Redesigning Waste Water

Instructors: Harold Leverenz and Barton Kirk
Location: Yestermorrow campus, Warren, VT

Course Description:
This weekend workshop will help you rethink wastewater. Using one of Yestermorrow's existing facilities as a case study, students will redesign its wastewater system from the groundwater up. In two days we will cover system analysis, site investigation, permitting, treatment options, design basics and material selection. The course will also cover design history and current design theory. We also hope to answer your questions regarding source separation, composting toilets, and nutrient cycling. All Levels. (Please note: This class begins Friday evening at 6pm.)

Course Objectives:

Students will be introduced to the basic principals of domestic wastewater treatment with natural systems. Students will explore the major design considerations including treatment requirements, process flow diagrams, and process selection. After completing the course, students will be able to identify the major components of a natural wastewater treatment systems and size individual treatment unit processes.

Recommended Readings:

Depending on your interest there are a variety of relevant course readings. Listed below are a broad cross-section of useful texts and journals:

• EPA Design Manual - Constructed Wetlands and Aquatic Plant Systems for Municipal Wastewater Treatment. Online at: www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/design.pdf
• Oasis Greywater Manual. Online at: www.oasisdesign.net
• Ecological Sanitation. Online at: www2.gtz.de/ecosan/download/sida-ecosan-en.pdf
• Crites, R. W. and G. Tchobanoglous (1998) Small and Decentralized Wastewater Management Systems. WCB McGraw-Hill. Boston.
• Your current state regulations: www.nesc.wvu.edu/nsfc/nsfc_regulations_agencies.htm

If you are in Vermont - www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ww/EngServ.htm#Rules

We will also have some basic handouts and helpful articles that we will utilize during the course.

Tools/Materials to Bring

Students should bring a binder for organizing course notes and handouts, writing instruments, a pad of paper, a handheld calculator, and a scale/ruler.

Draft Schedule/Outline:

Friday 6:00pm Introduction & course overview

7:30pm The nature and properties of domestic wastewater

Constituents and flowrates of wastewater

Design history and current theory

8:30pm End is a short video clip / slideshow

Saturday 9:00am Process flow diagrams

Primary treatment

Secondary treatment

Nutrient removal

Pathogen removal

Effluent dispersal

11:00am Design considerations

Site factors

Permitting requirements

System hydraulics and natural limitations

1:00pm Site review and walk through

3:00pm Selection and design of treatment processes

Loading rates

Design factors

Sizing unit processes

Specifications

5:00pm Design challenge

Sunday 9:00am Design options

11:00am Questions on individual projects

3:00pm Summary and course evaluation