On Site Systems: Aerobic Treatment Maintenance Manual …

1 On site Systems: Aerobic Treatment Maintenance Manual For Homeowners What is an Aerobic Treatment Contracts system ? National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). Aerobic Treatment systems are on- site 40 requires that all new installations of sewage Treatment systems that use Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU's) are forced air to treat wastewater and surface covered by a two year manufactures'. application or subsurface drip irrigation warranty which covers the replacement to disperse the treated wastewater. of defective mechanical components. In Aerobic Treatment systems consist of: a addition to this warranty, Oklahoma trash tank, an aeration chamber, a regulations specifically outline the type disinfection chamber, pump tank and of Maintenance that the system installer surface or drip dispersal fields.

2 These must perform during the initial two components are used to treat, disinfect, years. The cost of the initial two year and disperse the treated wastewater. system Maintenance shall be included in the installation price of the ATU. At the end of the initial two year Maintenance period, the homeowner shall be provided the option to enter a service contract with a Maintenance provider. If the homeowner decides not to enter into a service contract with a Maintenance provider, then the homeowner is responsible to ensure that the required routine Maintenance is performed. Aerobic Treatment plants need routine Maintenance to insure that the Why should I be concerned about the wastewater is being properly treated Maintenance of my Aerobic prior to final dispersal.

3 For additional Treatment system ? information please refer to the DEQ fact sheets Aerobic Treatment Systems.. Maintenance of an Aerobic Treatment system is the most important factor REGULATORY Maintenance . insuring proper system operation. Poorly maintained systems will not Chapter 641: Individual and Small produce properly treated wastewater. Public On- site Sewage Treatment This Manual outlines the type of routine Systems require the following minimum Maintenance that must be performed on Maintenance tests to be performed on your system . Although some ATU for the life of the system . Maintenance may be done by the owner/operator most should be Repairing and adjusting parts performed by a professional. Testing and recording Measuring the depth of sludge Measuring and recording the volume of biomass Conducting a clarity test Notifying the owner Repairing and adjusting parts Testing and recording The manufacturer's warranty typically ATU's that disperse treated wastewater covers the replacement of any to the surface of the ground must have a malfunctioning mechanical equipment means of disinfecting the wastewater for two years after initial installation.

4 Prior to dispersal. Chlorine is the most The service provider shall check all common method of disinfecting treated ATU components every six months or wastewater from ATU's. Chlorine must when notified by the owner of a system be added to the treated wastewater malfunction and make the proper repairs between the ATU and the pump tank. or adjustments to the ATU. However, Either an erosion tablet feeder meeting the service provider shall not be NSF 46 or a liquid chlorine injection responsible for repairing Aerobic system is used to disinfect the treated Treatment systems when the wastewater. To insure that the treated owner/operator is the sole cause of the wastewater has sufficient chlorine damage to the system or the system 's residuals, the service provider will malfunction ( , sprinkler heads that measure and record the level of chlorine properly retract into the ground but are residual in the treated wastewater at least nevertheless damaged by careless once every six months.)

5 Chlorine tablets actions of the homeowner, excessive or liquid chlorine may need to be added water usage, introduction of harmful to the system at a greater frequency than chemicals and other items into septic the service providers schedule visits. system , etc.). Each owner shall be instructed on the proper handling of chlorine and the proper method of adding chlorine to the system . Damaged sprinkler head Chlorine residual kit Measuring the depth of sludge Measuring and recording the volume of biomass The purpose of the trash tank is to remove solids from the wastewater prior The aeration chamber of an ATU must to the wastewater entering the aeration have a certain amount of biomass chamber. If the trash tank is not pumped (organic matter) in order to function when needed, excess sludge will be properly.

6 The service provider will transferred to the aeration chamber, determine the amount of biomass in the which will overload the system and aeration chamber by performing a cause the system to malfunction. The settleability test. To perform this test, the service provider will measure the depth Maintenance provider will pull a known of the sludge in the trash tank and if the quantity of mixed liquor (biomass and depth of sludge is greater than 40% of water) from the middle of the aeration the total liquid depth of the trash tank, chamber, where actual aeration (boiling the tank must be pumped. The sludge liquid) is taking place. Place the mixed judge, as depicted below, is a convenient liquor into a clear jar (minimum one method for measuring the depth of the quart) and allow that to settle for thirty sludge.

7 The frequency of pumping the minutes. If the volume of settled trash tank is based on the size of the biomass is more than 40% of the volume trash tank, the type of waste going into sampled, then the aeration chamber the trash tank and frequency of use. It is should be pumped empty. The frequency the owner's responsibility to have the of pumping the aeration chamber is trash tank pumped by a licensed pumper based on the strength of the wastewater per the instructions of the service entering the aeration chamber and if the provider. The sludge depth in the trash trash tank has been properly maintained. tank should be measured and recorded at It is the owner's responsibility to have least once every six months. the aeration chamber pumped by a licensed pumper per the instructions of the service provider.

8 The volume of the biomass in the Aerobic Treatment unit should be measured and recorded at least once every six months. Sludge judge Settleability test Conducting a clarity test Notifying the owner of the system The clarity test, performed in the pump The Maintenance provider of the unit compartment of the ATU, is used to shall notify the owner of the system in determine if the system is properly writing of: treating the wastewater prior to final dispersal. To perform the clarity test the (A) the type and date of any repairs, service provider places an eight-inch adjustments or replacements disk with alternating black and white performed on the system ;. colored quadrants on the bottom of the pump tank. If the disk is visible when (B) the results of the free chlorine the pump compartment is one-third (1/3) residual test and, when full, then the unit passes the clarity test.

9 Applicable, the need to add Failing the clarity test may be due to chlorine and how to do it;. many factors, including but not limited (C) the depth of the accumulation of to, malfunction of mechanical sludge in the trash tank and the components, excessive sludge in the need to have it pumped so that trash tank, excessive sludge in the the depth of the sludge is never aeration compartment, improper use of more than forty percent (40%) of household chemicals, excessive amount the overall depth;. of water entering the unit causing the unit to flush solids into the pump (D) the volume of the sludge in the compartment or ineffective disinfection Aerobic Treatment unit and the of the wastewater. If the clarity test fails, need to have it pumped so that the pump tank should be emptied of the volume of the sludge in the contents by a licensed pumper.

10 A clarity Aerobic Treatment unit is never test should be conducted every six more than forty percent (40%);. months. and (E) the results of the clarity test and, if it fails the test, what the Maintenance provider did or the homeowner has to do to correct it. Secchi disk Records Don'ts when you own an Aerobic The Maintenance provider is required to Treatment system maintain the Maintenance records of each system for a period of three years Do not put grease, fats and following the date of service. oils into the system . Additionally, the owner should receive a Maintenance report from the service Do not run pesticides, provider every six months. This report herbicides, paints, household will keep the system owner informed of chemicals, automotive fluids or the system 's operational status, repairs other toxins down the drain.