Water treatment system and method including a draft tube system and eductor

A method of backwashing a filter apparatus, the method comprising:

• directing a flow of wastewater into a vessel containing a filter media and a draft tube positioned within the vessel;
• collecting a gas from the vessel and directing it to a knockout pot;
• initiating a backwash process;
• directing a flow of fluid to an eductor, the eductor coupled to the knockout pot;
• drawing a portion of the gas into the eductor in response to the flow of fluid;
• mixing the gas and the flow of fluid within the eductor to produce a backwash mixture;
• discharging the backwash mixture into a lowermost end of the draft tube;
• and
• inducing a roll of the filter media in response to the flow of the backwash mixture into the draft tube.

A filter apparatus arranged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel including a walnut shell filter media disposed therein;
• a knockout pot coupled to the vessel and arranged to collect a combustible gas discharged from the vessel, the knockout pot including a flare arranged to combust the combustible gas;
• a draft tube having a lowermost end and positioned in the vessel, the draft tube filled with the walnut shell filter media;
• an eductor including a fluid inlet, a fluid suction port, and a fluid outlet directed into the lowermost end of the draft tube;
• a first fluid supply coupled to the fluid inlet to deliver a flow of a first fluid to the eductor;
• and
• a conduit arranged to connect the knockout pot to the fluid suction port, the eductor operable to draw a portion of the gas into the eductor in response to the flow of the first fluid, the first fluid and the gas forming a backwash mixture that is discharged into the draft tube via the fluid outlet to induce a roll of the walnut shell filter media and to reduce the quantity of combustible gas directed to the flare during a backwash process.