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Waterloo Research

Waterloo Biofilter Systems is continually performing and publishing research in areas related to the onsite wastewater treatment industry.  Areas of interest include new wastewater treatment technologies, best practices for septic system design and operations and maintenance, as well as case studies and results from advanced decentralized sewage applications such as wastewater reuse, high strength wastewater, and landfill leachate treatment.

Waterloo Biofilter Papers

High Strength Wastewater Papers

  • A Case Study in Designing for High Strength Wastewater ( PDF, 195KB). Presented at OOWA Conference, 2006.
    When designing systems for facilities that produce high strength or difficult wastewaters, a more holistic design approach should be taken: one that not only looks at the design elements and wastewater characteristics, but also accounts for the ‘usage of facility’ and O&M requirements.
  • Treating Higher-Strength Commercial Sewage for Disposal or Re-Use ( PDF, 225KB).  Presented at ASAE Symposium, 2004.
    Challenges of high-strength sewage applications include high organic and nitrogen loading, highly variable flow rates, use of disinfectants, and untrained employees.  Strategies for dealing with these challenges and operational results using the Waterloo Biofilter technology are detailed.

Nitrogen Removal Papers

  • Removal of Nitrate by ‘Anoxic Absorbent Filtration’ and Carbon Addition ( PDF, 844KB).  Published in Influents, 2009.
    Performance results of the WaterNOx, a biological anoxic filter for enhanced nutrient removal, are detailed from two separate field test sites.
  • Nitrogen Removal with the Waterloo Biofilter ( PDF, 151KB).  Unpublished, 2004.
    An open letter to water and wastewater engineers details the biochemical processes involved in nitrogen removal, and provides supporting documentation from third party testing showing the nitrogen removal capabilities of the Waterloo Biofilter system.
  • Predicting Nitrification Efficiency from Dissimilar Wastewaters ( PDF, 301KB).  Presented at WEAO Conference, 2004.
    An underperforming aeration treatment plant is retrofitted with a Waterloo Biofilter as a polisher to meet ammonium levels for surface discharge.  Operational data from two dissimilar wastewaters is used to successfully predict performance on a third wastewater.

Wastewater Reuse Papers

  • Wastewater Re-used Successfully at Ontario Truck Stop ( PDF, 921KB).  Published in CEP, 2005.
    A truck stop in Southern Ontario is reusing treated wastewater produced by a Waterloo Biofilter sewage treatment system for toilet flushing, resulting in 60-70% water savings and significantly reduced nitrogen loading on the environment.
  • Four Golf Resorts are Reusing Treated Sewage for Irrigation ( PDF, 1540KB).  Published in ES&E, 2001.
    Waterloo Biofilter sewage treatment systems allow four golf courses to re-use wastewater directly onsite for irrigation.  Advanced tertiary treatment levels are achieved throughout the year even as hydraulic flow rates fluctuate.
  • Re-Use of Treated Sewage Using Biofilter Technology ( PDF, 94KB).  Presented at WEAO Conference, 2001.
    Case studies of various sewage reuse sites show that Waterloo Biofilter technology can produce treated effluent that can be used as a resource rather than a waste product.

Subsurface Disposal System Papers

Septic Tank Papers

  • Ontario’s New Performance Septic Tank – Why & How ( PDF, 1026KB).  Published in Influents, 2009.
    Performance-based regulations rather than prescriptive standards are important to allow for the acceptance and adoption of innovations in the onsite industry.
  • Comparing the Performance of Prescribed Septic Tanks to Long, Narrow, Flooded Designs ( PDF, 246KB).  Presented at WEFTEC, 2007.
    Side-by-side testing shows the WaterTube™ septic tank from Waterloo Biofilter produces a higher quality effluent and reduces sludge and scum accumulation compared to conventional box-shaped septic tanks.
  • Re-thinking Hydraulic Flow in Septic Tanks ( PDF, 1278KB).  Published in ES&E, 2005.
    Performance of conventional septic tanks prescribed by the CSA B66 standard can be improved by eliminating the airspace and providing a longer flow path that encourages laminar flow and longer retention time.
  • Sulphuric Acid Attack on Concrete Tanks ( PDF, 67KB).  Published in OOWA Newsletter, 2005.
    A problem which must be addressed in the onsite industry is the corrosion and premature failure of concrete septic tanks and concrete pump tanks due to sulphuric acid.
  • The Effect of Household Chemicals on Septic Tank Performance ( PDF, 231KB).  Presented at ASAE Conference, 2004.
    Field study results are detailed confirming that the use of household chemicals such as detergent with bleach have an adverse effect on BOD treatment within a septic tank.

Operations & Maintenance Papers

Landfill Leachate Papers

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