Aerobic Remediation of Failed Leach Fields

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1 Aerobic Remediation of Failed Leach Fields -Glen Ayers, R.S. CPHS Governance Board Meeting February 22, 2018

2 DEP-Approved, Remediation of Failed Systems in Franklin County, MA Brief review of the technology. Why bother? When does it makes sense? Who can do it? Where has it been done? Field Cases. Role of Board of Health & System Inspectors/Installers.

3 Technology Overview Aerobic vs. Septic (Anaerobic) Essentially, turns the septic tank into an aquarium. Changes the ecology of the septic tank & SAS: Digesting (oxidizing) vs. Accumulating; Aerobic bacteria in effluent with DO; Reduces effluent BOD and Biomat in SAS; Non-corrosive, volatilization potential (no H2S). Uses electric power to run the air pump- Permanent installation, even after recovery. Don t unplug the fish tank!

4 Technology Overview Pump septic tank; Run air line to tank (buried, in conduit); Install SAS Inspection Port; Air pump typically located next to building; Needs electrical outlet; Fairly quiet, runs continuously; Provide easy access to system components; Risers on d-box and septic tank; Install an alarm on air line.

5 Why Bother? Prematurely failed systems; Locations with difficult site access; Much less expensive than typical repair; Manufacturer s guarantee; Relative ease of installation, compared to new system. Better control on regular maintenance;

6 Why Bother? Prematurely failed systems; Locations with difficult site access; Much less expensive than typical repair; Manufacturer s guarantee; Relative ease of installation, compared to new system. Better control on regular maintenance;

7 Manufacturer s Guarantee: from Aero-Stream 2/2/16 DEP Approval Letter- Condition V.8. - The Company shall provide to each System owner a written warranty transferable to a new owner that includes the following: A. Refund of the cost of equipment and installation should the System continue in failure as described in 310 CMR (1)(a)(1) and (2) after 120 days of operation that is conducted in accordance with the Company's specifications and oversight; or B. Refund of the cost of equipment and installation should the System fail as described in Section IV (5) within two years of installation provided that the System owner has entered into and maintained an operation and maintenance contract with the Company and has operated the System in accordance with the Company's specifications.

8 When Does it Make Sense? Approved for Remedial Use; And best- When a house sale is not immanent; When the owner is informed and aware; When the system meets the criteria; When the Board of Health is educated; When the process can be given the time necessary to recover; More difficult when the system failure is catastrophic.

9 Who Can Install? Must be Trained by Vendor/Manufacturer SludgeHammer SludgeHammer Alternative Treatment System by SludgeHammer Group Ltd. White Knight White Knight Inoculator/Generator Alternative Treatment System by Knight Treatment Systems Aero-Stream Aerobic Recovery System(TM) Septic Restoration Process by On-Site Treatment Systems(TM) (2016 TT-5 Conference) AquaWorx Remediator (approval expired)

10 Site Considerations- Under 310 CMR 15 Remedial Approval: SAS must be 2-feet (or 3) above the ESHWT; SAS must be not less than 50% of the size required by the current code (based on the number of bedrooms); Septic tank must be functioning properly (as in water-tight); Less than 2000 GPD; Not for failed leaching pits or cesspools; Preempted by nearby sewer availability.

11 Other Considerations- Site access; Access to electrical power; Requires signed O&M Contract; Quarterly monitoring; Installation of Inspection Port in SAS; Requires recording of deed notice before COC can be issued; Seasonal use is allowed (start-up odors).

12 Field Case Studies- 10 Systems 1. Leverett Village Coop (SludgeHammer) 2. Chubby s Sauce, Bernardston (AquaWorx) 3. Woodland Park, Charlemont (Aero-Stream, 3 separate systems/units) 4. Brown, Gill (Aero-Stream -not successful) 5. Clark, Hawley (Aero-Stream) 6. Glabach, Gill (Aero-Stream) 7. McNelly, Leyden (Aero-Stream) 8. Coates, Charlemont (Aero-Stream)

13 1 Field Case Studies- Leverett Village Coop (SludgeHammer) Grocery Store/Bakery/Deli built in 1990; Designed for 3-bdrm house with 1000 gal tank); Added external grease trap & pump chamber; Indications of looming failure for several years; Finally effluent started surfacing; Installed in 2008; Complete recovery took 9-months; Still 100% recovered, 10-years later.

14 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer Before 2008 After

15 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer BOD Before mg/l 4.5 x normal

16 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer BOD After 73.0 mg/l 86% reduction

17 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box Before 2008

18 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box Before 2008

19 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box Before 2008

20 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box Before 2008

21 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box Before 2008

22 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box Before 2008

23 1 Leverett Village Coop SludgeHammer D-box After 2010

24 2 Field Case Studies- Chubby s Sauce, Bernardston (AquaWorx) Change-in-use from warehouse to food processing facility (HIGH STRENGTH!!); Existing 1000 gallon septic tank; 1986 design for 300 gpd; Leach field in fill on ledge; Failed T-5 Insp April 2010, one week before scheduled facility opening; Not in catastrophic failure, but SAS was clogged.

