Innovative Onsite Wastewater Disposal Systems Outreach and Demonstration Project

1
Innovative Onsite Wastewater Disposal Systems
Outreach and Demonstration Project

• Rafael F. Dávila, PhD, PE
• University of Puerto Rico
• Jorge Rivera - Santos, PhD.
• Director - PRWRERI
• Yamil W. Toro , MS
• County Agent- PRWRERI

2
Wastewater Treatment
Half of the population of Puerto Rico disposes of
domestic wastewaters in publicly owned treatment
plants, most in big urban centers the rest
dispose its wastewaters in individual septic
systems.
3

• Well designed, well build and well maintained
  septic systems are an adequate means for
  wastewater disposal.

4
Constructions of new facilities
5
Inadequate construction
Inadequate construction
6
localization
7
Illegal discharge
8
Septic Tank Flooding after heavy rain
9
typical septic system

• In many sites the typical septic system
  consisting of a two compartment tank followed by
  a leaching field is not adequate.

• There are three main reasons for that inadequate
  soils, high water table and small lot size.

10
General Puerto Ricos Soil Map
The soil diversity is typical of the tropical
areas. The soil are distributed in Carstic soils
in the north area, sandy soils in the costs and
heavy clays in the mountainous interior.
11
Communities with septic systems
Aguirre
Las Mareas
12
Pipeline from residence

13
High water table
14
Outreach
15
Educational Programs
16
LEAPE
17
Community Involvement
18
Outreach
19
Development of innovative technologies
Alternative Septic System
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
Desing criteria

• Septic Tank
• Based on number of bedrooms
• lt2 750 gallons
• 3 900 gallons
• 4 1000 gallons

• Sand Filter
• Based on flow, Q 1.2 gallons/ft. 2
• ie. Typical residence, Q 300 gallons/day
  
• Filter surface area 250 ft. 2 (footprint)

27
Construction
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34

• THANKS