Drip Distribution Systems

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Drip Distribution Systems

• Bruce J. Lesikar
• Texas Cooperative Extension

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Why Drip Distribution?

• Uniform application of the effluent.
• Control application rate.
• Shallow soil
• Steep slopes
• High groundwater
• Full use of landscape area.
• Reuse wastewater in the landscape.

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Wastewater Treatment Approach

• Small doses of wastewater into the soil.
• Wastewater moves through soil under unsaturated
  flow conditions, thus effectively treating the
  wastewater.
• Wastewater can be dosed into the active surface
  layer of the soil.
• Maximizes reuse of nutrients and water.

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Subsurface Drip Distribution

• The system distributes wastewater to the
  landscape, through a network of drip tubing
  installed below the ground surface.
• The system is composed of
• A treatment device
• A pump tank
• A filtering device
• Drip distribution system

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Subsurface Drip Distribution System
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Treatment Device

• Dependant upon type of drip tubing being used and
  manufacturers recommendations.
• Available treatment devices
• Anaerobic Treatment
• Aerobic Treatment Unit
• Media Filter
• Trickling Filter
• Constructed Wetland
• Others?

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Constructed Wetland
Aerobic Treatment Unit
Trickling Filter
Septic Tank/Pump Tank
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Pump Tank/Pump

• The pump tank stores treated effluent until the
  drip field is ready to be dosed.
• A high head pump delivers water from the pump
  tank through the filtering device to the drip
  distribution system.
• Pump is sized to supply required water volume at
  the needed pressure.

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Pump Tank / Spray System
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Filtering Device

• The filtering device can be sand, disk or screen
  filter.
• Its main purpose is to remove larger particles
  from the wastewater so they do not cause problems
  with the drip emitters. Generally remove
  particles greater than 100 microns.
• Depending upon wastewater quality, the filter may
  need to be an automatic cleaning system.

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Drip Tubing

• Made of a drip tubing approved by the
  manufacturer for use with wastewater.
• Pressure Compensating or Non-Pressure
  Compensating emitters.
• The tubing is generally ½ inch diameter with an
  emitter in the tubing.
• The operating pressure inside the tubes is
  typically 15-20 psi, with the water exiting the
  emitter at 0 psi.

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Drip Emitter
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Drip Field Components

• Supply manifold
• Drip lines
• Return manifold
• Air relief

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Drip Distribution Drain Field
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Drip Field
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Supply Manifold
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Return Manifold
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Air Relief
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Installation Requirements

• Drip lines buried to at least 6 inches in depth
• Maximum emitter spacing is 30 inches.
• Absorption area per emitter equals four square
  feet, no double counting of area.
• Separation of 1 foot to ground water and solid or
  fractured rock.

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Subsurface Drip Installation

• Trencher
• Static Plow
• Vibratory Plow

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Static Plow for Subsurface Drip Installation
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Plow Shaft and Drip Tubing
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Operation and Maintenance

• Field Flushing
• Cleaning Filters
• Monitoring Pressure

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Inspecting the System Installation