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Related Experiment Videos

Maximizing total nitrogen removal from onsite-generated wastewater.

Steven I Safferman1, Marianna I Novellino, Bennette D Burks

  • 1Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA. Safferma@msu.edu

Journal of Environmental Health
|February 18, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Hydraulic loading strategies effectively maximize nitrogen removal in onsite wastewater treatment systems. Intermittent flow allows for enhanced denitrification, achieving low total nitrogen levels even with high daily hydraulic loads.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Wastewater Treatment Technologies
  • Microbial Biodegradation

Background:

  • Onsite wastewater treatment systems often face challenges with nitrogen removal.
  • The intermittent flow of domestic wastewater presents unique opportunities for treatment optimization.
  • Existing systems require strategies to maximize nutrient removal efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of hydraulic loading strategies for enhancing nitrogen removal.
  • To assess the impact of intermittent flow on onsite wastewater treatment performance.
  • To determine the denitrification capacity of established onsite treatment units.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted experiments at a full-scale onsite wastewater treatment system (500 gallons/day).

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  • Utilized an intermittent dosing schedule simulating typical domestic wastewater flow.
  • Monitored key wastewater parameters: BOD5, TSS, nitrate, total nitrogen, pH, and alkalinity over one year.

    • Main Results:

    • Achieved excellent removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and total suspended solids (TSS), consistently below 10 mg/L.
    • Demonstrated excellent total nitrogen removal, often below 10 mg/L, particularly during low instantaneous flow.
    • Observed significant nitrogen removal attributed to microbial biodegradation within the treatment unit.

    Conclusions:

    • Onsite wastewater treatment units possess inherent denitrification capacity.
    • Equalized-hydraulic-loading strategies, leveraging intermittent flow, can maximize nitrogen removal.
    • The findings support the practical application of optimized hydraulic loading for improved wastewater treatment.