DOMESTIC BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM WITH SLUDGE COMPOSTER

BioFlow domestic biological wastewater treatment system with sludge composter - an almost perfectly service-free solution

Household sewage treatment plants are becoming more popular every year. They are a great solution especially in a place where it is impossible or uneconomical to connect a sewage system. They are also significantly more modern than the classic septic tank, which requires frequent emptying by a crew with a cesspool emptier. Wastewater treatment allows a significant reduction in the cost of sewage removal. Treated water can be successfully used to irrigate green spaces and water the garden. This also minimizes the cost of purchasing tap water. In addition, a domestic sewage treatment plant is an obvious benefit for the environment, which in the case of Poland is characterized by a poor water resource system. In this situation, water retention to the ground is particularly important. Biological treatment plants are characterized by high purification efficiency. They can be used both in non-urban and agglomeration areas. The wastewater after the treatment process complies with standards, which makes it possible to discharge it into the natural environment without any negative effects on its condition.

A biological wastewater treatment plant operates on the principle of a sequential reactor. Within a single tank, a several-stage wastewater treatment process takes place. It consists of the following stages: oxygenation, sedimentation, flotation, and pumping out the clarified wastewater. The wastewater is aerated by blowers, which stimulates the reproduction of aerobic microorganisms. To boost the growth of the bacterial flora, biopreparations should be used. They contain bacteria and microorganisms that ensure proper start-up and continued operation of the treatment plant. They also prevent blockages and the possible death of the bio-filter. Sludge, which is process waste, collects at the bottom of the tank. The sludge tank should be emptied every specified period. The sludge is removed by a specialized team, which disposes of it properly and in accordance with the law. Finally, the wastewater is treated in an infiltration drain and used, for example, for irrigation of green areas.

It is accepted that a biological wastewater treatment plant is maintenance-free. However, this statement misses the truth. Every domestic wastewater treatment plant requires servicing. In addition, we recommend the use of biopreparations, which guarantee the correct functioning of the plant equipment. It is necessary to visit service technicians, who will perform technical inspection and take away excessive sludge that has accumulated in the reactor. The biological treatment plant also requires continuous power supply, since it is the electric blowers and pumps that aerate the wastewater and ensure its forced flow.


Schemat instalacji biologicznego oczyszczania z kompostownikiem osadów

The main disadvantage of a biological treatment plant is the sludge that results from the process in the tank. However, there is a solution to this problem. There is a Bioflow treatment plant available on the market, along with a sludge composter and garden sprinklers for water drainage. Connecting the composter to the treatment plant installation, reduces the problem of sludge removal. The principle of the Bioflow plant with composter is very simple. Wastewater is collected from the building through a system of outflow pipes. In the Bioflow tank the process of biological treatment of wastewater takes place. The water is then directed to garden sprinklers, which infiltrate it and irrigate the plants. The sludge is pumped out by a dedicated pump to the sludge composter. In the composter is a process that converts waste from the treatment plant into a real fertilizer for plants. A diagram of the plant is shown in the graphic.

In the rest of the article we characterize the components of the biological wastewater treatment plant.

BIOFLOW biological treatment plant - domestic sewage treatment plant

Biological wastewater treatment plant is an ideal solution for households without access to sanitary sewage system. Bioflow bioreactor is an underground tank made of polyethylene. This material is characterized by high resistance to adverse conditions and mechanical damage, so it is very durable. It does not corrode and is not affected by chemicals, including corrosive wastewater. Polyethylene is widely used in the industry. It has many advantages, such as, for example, lightweight, durability and insensitivity to corrosion. This makes it versatile and completely safe. There is no need to worry about a hypothetical spill. Such a risk is truly marginal. Polyethylene shows superiority over other materials on practically every ground.

Thanks to the large volume of the reactor of the Bioflow treatment plant, the sludge needs to be taken away once every 2 years. By using an automatic sludge composter, the need for sludge collection is completely eliminated. This makes the system almost completely service-free. Service activities then include only inspection of the equipment and ensuring proper conditions for microorganisms and bacteria through the use of biopreparations. 

