1. Introduction to Onsite Wastewater Treatment for Single Family Residences Texas AgriLife Extension Service

2. Introduction  Handouts Manual Manual Presentations Presentations  Evaluation

3. Introduction to Aerobic Treatment Units  The introduction to aerobic treatment units program provides: Body of knowledge for homeowners to be informed about aerobic treatment of wastewater and the activities needed to maintain an onsite wastewater treatment system. Body of knowledge for homeowners to be informed about aerobic treatment of wastewater and the activities needed to maintain an onsite wastewater treatment system. Goals of the training are: Goals of the training are: Provide basic outline of operation and maintenance activities for an ATUProvide basic outline of operation and maintenance activities for an ATU Make homeowner better consumers in the onsite wastewater treatment industry, andMake homeowner better consumers in the onsite wastewater treatment industry, and Help homeowners develop a professional relationship with their service provider.Help homeowners develop a professional relationship with their service provider.

4. Introduction to Aerobic Treatment Units  The Homeowner Maintenance training program will not cover: Detailed instruction on step by step maintenance of an entire onsite wastewater treatment system Detailed instruction on step by step maintenance of an entire onsite wastewater treatment system Repairs and Troubleshooting Repairs and Troubleshooting To become completely trained in proper operation and maintenance (O&M), an individual must gain additional information on their particular product.

5. Introduction to Aerobic Treatment Units If an individual attempts to carry out maintenance activities that are beyond the scope of their training the results could include: Voided warranties Voided warranties Destruction of components Destruction of components Generating more problems with the system Generating more problems with the system Increased cost of repair Increased cost of repair Personal injury or even death. Personal injury or even death.

6. Homeowner Maintenance Exemption 285.7(d)(4)  At the end of the initial two-year service policy period, the owner of an OSSF for a single family residence shall either maintain the system personally or obtain a new maintenance contract.  Limitation: An owner may not maintain an OSSF under the provisions of this section for commercial, speculative residential, or multifamily property.  You are managing a wastewater treatment plant: do you have effluent or sewage in your yard?

7. Permitting Wastewater Treatment Systems in Texas  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Chapter 285, 5000 gallons per day or less Local Authorized Agent – Usually local Health Department Local Authorized Agent – Usually local Health Department TCEQ Regional Office TCEQ Regional Office  TCEQ, Chapter 217, Greater than 5000 gallons per day.

8. Onsite Wastewater Treatment System

9. Malfunctioning Onsite System

10. Malfunction  Malfunctioning OSSF – An on-site sewage facility that is causing a nuisance or is not operating in compliance with the 285 OSSF regulations.

11. Nuisance  sewage, human excreta, or other organic waste discharged or exposed in a manner that makes it a potential instrument or medium in the transmission of disease to or between persons  an overflow from a septic tank or similar device, including surface discharge from or groundwater contamination by a component of an on-site sewage facility; or  a blatant discharge from an OSSF.

12. What is an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System? 1. Wastewater Source 2. Collection and Storage 3. Pretreatment components 4. Final Treatment and Dispersal components

13. Wastewater source  User Domestic Domestic Commercial Commercial Industrial Industrial

14. Collection  Piping from facility with cleanout Blackwater Blackwater Graywater Graywater

15. Collection Options  Holding tanks  Composting toilets  Incinerating toilets

16. Pretreatment  Septic tanks  Aerobic treatment units  Media filters  Constructed wetlands  Membrane bioreactors  Disinfection

17. Final Treatment and Dispersal Components Trench and bed distribution Evapotranspiration beds Low pressure distribution trench Drip field Spray field

18. How do we make the wastewater system work?  Evaluate the wastewater source  Evaluate site Wastewater treatment Wastewater treatment Wastewater acceptance Wastewater acceptance  Choose a final treatment and dispersal component  Choose the appropriate pretreatment system  Operation and Maintenance

19. Roles with Septic System Management  Site evaluation  Design  Installation  Startup  Inspection  Operation  Maintenance  Monitoring  Pumping

20. Site Evaluation  Comprehensive evaluation of soil and site conditions for a given land use.

21. Design  The process of selecting, sizing, locating, specifying and configuring treatment train components that match site characteristics and facility use as well as creating the associated written documentation.  A design is also the written documentation of size, location, specification and configuration.

22. Installation  The assembly and placement of components of a system, including final grading and establishment of an appropriate cover

23. Startup  The process of setting operational controls, verifying component function and documenting initial operating conditions of a system

24. Inspection  The evaluation of and reporting on the status of a wastewater treatment system

25. Operation  The action of assessing whether each component of the system is functioning properly  Each component must be operational if the system as a whole is to achieve the desired performance

26. Maintenance  The action of conducting required or routine planned performance checks, examinations, upkeep, cleaning, or mechanical adjustments to an onsite system.  Includes Replacement of pumps, filters, aerator lines, valves or electrical components.

27. Monitoring  The action of verifying performance for a regulatory authority or a manufacturer

28. Pumping  The action of removing septage from a wastewater treatment system component

29. Repair  Is the action of fixing or replacing substandard or damaged components. Required repairs Required repairs Recommended repairs Recommended repairs Upgrades Upgrades

30. Why Perform Operation and Maintenance?  Keep systems functioning properly  Maintain effluent quality  Early detection of problems  Public Health  Environmental Protection  System Reliability  Customer Satisfaction

31. System Benefits  Keep system functioning properly  Maintain effluent quality  Early detection of problems

32. Public Health  Wastewater can contain disease causing Pathogens Bacteria Bacteria Viruses Viruses Parasites Parasites Protozoa Protozoa Hepatitis A Virus Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm )

33. Environmental Protection Treat contaminants before they reach Surface or Groundwater Nutrients Nutrients PhosphorusPhosphorus NitrogenNitrogen Organic Loading Organic Loading Pathogens Pathogens Fecal ColiformsFecal Coliforms

34. EPA Water Quality Programs  Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Non-point source of pollution Non-point source of pollution  Total Maximum Daily Loads  Coastal Zone Management Program

35. System Reliability Performance of all system components must be functional to achieve full treatment  Components require maintenance maintenance  Service/maintenance should extend life of should extend life of components components

36. Customer Satisfaction  Satisfied if system works Enjoys the use of their property Enjoys the use of their property  Dissatisfied if system does not work Complaints Complaints Permitting AuthorityPermitting Authority State AuthorityState Authority LegalLegal Tells Everyone that will listen Tells Everyone that will listen  Protection of property value

37. Water Quality Monitoring / Operation and Maintenance  Monitoring system performance  All systems require operation and maintenance Frequency Frequency Types of activities Types of activities Types of inputs Types of inputs

38. System Cost  Traditional Costs Installation Installation Parts replacement Parts replacement Disinfectant Disinfectant Electrical Electrical Pumping of sludge Pumping of sludge Maintenance contract Maintenance contract  Additional Costs Involvement – time to add disinfectant Access/use of property Water use/waste – adjusting lifestyle to match system capability Property values – systems must be maintained

39. Summary  Decentralized management will play a vital role in our future infrastructure needs.  Technologies are available for meeting our needs.  Environmental regulations will continue to be more stringent.  Environmental health is ultimate form of public health protection.

40. Summary  A site evaluation is critical to determining the potential for a site to treat wastewater.  Advanced pretreatment and final treatment and dispersal technologies are available for most situations.  Select the most appropriate technology and scale of system for your site.  Operation and maintenance is critical for long-term function