Powell River Project

Septic Alternatives

Plastic Cylinder Media

This restaurant installed a Bioclere trickling filter to replace a failed septic system. Oil and grease is a major wastewater problem, so several grease traps precede the treatment unit.
 

This is an overview of the wastewater treatment installation. Black plastic cylinders in the ground between the big green cylinder and the restaurant are grease trap access points. The Big Green is the Bioclere unit. On this side of the Bioclere are access points to pumps and a treated effluent storage tank.
 
 
 

This is the top of the Bioclere unit, which contains both a trickling filter and a recirculation tank (located below the filter - not visible).
 
 
 

A closer voew of the top of the Bioclere, showing the effluent distribution / spray system.
 

Closer yet  ... Note that the filtration units are small plastic open-ended cylinders, approximately 2 inches in diameter. Wastewater trickles over the cylinders, which function as a substrate for aerobic bacteria.
 
 

Water treated by the Bioclere is clear.
 
 

The control panel.
 
 

The low-pressure distribution effluent system that is used for dispersal of treated effluent to the soil. Plastic pipes protruding from the surface provide access, and prevent backflow. Note the second protruding plastic pipe from the right is shorter than the others.
 
 

This is the second pipe from the right (see above), Uh-oh!. It looks like this pipe has been de-capitated by a lawn mower or some other device. When this situation was called to the attention of the system operator, he was surprised and pledged to get it fixed pronto.


This page created and maintained by Carl Z
26 October 01
czip@vt.edu