Table Of ContentU ^
I
o
m
SEPTAGE SLUDGE DEWATERING
FEASIBTLITY STUDY
OK
W
Environment
Ontario
ISBN 0-7729-9036-0
SEPTAGE SLUDGE DEWATERING
FEASIBILrrY STUDY
Repon prepared for the:
CETEC North Committee of the
Ontario Ministp.' of the Environment
and the Ontario Miiiistr\- of Northern Development and Mines
Repon prepared by-
BlakeF. Dawdy, P.Eng., NorthlandEngineeringLimited (1987)
NOVEMBER
1991
Cette pubhcation technique n'est disponible qu"en anglais.
Copyright: Queen's printer for Ontario. 1991
Thispubhcationmaybereproducedfomon-commercialpurposes
with appropriate attribution.
PIBS 1659
Acknowledgements
The author of this report wishes to acknowledge the support and input of a number of
people who have assisted in the preparation ofthis report. Mr. Phil Joseph, P.Eng., ofthe
Ontario Ministry of the Environment deserves full credit for the initiation of this project.
Mr. Jim Harmar, District Officer of the North Bay District of the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment provided key review and sounding board functions. Mr. Willy Brink of the
Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Project Engineering Branch, also provided key
review functions. Mr. Ray Banach ofthe North Bay District Office ofthe Ontario Ministry
ofthe Environment provided key information on septage generation rates in the North Bay
Area. Dr. Bill Snodgrass, P.Eng., ofBeak Consultants provided key input on the technical
content ofthe report.
Disclaimer
The views and ideas expressed in this report are those ofthe author and do not necessarily
reflect the views and policies of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, nor does
mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or
recommendation foruse by the Ministry.
Abstract
Dawdy, B.F., Northland Engineering Limited, 1850 Bond Street, Site #1, Comp.#l. North
Bay, Ontario, PIB 8G5, Septage Sludge Dewatering Feasibihty Study a report
,
prepared for the CETEC committee, Ontario Ministry ofthe Environment,
November, 1990
Over 1.5 million people in Ontario depend on septic tanks and tile beds for disposal of
domestic sewage. Increasing awareness of the impact of septic systems upon lakes,
watercourses and the environment in general is promoting more effective management
techniques for these systems and modifications to improve their performance. Measures
being considered include mandatory pumpout of septic tanks at regular intervals and the
incorporation of chemical precipitation systems, for phosphorus removal, into septic
systems located adjacent to nutrient sensitive lakes or rivers. It is likely that such measures
will double the volumes ofseptage that mustbe disposed ofin this province within the next
decade.
Current conventional methods of septage disposal such as discharge to municipal sewer
systems, disposal in exfiltration lagoons and application to agricultural lands have
significant drawbacks. Continued reliance on such methods with the anticipated increase
involumes ofseptage may result in serious environmental problems.
This study provides an overview of existing septage collection and disposal techniques in
the North Bayarea, likelyfuture changes in the volumes and nature ofthe septage. possible
nutrient removal techniques for domestic septic tank systems, the suitability of innovative
mobile septage sludge dewatering schemes from other jurisdictions for application in the
North Bay area, alternative septage disposal techniques and makes recommendations for
future action.
Table of Contents
page
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Authorization 1
1.2 Background 2
2.0 Mobile Septage Sludge Dewatering $
2.1 Concept ofMobile Septage Dewatering 6
2.2 Description ofMobile Septage Sludge DewateringSystems 7
2.2.1 Fosseticsystem 7
2.2.2 Hamstern 10
2.2.3 Moos KSA 12
2.3 Comparison ofSystems 14
2.3.1 Impacts ofDisposal Options on Comparison 14
2.3.2 Reduction ofNutrients 15
2.3.3 Effect on existingsystems 16
2.3.4 Cost Analysis 18
2.3.5 Summary ofComparisons 20
2.4 Required System Modifications 21
2.5 Nutrient Removal Systems 22
3.0 Septage Disposal 25
3.1 Septage Volumes 25
3.2 Nature ofSeptage 28
3.3 Current Septage Disposal Practises 29
3.3.1 Disposal to Municipal Sewer System 29
3.3.2 Septage Lagoons 31
3.3.3 Disposal ofSeptage to AgriculturalLands 32
3.4 Alternative Septage Disposal Schemes 34
3.4.1 Dewatering and Stabilization ofSludge for
Agricultural Land Disposal 34
3.4.2Composting 37
3.5 Relative Costs ofSeptage Treatment 41
4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations 42
4.1 Conclusions 42
4.2 Recommended Programs 43
4.2.1 Chemical Precipitation for Phosphorus Removal 43
4.2.2 Composting 44
4.2.3 Selective Pumping 45
Bibliography
Key Addresses
List ofTables
page
Table I Cost Analysis ofVarious
Septage Collection Systems 16
Table II Comparison ofAlternative Septage
CollectionSystems 18
Table III Septage Haulage Survey
1989 North BayArea Haulers 23
TTaabbllee IVV CImopmapcatriosfoSnepotfaSgeepDtiasgpeoasanld DomesticSewage 25
on the North Bay Sewage Treatment Plant 27
Table VI SuitabilityofSeptage forAgricultural Land 30
Table VII Hamstern Sludge Analysis 32
Table VIII Contents ofFosseticCompost 35
Table IX UnitTreatment Cost Estimates forVarious
Methods ofSeptage Disposal 41
List of Figures
Figure 1 Typical SepticTank 3
Figure 2 Fossetic Selective PumpingSystem 9
Figure 3 Hamstern System
Figure 4 MOOS Ksa System 11
13
