Drip irrigation techniques date to the 1860s, but this strategy for dispersing water has come a long way since then, and its range of applications has largely expanded. 

For the better part of six decades, Geoflow has been producing drip systems for agricultural use, and over their span of production, they transformed those techniques into subsurface drip systems for onsite wastewater use. 

The subsurface drip system is recommended by Geoflow as a way to disperse secondary reclaimed wastewater for commercial, municipal, residential, industrial and agricultural applications. The idea is that because the effluent is spread underground, it is absorbed directly into the biologically active soil layer, eliminating any surface contamination, ponding, runoff issues and foul odors. 

“Geoflow’s Wasteflow dripline is made specifically for the high biological load we see at many onsite applications,” says Karen Ruskin Ferguson, president of Geoflow. “As water is becoming scarcer, the dripline is being used more and more for reuse in the landscape.” 

The dripline is a half-inch in diameter and made to be buried directly into the soil. The company also concentrated on ensuring uniform flow rates across the entire span of the system. “Each emitter has a tortuous flow path and, in some cases, a rubber diaphragm, to regulate the flow so the rate of flow between the emitter closest to the pump will be the same as the emitter furthest from the pump,” Ferguson says. Burying the line also makes the Wasteflow drip system an option for areas with regular freezing conditions with correct design.

According to Geoflow, a large part of the success of the Wasteflow drip system is due to the Geoshield lining inside the pipe walls. “Geoshield is an exceptionally smooth teflon-like bactericide to keep bacteria from sticking and growing inside the dripline,” Ferguson says. “We also have a band of ROOTGUARD, a pre-emergent herbicide that maintains sufficient concentration over time to keep roots from growing into the exit holes of the dripline.”

Wasteflow can be used on sites with limiting layers, difficult soils, steep slopes and smaller setbacks. “It can be used on marginal lots where other technology is not appropriate, and has really helped in repairs of outdated systems, areas with heavy clay or areas close to water bodies,” Ferguson says. “With subsurface drip, secondary reclaimed wastewater can be used, eliminating the ongoing cost of additional effluent treatment.” 800-828-3388; www.geoflow.com