Prelos™ Sewers

Cost-Effective, Environmentally Sound • Subdivisions • Neighborhood clusters Collection System • Commercial properties IDEAL FOR COMMUNITIES OF ALL SIZES • Sewer expansions • abatement • Ecologically sensitive areas • Challenging site conditions

814 Airway Avenue, Sutherlin, Oregon, USA 97479 • Toll-Free: 800-348-9843 • +1 541-459-4449 • www.orenco.com Prelos Sewers

Choose the Superior Wastewater Solution: Prelos Liquid-Only (Effluent) Sewers

Communities and developers around the world struggle with wastewater collection and treatment issues. In many areas, systems are too costly. Moreover, gravity sewers are not watertight, so their overflows contaminate our , bays, and .

“Given the diversity of the new Liquid-only (effluent) sewer technology that is now being systems are becoming developed, it is reasonable to recognized as one of the speculate that, in the future, the continued use of conven- best solutions for collecting tional gravity flow systems waste and transporting it to a will be a thing of the past.” treatment facility.

Dr. George Tchobanoglous, Orenco has helped hundreds UC Davis, Author of of communities throughout Wastewater Engineering: the world to design, build, Treatment, Disposal, Reuse and Small and Decentralized and maintain low-cost, Wastewater Management reliable liquid-only sewers. Systems Depending on terrain, liquid- only sewers are often half the cost of gravity sewers, or less.1 There are other decentral- For all these reasons, ized sewer technologies – communities that purchase “Managed decentralized Orenco's Prelos (pressurized grinder systems, for example. our liquid-only sewers enjoy wastewater systems ... merit liquid-only sewers) are decen- However, because the efflu- system-wide, long-term serious consideration in any tralized collection systems evaluation of wastewater ent from a Prelos Sewer is savings. that are compatible with exist- management options for small relatively free of grease, and mid-sized communities ing wastewater infrastructure. oil, and solids, the and new development.” They take the burden off pumps and collection maxed-out municipal systems EPA, Response to Congress lines require less main- and allow sustainable service on Use of Decentralized tenance than grinder Wastewater Systems, area expansion. For monitor- systems. And the high- April 1997 ing and control, Orenco offers quality filtered effluent telemetry panels that provide from a Prelos Sewer the power of SCADA at an requires less costly affordable price. treatment. system-wide long-term savings

1. Water Environment Research Foundation Fact Sheet C1 (Gravity Sewer Systems) and Fact Sheet C3 (Effluent Sewer Systems), 2010. Prelos Sewers

How a Prelos Sewer Works

With a Prelos Sewer, raw flows from the house or business to an 5 underground tank that's designed to be watertight, where it's pretreated. Only the filtered liquid is discharged (by either pump or gravity) through the service lines to shallow, small-diameter collection 4 lines that follow the contour of the land. Solids remain in the underground tank for 3 passive, natural treatment. Tanks typically need 2 pumping only once every 1 10-12 years, depending on the number of users.2

Prelos Sewers are designed 1 2 3 4 5 as a totally integrated The Prelos Our patented One-inch (25-mm) Small-diameter Primary waste- package, and system ProcessorTM Biotube® Pump diameter service mainlines follow water treatment components are compatible provides primary Vault filters out laterals can be the contour of the provided by the and pre-assembled. Each treatment, so solids, and our easily installed ground, saving on Prelos Sewer only liquids are pumps can last with a trencher. excavation costs. can decrease the item is covered by a limited conveyed to the more than 25 No expensive capital cost and warranty and components treatment facility years,3 requiring or lift operating cost of are corrosion-resistant, minimal or no stations are the wastewater durable, and lightweight. maintenance. required. treatment plant.4

From Sewer to Treatment The high-quality, filtered effluent from a liquid-only sewer is ideal for use with a low-cost, low-maintenance treatment system, such as Orenco’s AdvanTex® AX100 textile filter. From there, it can be used for , flushing, or other kinds of beneficial reuse (subject to local regulations). Without infiltration or solids to worry about, the size of the treatment plant can be substantially reduced. This saves money on equipment, installation, and operation costs.

Pictured at left is part of the South Alabama Utility (SAU) facility in West Mobile. Phase I and Phase II include 36 AdvanTex AX100 units. Two additional phases of similar size are planned or under construction. Under SAU’s program, all parties – developers, property owners, and the utility – share the cost of extending the wastewater infrastructure on a “build-as-you-go” basis.

