Wastewater treatment system and method

A method for treatment of wastewater within a confined volume, comprising the steps of;

• settling out solids in a quiescent zone to form a liquor,
• pumping liquor from a mixing zone upwardly through an open draft tube so as to expel liquor in an aerating splash pattern,
• placing aerobic bacterial growth media in a submerged perforate walled reactor pod located about said draft tube,
• controlling the pumping action to form said splash pattern for returning a first given portion of the aerated liquor onto said media and a second substantial portion to the mixing zone beyond said pod,
• said perforate wall of the reactor pod permitting free exchange of mixed and unmixed liquor between the reactor pod and growth media and said confined volume.

A method for treatment of wastewater within a confined volume, comprising the steps of;

• directing wastewater into said confined volume,
• settling out the major portion of solids from the wastewater in a quiescent zone to form a liquor,
• pumping liquor from a mixing zone upwardly through an open draft tube by introduction of an air pressure stream within the draft tube so as to expel liquor in an aerating splash pattern,
• placing aerobic bacterial growth media in a submerged perforate walled reactor pod located about said draft tube,
• controlling the air pressure stream to create a pumping action sufficient to form said splash pattern so as to return a first given portion of the aerated liquor onto said media and a second substantial portion to the mixing zone beyond the reactor pod,
• said perforate wall of the reactor pod permitting free exchange of mixed and unmixed liquor between the reactor pod and growth media and said confined volume, and
• allowing treated effluent to exit said contained volume to maintain a constant level of liquor.

A method for treatment of wastewater containing biodegradable material within a septic tank having a confined volume, a wastewater source inlet and a drain field disposal outlet, comprising the steps of;

• directing wastewater from said source into said tank through said inlet,
• settling out the major portion of contained biodegradable solids from the wastewater in a first quiescent zone in the general area of said inlet to form a liquor in the confined volume of the septic tank,
• pumping liquor from a second adjacent mixing zone in the general area of said outlet upwardly through an open draft tube by introduction of an air pressure stream within the draft tube so as to expel liquor outwardly in an aerating splash pattern from the top end of the tube,
• surrounding the draft tube with aerobic bacterial growth media contained in a perforate walled reactor pod submerged in said second zone,
• controlling said air pressure stream to create a pumping action sufficient to form said splash pattern so as to return a first given portion of said aerated liquor onto said media within said pod and a second substantial portion to the general area of said second zone adjacent said pod,
• said perforate wall of said reactor pod permitting free exchange of mixed and unmixed liquor between the reactor pod and growth media and the general volume of the tank, and
• allowing free flow of oxygen rich aerobic effluent to exit said tank through said disposal outlet to maintain a constant level of treated liquor in said tank.

Apparatus for oxygen enrichment of the wastewater in a septic tank to provide aerobic microbial digestion of biological material, said tank including a wastewater inlet and a disposal outlet defining the liquid level of the wastewater liquor in the tank, said apparatus comprising;

• a perforated wall reactor pod submerged in said liquor,
• said pod being open at the top and bottom ends and provided with aerobic bacterial growth media,
• an open ended draft tube supported in the reactor pod, and
• an air pressure conduit providing air under pressure to the lower end of said draft tube creating a pumping force to expel aerated liquor from the top of the tube in a splash pattern,
• said pumping force being sufficient to form said splash pattern so as to return a first given portion of aerated liquor onto the media within the pod and a second substantial portion to the general area surrounding the pod for recirculation by said draft tube,
• said perforated wall permitting free interchange of mixed and unmixed liquor between the pod and media and the area surrounding the pod.

A system for treating a body of wastewater, comprising;

• a reactor pod submersed in said wastewater, said reactor pod enclosing aerobic bacteria growth media,
• a draft tube in said reactor pod, and
• means for pumping wastewater through said draft tube to form an aerating splash pattern,
• said pumping means being sufficient to form said splash pattern for returning a first portion to the media and a second portion to the wastewater surrounding the reactor pod.

Apparatus for treating a body of wastewater comprising;

• a reactor pod submersed in said body of wastewater,
• bacteria growth media enclosed in said reactor pod,
• a draft tube in said reactor pod, and
• means for pumping wastewater through said draft tube to form an aerating splash pattern for returning a first portion to the media and a second portion to the wastewater surrounding the reactor pod.