WHY SATELLITE TREATMENT WITHIN COLLECTION SYSTEMS MAKES SENSE

Abstract

The conventional approach to the rehabilitation and improvement of collection system service levels has been to enhance system capacity and transfer increased flows to central wastewater treatment facilities, which in turn often results in the need for upgrading the treatment works to handle increased flows. The paper highlights why the implementation of satellite treatment systems within the collection systems (away from end of pipe) provides significant benefits from both a process and public health standpoint compared with the conventional approach. Aspects of wastewater characterization, in particular settling velocity distributions, and its relevance on the performance of physical unit processes such as sedimentation and filtration are described and used to explain why satellite treatment makes sense. The satellite CSO treatment facilities at Columbus, Georgia which have undergone more than 5 years of peer reviewed intensive monitoring are described and used as a case example to highlight the benefits and significant cost savings that accrue from implementing satellite treatment systems within collection systems.