Sequencing batch reactor enables camp to make plant upgrade

Problem: Camp Akita, a 1,200-acre camp in Ohio operated by the First Community Church, faced a critical challenge in 2013. The existing 8,000 gpd precast extended aeration plant, built in 1979, required replacement. The camp operated year-round, providing entertainment, food, and lodging for up to 200 people. Complicating matters, the discharge stream was considered an exceptional water body, demanding compliance with Ohio EPA’s Best Available Demonstrated Control Technology for any new wastewater treatment plant.

Solution: EarthTek emerged as the chosen partner. Their Sabre SBR bid offered a 16,000 gpd package sequencing batch reactor treatment plant. This solution included a 20,000-gallon buried primary fiberglass treatment tank, two 8,000-gallon buried FRP SBR tanks for secondary treatment, mechanical filtration, ultraviolet disinfection, effluent flow monitoring, post-aeration and composite sampling for activated sludge treatment. The solution addressed the stringent BADCT requirements, provided flexibility with separate SBR tanks for seasonal variations, employed durable buried fiberglass tanks, and proved cost-effective compared to alternatives. Since its operation in the summer of 2014, the upgraded wastewater treatment plant consistently produced treated effluent meeting regulatory discharge permit limits: 10 mg/L BOD5, 12 mg/L TSS, 1 mg/L ammonia as nitrogen, and 125 count/100 mL E coli. 

Result: This successful implementation ensured Camp Akita’s continued commitment to environmental compliance and sustainable operations. 800-972-9940; www.earthtek.com

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Systems helps make constrained residential lot usable

Problem: A homebuilder was challenged with providing onsite treatment and disposal for a proposed three-bedroom dwelling on St. George Island in Florida where a protected wetland takes up much of the lot and requires a 75-foot setback. The 1-acre lot only had a total available tank and drainfield area of 392 square feet, while only 25 feet separated the property from a neighbor’s irrigation well. A tight triangular area at the corner of the lot was deemed the only logical spot for a treatment system.

Solution: The onsite installer chose a FujiClean Model CEN5 with a design capacity of 500 gpd. The system is designed to provide high-quality treatment and dripline dispersal for nitrogen removal and drainfield reduction. It offers one-tank treatment, with a 540-gallon pump tank and dripline irrigation field providing 225 square feet minimum dispersal area. At-grade access ports do not detract from the unique dwelling, while a quiet blower (<40 dB) is in sync with the serene surroundings. The lightweight tank (705 pounds) is easy to maneuver into location. One 3/4-inch air line hookup minimizes excavation requirements.

Result: The system fit into the small footprint, allowing construction of the home. 207-406-2927; www.fujicleanusa.com

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Camp treatment system employs durable, efficient air pumps

Problem: Camp Chen-A-Wanda in Thompson, Pennsylvania welcomes thousands of children and support staff each summer. Managing wastewater, especially full-service commercial kitchen waste, is a challenge for any seasonal camp. In 2022, a commercial aerobic pretreatment system, consisting of 18 Anua PuraACE reactor pods, was installed replacing the camp’s outdated septic system to meet current demand. The systems demanded air pumps equipped to handle the large waste stream of 15,000 to 25,000 gpd.

Solution: The systems utilize 18 HIBLOW HP-200 alarm units. Their linear diaphragm technology mitigates noise levels (important in a camp setting) while providing flows of approximately 950 gpm. The pumps are energy efficient, running on 250 watts. The manifold system allows for continual flow if one of the pumps stops working. 

Result: To date, other than replacing the filters, all HIBLOW air pumps are in perfect working condition. The PuraACE reactor pods have been a major upgrade for the camp, reducing BOD levels from 1,200 to 160 pounds per day. 734-944-5032; www.hiblow-usa.com

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Compact disinfection system used for latrine project

Problem: Dr. Roger Giesen’s charitable Global Freedom Project contacted SludgeHammer about a latrine project for a Haitian community devastated by a hurricane. The company planned a wastewater system Giesen could transport to his clients as baggage on a commercial flight. 

Solution: SludgeHammer designed the latrine so the treatment tank was built into the foundation of the building that the community assembled themselves. Giesen showed up at SludgeHammer with a duffle bag, packed the SludgeHammer and components and flew to the site. 

Result: SludgeHammer received a video of the system. The water was clear, reportedly without odor, and the effluent flowed to a nearby plantain farm, providing fertigation for crops. 231-348-5866; www.sludgehammer.net