2. Terry R. Bounds, P.E., 1995. “Septic Tank Septage Pumping Intervals.” Sutherlin, Oregon: Orenco Systems, Inc., 13. 3. As seen in the Elkton, Oregon, sewer system. 4. As seen in the Montesano, Washington, sewer system. Prelos Sewers

A Fraction of the Cost of Gravity Sewers

Prelos Sewers dramatically reduce short-term and long-term wastewater treatment costs for communities and developers. In fact, liquid-only sewers can be half the cost of gravity sewers, or less.5 Here are the many ways you save:

Save On • Ease of installation causes Save On Save On Equipment And less disruption to commu- Operation And Treatment Costs Labor Maintenance nities, allowing businesses • Because of high effluent • Collection lines are to operate normally during • Low maintenance quality, low-cost treatment shallowly buried, just construction. requirements have been systems – such as below the frost line, documented with liquid- • Ease of installation makes packed-bed filters and reducing excavation costs. only sewers.7 the system well-suited for subsurface disposal – are • Inexpensive, small- community “self-help” • 24-hour back-up storage ideal. diameter collection lines programs. in on-lot tanks reduces • Less costly permitting and are used. emergency calls and • Most equipment isn’t testing are required when overtime costs. • Expensive manholes and purchased until lots are not discharging into water- lift stations are eliminated. developed, which defers • Homeowners pay about ways. costs. $1.50/month in energy • Installation time is reduced • Treatment facilities can costs for pumps.8 by one-half or more, be sized economically, compared to gravity • Residential tanks typically since the whole system sewers.6 need pumping just once is designed to be every 10-12 years, watertight. There’s no depending on the number need to allow for the of residents.9 infiltration and inflow from high flows or .

Orenco's Prelos Sewer Systems are ideal for new subdivisions, whether on flat ground or on the most difficult terrain.

“In general, alternative collection systems should be considered for smaller rural communities with low population density and site specific environmental conditions . . . Shallow bedrock, high groundwater conditions, extremely flat or very hilly terrain and limited room for construction make alternative collection systems more cost-effective than conventional systems.”

Illinois Community Action Association Alternative Wastewater Systems in Illinois

5. As seen in the Vero Beach, Florida, sewer system. 6. Ibid. 7. Bill Cagle, Terry Cargil, and Roger Dickinson, 2013. "20-Year Life Cycle Analysis of an Effluent Sewer (STEP) System." Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference; Chicago, Illinois, October 5-9. Alexandria: Water Environment Federation, 14. 8. Run Time = 20 min/day, VAC = 115, A = 12.7, National Average Power Cost = $0.10/kWh. 9. Terry R. Bounds, P.E., 1995. “Septic Tank Septage Pumping Intervals.” Sutherlin, Oregon: Orenco Systems, Inc., 13. Prelos Sewers

Community Case Studies

Hundreds of communities throughout North America are successfully collecting and treating their wastewater with Orenco wastewater solutions. For more detailed case studies, visit www.orenco.com/resources/case-studies.

Diamond , Elkton, Washington Oregon In 1986-87, an Orenco In 1989, an Orenco liquid-only liquid-only sewer system sewer system was installed to serving 500 homes was serve more than 100 homes installed in this Washington and businesses in Elkton, lakeside community. Half the Oregon, at an average cost properties were seasonally of less than US $7,000 per occupied, with sudden start- home for both collection and ups, prolonged shut-downs, treatment. Ten years after and very cold winters. Even installation, maintenance on so, operator Larry Garwood the entire collection system said, “The systems are averaged less than one hour simple, dependable, and easy per month, and not a single to maintain.” residential septic tank needed pumping. Lacey, Washington Steamboat, Lacey, Washington, was Oregon an early adopter of Orenco In 1999, an Orenco liquid- liquid-only sewer. The only sewer, followed by community’s first mainlines an innovative textile filter were installed in 1986. treatment system, was Orenco staff worked closely installed in Steamboat, Mobile, Alabama “Progressive AE has been with the city to design Oregon, to replace a leaking designing and observing the In the 1990's, South Alabama installation of STEP systems an effective maintenance gravity system along a wild Utilities realized it needed for small Michigan communities schedule that would provide and scenic . Annual to provide wastewater for over 15 years. And we’ve residents with a sustainable operating costs have been services to new subdivisions used the Orenco Systems 10 and affordable level of service. reduced by 72%! or risk losing customer STEP unit exclusively for more "We truly appreciate the than 10 years.” SW Barry County, share. Since then, SAU has effort that Orenco has made Michigan installed Orenco liquid-only William J. Parker, P.E. in doing what they can to sewer systems serving 47 To preserve water quality, this Progressive AE reduce our costs and effort," subdivisions. The collection Michigan lake county has had said Terry Cargil, City of system is connected to a liquid-only sewer system Lacey Water and Wastewater 3,000 homes, has capacity since 1993. The collection Supervisor. The city now has for 4,000, and includes more system started with more over 3,400 Orenco Sewer than 80 miles (129 km) of pipe. connections and almost 50 than 1,200 Orenco units, miles of small-diameter, liquid- which have been so depend- only sewer mains. able that almost 1,000 more have since been installed.

10. Interview with Jim Van Loan, owner of the Steamboat Inn, April 20, 2000. Prelos Sewers

Frequently Asked Questions

Liquid-only or "effluent" sewer systems have been in use for several decades. During that time, the technology has improved so dramatically that liquid-only sewers are highly recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as by engineers, academics, and public agencies.