The treatment plant does not generate unpleasant odors, in fact the process is completely odorless. The wastewater is fully clear and rich in micronutrients. They can be used for irrigation and fertilization of the garden without additional costs.
Bioflow II biological sewage treatment plant
Stages of biological wastewater treatment:

  • STAGE I: Wastewater enters the reactor, where it is sequentially oxygenated. This contributes to the removal of organic pollutants, nitrogen and phosphorus;
  • STAGE II: Blower operation stops, sludge sinks to the bottom of the tank (sedimentation);
  • STAGE III: Pumping out the clarified, treated part of the wastewater. The wastewater treatment plant automatically switches to the economic (vacation) mode, during the period of no sewage inflow;

Bioflow purification consists of:

  1. Technical box with silencing (blower and Multi Bio 2000 or 3200 controller). The controller is responsible for switching on successive stages of the purification process.
  2. Pump for treated wastewater with filter.
  3. Emergency level float.
  4. Emergency overflow.
  5. Aeration diffuser.
  6. Solids filter.
Oczyszczalnia biologiczna BioFlow - przekrój

Sludge composter

As we mentioned, the disadvantage of a biological treatment plant is the need to take away the sludge that is produced in the treatment process. To do this, a specialized service group with a sludge truck must be called in. This can be considered the only disadvantage of the treatment plant. It involves additional expenses and requires the sacrifice of time. In addition, the biological treatment plant requires servicing, as it consists of electrical equipment. You can reduce the frequent visits of service technicians by using biopreparations, but it is impossible to eliminate them completely. To create a system close to fully service-free, it is enough to connect a sludge composter to the system. Such an installation does not require the removal of sludge, but only the emptying of the compost tank to fertilize the plants themselves.

Kompostownik osadów Composter
The functioning of such a solution is really very simple. Excess sludge from the wastewater treatment plant is pumped into a tank (composter) using a pump. In the Composter, the sludge is processed and hygienized, and then manually selected once every few years for fertilizing plants. The compost tank, like the bioreactor, is made of durable polyethylene. It is invisible in the garden because it is buried in the ground. In addition, the design of the cover allows it to be covered with bark up to 5 cm deep, which completely masks it.

Advantages of Composter

  • Possibility of installing the treatment plant in a place where there is no access road,
  • No need to remove sludge from the treatment plant (use it to fertilize plants within the plot),
  • Saving money due to reduced servicing costs,
  • Ease of maintenance and operation of the treatment plant,
  • Pro-environmental - possibility of obtaining valuable compost for plants,
  • The device is invisible to users due to its underground installation.

Water Shower garden sprinkler - infiltration of treated wastewater

Drainage of wastewater in the Bioflow system can be carried out using special sprinklers. The Water Shower sprinkler is used to drain treated wastewater or normal water. The principle of operation is the same as classical sprinklers. Its use is particularly desirable for plants that like moisture. The sprinkler can be used in surface and underground installations. The product range includes two variants of sprinklers:

  • Linear - for linear irrigation systems,
  • Field - for the construction of plant plots.

Garden Sprinkler Water Shower

Linear irrigation system

A linear irrigation system requires the use of special sprinklers. The most important thing when planning the installation is to maintain the slope towards the treatment plant. If this is not possible, a hole and a small drainage well should be made at the lowest point of the installation. Importantly, it is unfavorable for trees to be sprinkled directly on their trunks. The length of the installation depends primarily on the number of p.e. and the type of soil. Based on these data, the length of the sprinkler line should be designed.

Plant plots

The Water Shower sprinkler, which is designed for plant plots, works similarly to the previous variant with the difference that the drainage is carried out in a defined area rather than in a single line. The plot area is determined by the type of soil and the amount of p.e.. However, it is important to note that both of these variants are efficient and do their job just fine. Their choice depends on the personal preferences of the user, as well as the size of the plot.

Treatment of condensate from heating boilers - additional components of the Bioflow biological treatment system

When home heating is carried out with heating boilers, one of the wastes is toxic condensate. Condensate has a very low pH - it is acidic. It is estimated that during 1 hour of operation of a 10 kW gas boiler, about 1.6 liters of condensate is produced. Among the most acidic is waste from oil boilers (sulfur compounds). Introduction of this type of waste into the environment will result in its contamination. An attempt to direct raw boiler wastewater to a treatment plant would result in a blockage of the treatment process.  The bacterial flora would then die off. Both of these cases are unacceptable.

The Bioflow domestic biological wastewater treatment system can be equipped with additional components to neutralize harmful waste. The condensate neutralizer that we have in our product range is a granular container. It contains alkaline chemicals (such as calcium carbonate - CaCO3). After reacting with the condensate, they cause neutralization of acidic sulfur compounds. The liquid is passed through the granular container by gravity. The condition of the cartridge can be verified with litmus paper. A working neutralizer should show a pH above 6. In practice, we recommend replacing the neutralizing cartridge every 8-12 months. This guarantees correct operation of equipment and high efficiency of the installation.

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