Small Community-Sized Wastewater Treatment Technologies Evaluation

Town of Yarmouth/Barnstable County Wastewater Implementation Committee
June 2005

Septic systems are the primary source of high levels of nitrogen detected in drinking water and coastal embayments on Cape Cod. Small, community-sized wastewater treatment systems are viable alternatives to on-site septic systems. Tighe & Bond evaluated the wastewater technologies suited for public or private treatment works having a flow capacity of between 10,000 and 100,000 gallons per day and appropriate for effluent groundwater recharge or reuse with stringent nitrogen limits. Results are summarized in a Report that includes descriptions and analysis of various wastewater treatment technologies based on information provided by vendors, manufacturers, facility operators, and MADEP including:

• Short history on water quality studies and relevant regulations and policies;
• Description of the basic science behind wastewater treatment and the nitrogen removal process;
• Description of treatment technologies;
• Key design and operational elements for new treatment facilities;
• Summary of compliance data and rating of technologies.

A pdf of the Report can be downloaded in its entirety: Final Report(1.2MB)

or by section

• Section 1 - Executive Summary(50KB)
• Section 2 - Introduction(97KB)
• Section 3 - Background(78KB)
• Section 4 - Wastewater Treatment Basics(78KB)
• Section 5 - Treatment Technologies(636KB)
• Section 6 - Key Design and Operational Considerations(183KB)
• Section 7 - Technology Database(52KB)
• Section 8 - Compliance Data and Technology Ratings(198KB)