25 2 Field Case Studies- Chubby s Sauce, Bernardston (AquaWorx) Converted 1000 gal tank to grease trap; Added 2000 gallon 2-compartment tank in series; Added 2 high-capacity bubblers; Install in Nov 2010; Added water meter to quantify usage; Monitored BOD effluent strength; CPHS Stopped working for Bernardston 10/2011.

26 2 Field Case Studies- Chubby s Sauce, Bernardston (AquaWorx) D-box Before April 2010

27 2 Field Case Studies- Chubby s Sauce, Bernardston (AquaWorx) BOD Before Sept mg/l BOD After April mg/l 99.75%

28 2 Field Case Studies- Chubby s Sauce, Bernardston (AquaWorx) D-box After Nov 2010

29 3 Field Case Studies- Woodland Park, Charlemont (Aero-Stream -3 separate systems/units) Trailer Park with failed individual systems; Failed T-5 Insp in 2004, no BOH follow-up; Re-inspected in 2011, still in failure; Remediation started in 2011 (1 unit); 2 more bubblers added in 2014; SAS determined recovered and COCs issued in 2016.

30 4 Field Case Studies- Brown, Gill (Aero-Stream -not successful) Owner not selling; Approx. 35-year old system; Fill on sloping ledge; Failing for many years; Fill added as breakout progressed; Breakout continued; New leach field installed but owner left the bubbler in his tank.

31 5 Field Case Studies- Clark, Hawley (Aero-Stream) RHA rehab project; 500 gal metal tank with no outlet baffle; Effluent pipe in pasture between tank and SAS crushed by cows; Two 70-foot trenches, no d-box; Pipe in one trench filled with old solids; Widow of former BOH Chair; Very limited funds available for repair;

32 5 Field Case Studies- Clark, Hawley (Aero-Stream) Installed new 1500 gallon 2-compartment tank; Replaced effluent pipe to SAS; Installed new d-box; Cleaned solids out of clogged pipe in trench; Added bubbler to recover SAS; Costs covered by HRA rehab loan; Greatly improved existing system under Maximum Feasible Compliance.

33 6 Field Case Studies- Glabach, Gill (Aero-Stream) System installed July 1996; Nov 2015 failed T-5 Insp, d-box flooded, pumped during insp, drained back from field for >10 minutes, over 300 gallons; Installed bubbler Jan 2016; System recovered within 3-months; Liquid levels in d-box remain normal (at outlet inverts).

34 7 Field Case Studies- McNelly, Leyden (Aero-Stream) Selling house, failed T-5 Insp Oct 2016; D-box surcharged, SAS clogged; 30-year old system Highly educated owners (scientists); Very difficult site, limited access; Remediation begun Nov 2016; As of June 2017, no ponding, liquid levels in d- box at outlet inverts; COC issued 2/18/18, sale closing on 3/1/18.

35 8 Field Case Studies- Coates, Charlemont (Aero-Stream) System only 10-years old, 1500 gallon tank; Two 50-foot rows of Infiltrators were approved; Started failing in 2012 (based on pumping, 2500 gallons pumped from tank and SAS); No COC or As-built on file with BOH; Site investigation in May 2017 found a Presby!!! Sized appropriately but vent may have been crushed after Irene by Town Road crew; Remediation started in June 2017.

36 8 Field Case Studies- Coates, Charlemont (Aero-Stream) Pumped 4-times in 2016 (failure criteria); Fixed crushed low vent pipe; Added high vent from d-box, up side of house; Installed SAS inspection port; Remediation started in June 2017; As-built Plan required; No pumping since install; Remediation progressing, seems to be working; Lawsuit avoided, system still being monitored.

37 Role of the BOH- Local Approving Authority must be willing; Requires an educated Board; Should be an option available to the community; Permit tracking & system monitoring is essential. Role of the System Inspector- SI is the first point of contact with owner; Requires good relationship with BOH; Can also do installations and provide O&M; Important to avoid any conflict of interest.

38 Field Case Studies- Summary: 10 Remediation Systems installed so far; 1 Failure (not unexpected); 9 Apparent successes; 1 Still in process; QUESTIONS?

39 Speaker Glen Ayers, R.S., C.H.O., CPHS Regional Health Agent Franklin County Cooperative Public Health Service Serving Buckland, Charlemont, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, Monroe, and Rowe c/o Franklin Regional Council of Governments 12 Olive Street, Greenfield, MA Phone x106, Fax Cell Soil Scientist, B.S., M.S. MA Registered Sanitarian #1318 Massachusetts Certified Health Officer #375 MA DEP/NEIWPCC Approved Title 5 Soil Evaluator #SE52 MA DEP/NEIWPCC Certified Title 5 System Inspector #SI3136 MA Certified Public Water Supply Facility Operator, Grade VS #7693 MA DEP/NEIWPCC Certified Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade 2-M WI #14897

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Title 5 Official Inspection Form Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Form - Not for Voluntary Assessments

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Title 5 Official Inspection Form Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Form - Not for Voluntary Assessments s Name Inspection results must be submitted on this form. Inspection forms may not be altered in any way. Please see completeness checklist at the end of the form. Important: When filling out forms on