Rural, Onsite & Small Community Wastewater & Waste Management Land Application of Wastewater

History Practice was 1st recorded in 1531 in Germany Pullman, Illinois in 1881 Irrigation of raw sewage –Merits –Limitations

Reuse of Reclaimed Wastewater Through Irrigation Principles –Protect environment & human health –Use nutrients –Use water

Selecting a site for reuse Depth to seasonal high groundwater Depth to bedrock Floodplains Slope Soil permeability Land use

Unrestricted (Public) access Restricted access Agricultural

Level of wastewater treatment Land useCBOD 5 Suspend. solids Ammon.Fecal coliforms Public Restrict Agric.

Wastewater Treatment Treatment levels StorageDisinfection Lagoon Bioreactor Mechanical treatment

How much land? Goal - no runoff & no puddles Balance inflow and outflow Inflow –Treated wastewater –Precipitation Outflow –Evaporation –Infiltration

How much Land? Treated WW + Precip = Evap + Infiltration Precip. - Append B (5 yr. return period) Evap. - Appendix A Infiltration - calculated from soil permeability in soil survey

Wastewater Application Varies from month to month Managed by operator –When weather is favorable Low wind - if spray irrigation Adjust for precipitation Adjust for freezing Stop irrigating when puddles form –Standing water risks odor or runoff

Irrigation System Management Winter - 3 options –Storage through winter –Winter application Protect irrigation system from freezing Get permit for winter discharge

Irrigation System Management Operational storage - 4 days Optional winter storage - 4 months

Irrigation System Management Avoid conflicts –Irrigate in zones –Irrigate multiple crops

WW Irrigation for 1 Home 1 foot soil depth to limiting condition Public access site –CBOD 5 less than 25mg/l –Fecal coliforms less than 23 org/100 ml

WW Irrigation for 1 home Application rate - no puddles Less than 0.2 inches/day Will wet plants and start to drip off

WW Irrigation for 1 home How much wastewater –120 gallons/bedroom Area needed per bedroom –967 ft 2 /bedroom –Circle 17.5 foot radius

WW Irrigation for 1 home 3 bedroom home –2901 ft 2 –Circle 30 foot radius –Rectangle 30 feet x 100 feet