Abstract
Approximately 20% of homes nationwide use an on-site treatment system as a form of household wastewater management. However, approximately 10% to 20% of on-site treatment systems malfunction each year, many of which have either failed or exceeded the soil’s long-term acceptance rate (LTAR), causing environmental and human health risks. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effects of soil condition (e.g., wet and dry) and product architecture type [i.e., chamber, gravel-less-pipe (GLP), polystyrene-aggregate, and pipe-and-aggregate] on in-product solution storage and biomat thickness in a profile-limited soil in northwest Arkansas under increased loading rates and to estimate the LTAR for each product. During Phase I of this study (March 13 to October 4, 2013), effluent loading rates were approximately doubled, while rates were approximately quadrupled during Phase II (October 8, 2013 to May 29, 2014), from the maximum allowable loading rate for each product. The pipe-and-tire-chip, 46-cm-wide trench pipe-and-gravel, and the 25-cm diameter GLP products had the greatest (p < 0.001), while the 31-cm-width and the 5.4-m-long chambers had the lowest (p < 0.001) in-product solution storage during wet-soil conditions of Phase I monitoring. The 25-cm diameter GLP product had the greatest (p < 0.001), while the 61-cm-width, 5.4-m-long chamber had the lowest (p < 0.001) in-product solution storage during Phase II. Results of this study indicate that some alternative products may be able to effectively handle effluent loading rates in excess of those currently allowed by the State of Arkansas. Further research will be required to confirm these interpretations.
Highlights
IntroductionIn 2007, approximately 26.1 million households, or 20% of all US homes, used on-site treatment systems (i.e., a traditional septic system that consists of a septic tank and distribution to an absorption field) for managing their wastewater [1]
In 2007, approximately 26.1 million households, or 20% of all US homes, used on-site treatment systems for managing their wastewater [1]
With no effluent being delivered to the products between October 3, 2012 and March 13, 2013, in-product solution storage and biomat thickness were greatly reduced over time
Summary
In 2007, approximately 26.1 million households, or 20% of all US homes, used on-site treatment systems (i.e., a traditional septic system that consists of a septic tank and distribution to an absorption field) for managing their wastewater [1]. Out of the 26.1 million homes using on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), 13.1 million were in rural areas, 12.3 million were in urban areas, and 774,000 were in cities [1]. On-site treatment system studies and methods for determining functioning procedures have been conducted across the world and have increased understanding of the complex behavior of OWTSs. many of the past studies do not apply to Arkansas’ specific soil and wetness conditions. Northwest Arkansas has been experiencing a population boom since the mid-1990s, resulting in increased stresses on the existing infrastructure (e.g., roads and water treatment plants) and environmental characteristics, such as natural resources (e.g., land, soil, and water), flora, and fauna species. A standard architecture for an on-site wastewater treatment system in Arkansas consists of a 10-cm diameter perforated pipe surrounded by gravel (i.e., pipe-and-aggregate). Several alternative architecture types, including gravel-less-pipe, chambers, and polystyrene-aggregate, have been developed and their installation have become more frequent without much documentation of performance comparisons
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
