Small Community Wastewater
Alternatives
Section V
Advanced Treatment
Courtesy of OTN
Advanced Treatment Process
• House sewer conveys sewage to aerobic
treatment unit
• Aerobic treatment unit treats the sewage
similar to a sewer plant (secondary
treatment)
• Effluent pipe conveys treated effluent to
absorption area
• Absorption area now serves primarily as a
dispersal area for treated effluent
Most Advanced Treatment Technologies
Produce “Secondary” or Better Quality Effluent!
Advanced Treatment
• Pre-treatment of wastewater
– Usually requires dosing
– Often requires electric
– Always requires maintenance
• Applicable to:
– Difficult sites
– Sensitive environments
Dosing Options
May be required by design or to “lift”
wastewater to the absorption area
 Delivers a calculated “dose” of wastewater
 Allows for rest periods, promotes aerated
and unsaturated soil conditions
 Extends system life

Advanced Treatment
• Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU)
• Media Filters:
– sand
– textile
– peat
– foam
• Nutrient Reduction
Advanced Treatment
• Difficult Sites
Courtesy of Skaneateles Lake
Demonstration Project
NSF Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU)
Courtesy of OTN
Peat Filter
Courtesy of OTN
Peat Filter
Courtesy of OTN
Combination Peat / Textile
AdvanTex Packed Bed Filter
Courtesy of OTN
AdvanTex
Courtesy of Orenco
Textile Sheets
Courtesy of Orenco
20x more surface area than sand
Sand
Gravel
Courtesy of OTN
Residential Installation
Courtesy of Skaneateles Lake
Demonstration Project
Courtesy of OTN
Media Filter with
Bottomless Sand Filter
Media Filter with
Bottomless Sand Filter
Courtesy of OTN
Courtesy of OTN
Foam
The more advanced the treatment
technology, the greater attention required to
assure proper performance.