Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Improvement Of Hydraulic And Water Quality Renovation Functions By Intermittent Aeration Of Soil Treatment Areas In Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, José A. Amador, David A. Potts, George W. Loomis, David V. Kalen, Erika L. Patenaude, Josef H. Görres

Natural Resources Science Faculty Publications

We tested intermittent aeration of the soil treatment area (STA) of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) for its ability to restore and maintain STA hydraulic flow and improve the water quality functions of conventional OWTS. Evaluation was conducted on hydraulically-failed conventional OWTS at three state-owned medical group homes in Washington County, RI, USA. Testing was conducted in two phases, with Phase I (before intermittent soil aeration (ISA)) comprising the first 6 months of the study, and Phase II (during ISA) the remaining 7 months. Intermittent soil aeration restored STA hydraulic function in all three systems despite a marked reduction in …