Onsite
Sanitation
Onsite Operating Permit * Fee Info * What about a Sewer System? * Master Plan
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BASIC CATEGORICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
There are three basic categories for the treatment of wastewater. They are named “treatment processes”. The three categories are;
*
Primary Treatment Process
* Secondary Treatment Process
* Tertiary Treatment Process
All three produce different qualities of treated water (effluent). The Primary Treatment Process produces the lowest quality effluent. The Secondary Process produces a medium to high quality of effluent. And, the tertiary treatment process produces a very high quality of effluent.
Primary Treatment Process
A primary process is essentially a “mechanical” process. Wastewater enters a “tank”. The waste is allowed to remain in the tank under quiescent (no mixing) conditions. During that period of time the solids in the waste separate and settle to the bottom of the tank. The remaining wastewater with lesser solids is transferred to the next stage of treatment or disposed of.
This process is exactly what takes place in a “septic tank” in Paradise. The septic tank effluent is transferred to the soil for additional treatment (leaching or absorption trenches).
Primary Treatment will only remove 40% to 60% of the pollutants in the wastewater prior to disposal.
Within the Town of Paradise there are 11,376 primary treatment systems consisting of septic tanks and leaching for absorption trenches.
Secondary Treatment Process
A secondary treatment process generally follows Primary Treatment. Secondary Treatment, unlike the “mechanical” treatment in Primary Treatment, is a “Biological” Treatment Process. That is, certain organisms are utilized to treat and stabilize the liquid or water portion of the wastewater. Depending on the point of effluent disposal, disinfection can be provided with secondary treatment. The disinfection will reduce the Coliform Organisms within the wastewater. Coliform organisms have the potential of producing disease. Other harmful microbes, like viruses, are reduced with disinfection.
Secondary Treatment will remove 85% to 90% of the pollutants in the wastewater prior to disposal.
As of January, 2007, within the Town of Paradise there are a total of 136 secondary treatment facilities. A breakdown of the various types and numbers of secondary processes are as follows;
1. Bottomless Sand Filters (BSF) 71
2. Intermittent Sand Filters (ISF) 15
3. Recirculating Gravel Filters (RGF) 34
4. Secondary Treatment Plants 16
Of the above 122 secondary processes none require disinfection.
Tertiary Treatment
Tertiary treatment is a third stage of wastewater treatment beyond the secondary treatment process. Tertiary treatment is utilized for two purposes:
1. To increase the reduction of pollutants from 90% removal to up to 98% removal. This is generally accomplished by “polishing” the effluent through advanced aeration and filtration. Wastewater might also be passed over activated carbon and multi media filters for further clarification.
2. To reduce chemicals (nitrogen and phosphate) which are harmful to ground
water and surface water streams. Not all tertiary treatment systems will disinfect the water due to the effluent disposal point.
Within the Town of Paradise there are 3 Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Plants. A breakdown of the types of processes are as follows:
1. Tertiary Treatment Plants with Nitrogen Reduction 2
2. Tertiary Treatment Plants with Nitrogen Reduction and Disinfection 1
Total Number of Secondary and Tertiary Treatment Processes 136
Total Number of all wastewater systems in the Town of Paradise 11,512
ANNUAL
WASTEWATER OPERATING PERMIT FEE INFORMATION
Why the annual operating permit by the Town? This
annual $ 14.40 per year wastewater operating permit fees is the primary
revenue source for the Town’s very successful onsite
wastewater management program, which has been in effect for over 10
years.
What
does this fee cover?
Our onsite wastewater
management program is one of the best in the state. We monitor and
enforce the Towns rules regarding septic inspections and operation. We
also protect against failed residential and commercial septic systems
by the reviewing of regular test results from large commercial systems
and in addition monitoring many wells critically located throughout the
community against such surface and groundwater contaminants as
nitrates, etc. In addition this wastewater management team will be
overseeing the development of self-contained clustered septic
wastewater treatment systems (mini-sewer systems) with businesses in
our commercial areas participating on a voluntary, pay-as-you go basis.
The annual wastewater operating permit though a major operating revenue
source for the wastewater management program is like the typical sewer
operating fees only once a year and it along with direct development
sewer fees allows the Town to ensure a proper monitoring and
development of sewer systems.
What
about a traditional sewer system for the Town of Paradise?
The topography of this 18+ square mile city along with the physical
distances from many homes to their primary service collection system
would call for construction of a sewer system that would require very
special and costly collection system development. There would be a need
for significant pipe laying throughout many if not all streets and
roads, and multiple expensive pumping stations to accommodate
collection of the sewer from residential and commercial users that
would be not only be cost prohibitive, but not very practical given our
unique topography. Another issue is the funding of estimated $ 100
million dollars and with lack of federal funds for such a large system
development; it would more than likely come from significant
assessments to all residential and commercial businesses.
Conclusion
The annual $14.40 is a bargain for the homeowner, and the fees being
charged to local businesses is also well below what they would be
paying under a traditional sewer system. And a full Town wide sewer
system versus the current monitoring of septic systems under the annual
(once a fiscal year) $14.40 is far too cost prohibitive and impractical
as described above. The annual operating permit currently not only
provides for the management of current wastewater quality, it is a user
fee to support a program of wastewater management that satisfies the
state requirements and therefore leaves the Town to home rule thereby
able to manage its own affairs. An example of managing our own affairs
is the development of the clustered septic system concept for the
Town’s commercial users, and within time other options may
come into being to better serve larger residential development that can
be implemented given our unique topography.
The
Town of Paradise releases the Draft Clustered Wastewater Treatment
System Master Plan
(Posted 3/17/04)
More Information:
7-H Technical Services, under contract to the Town, has generated and
released a draft master
plan (2.3 MB, 40 pgs) for the Downtown Revitalization Area
Clustered Wastewater Treatment System. Comments, concerns or questions
should be directed to Doug Danz, Town Onsite Official.
An excellent description of the history and function of the Onsite Wastewater Management Zone is available in this study by the Rocky Mountain Institute. Read how Paradise, and other communities throughout the country, are implementing innovative and decentralized wastewater treatment solutions. (2.5 MB, 421 pages)
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