US 2003/0070985 A1 · Apparatus for subsurface aerated treatment of wastewater

Abstract

The performance of a leach field of a septic tank type wastewater treatment system and other analogous devices is enhanced, maintained or rejuvenated by flowing air or other active gas through conduits of the system. Air is flowed serially through leaching chambers, perforated pipes in stone filled trenches, pits and the like, and the adjacent soil where wastewater treatment takes place. In alternate embodiments, conduits are pressurized or evacuated; and, auxiliary pipes are buried in vicinity of the conduits. An air mover creates a differential pressure sufficient to effect a desired physical or biochemical change in the soil adjacent the conduits, variously to to an extent sufficient to push water from saturated soil and to change the gas composition in the soil. Different valve devices and piping configurations are used to manage the desired flow of air and wastewater.

Claims32

Dependent claims

Apparatus for processing wastewater from a source, comprising:

a wastewater pipeline, for conveying wastewater from the source to a primary unit;
a primary unit, for receiving and primarily treating the wastewater, to thereby produce and discharge wastewater;
a leach field, located downstream of the primary unit, for receiving and secondarily treating wastewater discharged from the primary unit, comprised of
(a) at least one trench within the soil, the trench having a wall through which wastewater flows into an influence zone within soil adjacent the trench wall;
(b) a conduit running within the trench, for discharging wastewater at points along the length of the trench;
and
(c) an influence zone comprised of soil adjacent the trench, for receiving wastewater and enabling biochemical change in the composition of the wastewater;
a distribution pipeline, for carrying wastewater from the primary unit to the leach field;
and,
means for producing a gas pressure differential between the conduit and said influence zone, said means sufficient to create biochemically significant gas flow within the influence zone;
wherein, wastewater flows from the primary unit, through said conduit, and into the influence zone.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for subsurface aerated treatment of wastewater

Life of this patent

Apparatus for subsurface aerated treatment of wastewater

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32