters Septic Filter Capacity & Maintenance Septic Media Filter Source List SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS MOUND SYSTEMS RAISED BED SYSTEMS SAND BED SYSTEMS SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS TOILET ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS SEPTIC INSPECTIONS DEFINITIONS FAILURE LAWSUIT FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC AUTHORITIES BOOKS REFS CODES More Information InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Contact Us |
References for this Septic Media Filters DiscussionMy text draws heavily on Dr. Jantrania &Gross's work and on New York State Water Treatment Standards. New York State Wastewater Treatment Standards - Individual Household Systems, Appendix 75-A (1990), Public Health Law 201(1)(1). New York State Alternative Septic System Design Regulations, Wastewater Treatment Standards - Individual Household Systems, Appendix 75-A, of Public Health Law 201(1)(1) 1990. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., Consulting Engineer, Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389
The Septic System Owners's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000. IS N 0-936070-20-X Onsite wastewater treatment systems, Bennette D. Burks & Mary Margaret Minnis. Textbook and reference manual on all aspects of onsite treatment. This is one of the best books we've reviewed on the subject, with an excellent balance of clear simple explanation and solid engineering. Topics: Soil & Site Selection, Hydraulics, System Selection & Design, Wastewater Biology, History & Mythology of Onsite Wastewater Treatment. $49.95, Hogarth House, Ltd, 800-993-2665 x327 to order *800 -993-2665 x327 (Univ. Wisc. Bookstore) Boxerwood Gardens is an arboretum and nature center in Lexington VA, and the generous contributor of the illustration of a gravel-bed natural septic media filter system discussed above. More expert information on this topic | |
|
SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME HOME BUYERSGUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK INTRODUCTION SAFETY WARNINGS PERC TESTS SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK DEPTH SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS FIELD SIZE FIELD SHAPE SEPTIC CLEARANCES SEPTIC TANK PUMPING FREQUENCY SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE INSPECTING SEPTIC TANKS MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE CLEANING SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC TREATMENTS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNS AEROBIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS DRYWELLS EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC MEDIA FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS MOUND SYSTEMS RAISED BED SYSTEMS SAND BED SYSTEMS SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS TOILET ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS SEPTIC INSPECTIONS FAILURE CAUSES INSPECTING TANKS DRAINFIELD FAILURES INSPECTING D-BOX SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC DYE TESTS SEPTIC FAILURE SPOTS SEPTIC INSPECTION WORK SHEETS DEFINITIONS FAILURE LAWSUIT FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC AUTHORITIES BOOKS REFS CODES More Information InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Air Conditioning InspectAPedia Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Roofing Plumbing Water Septic Structure Accuracy & Bias Pledge Contact Us |
More Information on Septic System Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair
|
06/27/07 - 1/1/1995 www.inspect-ny.com/septic/altmedia1.htm © Copyright 2008-1995 Daniel Friedman - all rights reserved
InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services
Contact Daniel Friedman