Will the system What happens to smell bad? the solids that accumulate in No, not if properly designed the tank? and installed. Any waste- water collection system will Accumulation of solids smell if not properly designed occurs slowly because of the and installed. digestion process that takes place in the tank (which is I’ve heard stories designed to be watertight). In about these fact, the tank digests more systems failing. than 80% of the biosolids.14 Are they true? Remaining solids are easily Orenco liquid-only sewers managed through planned work well. Solid engineering, pumping schedules. proper equipment, and attention to detail ensure What if something that. With any type of sewer goes wrong with Who takes care Will there be lots my tank? system, poor engineering, of the system? of service per- Each property has a control sonnel on the substandard equipment, or The community or a utility will property? sloppy installation can cause panel with an alarm function. own the system and provide problems. These sewers Your system’s operator will Service time per home is centralized maintenance. have a well-documented be automatically notified of ® minimal. Utility meter readers Orenco’s VeriComm track record of success. any alarms. And the 24-hour come by far more Monitoring System can reserve space in your tank frequently. provide automated, round- Is the under- gives the operator time to ground tank hard the-clock, computerized have a problem checked. Do pumps have to take care of? supervision. Orenco provides to be repaired If I have more training for system operators or replaced No. We require tanks that frequently? are designed to be water- questions, who and engineers. can I call? No. With normal mainte- tight, and most need pump- Call Orenco at 541-459-4449 nance and cleaning, our ing only once every 10–12 13 or toll-free at 800-348-9843. pumps can last more than years. Otherwise, they’re 25 years.11 Plus, the elec- underground, out of sight, tricity to run them averages and out of mind. about $1.50 per month.12

11. As seen in the Elkton, Oregon, sewer system. 12. Run Time = 20 min/day, VAC = 115, A = 12.7, National Average Power Cost = $0.10/kWh. 13. Terry R. Bounds, P.E., 1995. “Septic Tank Septage Pumping Intervals.” Sutherlin, Oregon: Orenco Systems, Inc., 13. 14. H. Philip, S. Maunoir, A. Rambaud, and L. S. Philippi, 1993. "Septic Tank Sludges: Accumulation Rate and Biochemical Characteristics." Proceedings of the Second Inter- national Specialized Conference on Design and Operation of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants; Trondheim, Norway. Prelos Sewers

Rely on Orenco for System Support

Orenco's innovative solutions to wastewater problems have been helping to protect people, neighborhoods, and communities since 1981. Our designs appear regularly in engineering textbooks and professional journals, and our engineers are invited to speak around the world. We routinely offer our expertise in the following ways:

Project Delivery permitting assistance, plan works exclusively in the reviews, hydraulic analyses, decentralized sewer industry, On the front end, Orenco and electronic drawings of we’re able to offer unmatched offers design reviews for products and systems. We technical assistance. When community systems. On also provide plan reviews, you choose an Orenco the back end, we provide a bid documents, material system, you’ll have the variety of asset management specifications, O&M support, industry leader behind you. services, including O&M and tech support for protocols and recommenda- advanced controls, including tions to optimize financial telemetry and SCADA. performance. Training Engineering and Technical Support We offer installation and operation trainings at our We can provide referrals headquarters in Oregon, to engineers who have U.S.A., at off-site locations, successfully designed and via webinars. liquid-only sewers. And We provide training at our Oregon headquarters and we offer a wide range of Because our team of civil, around the country. engineering and technical environmental, mechanical, support services, including and electrical engineers

Orenco maintains an environ- mental lab and invests heavily in research.

Our engineers offer unmatched technical assistance. Orenco’s engineers and scientists have more than 500 years’ experi- ence in the water/wastewater industry. Prelos Sewers

Defining Sustainable Solutions Since 1981

With a deep respect for the environment and a long tradition of innovative problem-solving, Orenco Systems designs Orenco Systems is owned and managed and builds the world’s best by engineers who develop wastewater decentralized wastewater systems systems that work – systems based on with pride in Southern Oregon. sound science. Left to right: Eric Ball, Our products help ensure the P.E., Jeff Ball, P.E., Hal Ball, P.E., and health and safety of people, Terry Bounds, P.E. (in front). neighborhoods, and communities everywhere by protecting the world’s water.

We maintain an environmental lab and employ dozens of civil, electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers, as well as wastewater treatment system operators. Orenco’s technologies are based on sound scientific principles of chemistry, biology, mechanical structure, and hydraulics. As a result, our research appears in numerous publications, and our

Orenco is headquartered at a 26-acre (10.5 ha) site engineers are regularly asked to give in Oregon, a state that’s known for its environmentally workshops and trainings. sustainable practices. Founded in 1981, Orenco has become an industry leader, with about 350 employees and some 330 points of distribution across North and Central America, Australasia, Europe, and Africa. Our systems have been installed in more than 70 countries around the world.

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814 Airway Avenue, Sutherlin, OR 97479 USA 800-348-9843 or +1 541-459-4449 www.orenco.com

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