Ecological Waste Water Treatment System
Developed for the Yuma del Mar Project
by
Masstech Dominicana S.A. ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, MANAGEMENT
Consultants
June 2006
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Background: Masstech Dominicana, S.A. has conceived the Yuma del mar Ecological Village which in the case of installing general infrastructures, preservation of the environment and water and the ecological treatment and disposal of human waste are priorities. In research of existing methods available for treatment and disposal we have considered various conventional systems composed of collection sewer pipes and central treatment plants as well as various distributed mechanical and natural treatment systems. Our research has led us to favor a distributed natural treatment system for the following reasons: 1. Grows progressively proportional to the development of the project, therefore does not require large up front capital investments in excavations, installation of long runs of sewer pipes and eliminates the central processing plant which must of capacity to handle final community population. 2. Flexibility – because it grows with the project, it is installed according to the current plans and does not require as much advanced engineering and planning, therefore can adapt to changes in the urban planning should market conditions require subdivision plan changes. 3. Costs can be charged to property owner, mortgaged along with land and home. 4. Simple technology, low maintenance, its modularity avoids problems associated with central systems such as general breakdowns, costly preventive maintenance and repairs. 5. No chemicals are used as opposed to central systems that usually use chlorine in the final stage of treatment. 6. All natural processing through separation of non-biodegradable matters, aerobic water treatment and evapo-transpiration in final stage. 7. The caribbean climate assures 12 month efficiency. 8. Solid biodegradable residues are recuperated to produce rich biological fertilizers.
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System description: Ecological biological human waste transformation system composed of the following components: •
First stage is a trap to capture metals, plastics and other non-biodegradable elements.
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Second stage is the main waste treatment tank where waste is further broken down by a circulated sludge pump, with air injected in the stream and the oxygenated water expelled above water level through a series of nozzles. The aerobic bacterial reaction quickly transforms the waste to an ecologically absorbable effluent.
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Third stage is the distribution of main tank effluent to a pipe field placed a few inches below the grass in a semi-porous earth mixture and calcium carbonate where an evapo-transpiration process absorbs the liquid effluent through the roots of the grass. The absorbed liquids are evaporated through the grass leaves.
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Fourth stage is composed of a lower level of pipes below the first, embedded in a coarser permeable soil. The area below the pipes is covered by an impermeable membrane formed as a basin. The purpose of this fourth stage is twofold; avoid pollution of subsoil of any non-absorbed liquids and act as a effective collector for storm water that would also carry the effluent water and disperse it throughout the lot. This water collector system sends the water to a storm surge tank.
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Fifth stage is the storm surge tank, where the collected water is stored and once filled, an outlet pipe directs this water to the storm and surface water reclaim system.
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Sixth stage (not on each lot) are cluster storm water storages from where the water is finally sent to the fresh water treatment system for reuse and redistribution as potable water after its treatment. This water reclaim will considerably reduce fresh water well demand.
Commercial use: Its use will be expanded to cover commercial facilities such as shops, hotels and other location requiring treatment of waste water. Operation:
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Domestic waste water is sent to the system. No human intervention is required except for a yearly cleanout of the sedimentation trap and main waste treatment tank. The system will integrate a self contained monitoring and control system to advise homeowner of abnormal functioning and control the water pump operation cycle. Further the system will be connected to the smart home network and alarm conditions will be sent to the municipal maintenance department for dispatch of technicians for inspection and remedy. Responsibility: Being a distributed system whereby most of the waste water treatment is located on private property does not imply that the community’s responsibility ends at the property line. In Yuma del Mar’s municipal management concepts it is understood that the municipality has responsibility for the maintenance of the system just as if it was a large central system. The municipality has the responsibility to assure protection of the environment and the wellbeing of its residents, therefore it will have a crew dedicated to inspect, remedy and repair any fault no matter where it lies. Yearly cleaning and pumping will also be done by the municipal crew with proper pumping vehicles according to a rigid schedule based on historical information of each distributed waste water treatment plant (year put in service, number of residents, occupancy, prior problems, etc.) Disposal of collected waste will be handled by the municipality by composting and producing organic fertilizers to be used by the municipality or sold if surpluses exist. Conclusion: The basic concept is not new and well proven. Many commercial systems are produced and used around the world. The deployment of a distributed waste water treatment system as part of a new development such as the Yuma del Mar Ecological Village is logical, economical and superior in preserving the environment.
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General system view
Fig.1 Legend: A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I.
House main discharge Trap for non biodegradable matter Main water treatment tank Evapo-transpiration field Discharge capture basin Overflow collector piping Surge tank Surge to surface water reclaim system Surface water drain
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Trap and Main water treatment tank
Fig.2 Legend: Trap for non biodegradable matter A-1 Inspection cover A-2 Screen Main water treatment tank B-1 Inspection cover B-2 Recirculation pump B-3 Air injection port B-4 Header B-5 Spray nozzles B-6 Discharge
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Evapo-transpiration and overflow surge pipes
Fig.3 Legend: A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
Evapo-transpiration pipes Grass Top soil Granulated Calcium Carbonate Coarse permeable soil Natural underground Impermeable capture basin Overflow collector pipes
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Storm Surge Tank
Fig.4 Legend: A. B. C. D.
Inlet Inspection cover Discharge to surface water reclaim system Surface water drain
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