Recirculating Media Filter Technology Assessment and Design Guidance
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Recirculating Media Filter Technology Assessment and Design Guidance Iowa Department of Natural Resources August 2007 Rercirculating Media Filter Technology Assessment and Design Guidance Iowa Department of Natural Resources The publication of this document has been funded in part by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Nonpoint Source Management Program (Section 319 of the Clean Water Act). NOTICE This document has been reviewed in accordance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources policies and procedures and has been approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This manual has been developed under the direction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and was prepared by: 5075 East University Avenue, Suite E Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50327-7001 Phone: (515) 263-8882 We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for contributing to the completion of this manual: CONTRACT PROJECT OFFICERS: Satya Chennupati, Iowa Department of Natural Resources G. Brent Parker, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Jason Miller, MSA Professional Services, Inc. AUTHORS: Gil Hantzsch, MSA Professional Services, Inc. TECHNICAL PEER REVIEW: Dr. Ted Loudon, Michigan State University OTHER CONTRIBUTING REVIEWERS: Larry Bryant, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wayne Farrand, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Terry Kirschenman, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Jim Carroll, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Jason Miller, MSA Professional Services Doug Wilcox, MSA Professional Services TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1 A. Scope......................................................................................................................1 B. Terminology..........................................................................................................2 C. Discharge Performance Capability ....................................................................4 II. PROCESS DESCRIPTION ...............................................................................................6 A. Background of Recirculating Sand and Gravel Filters....................................6 B. Application ...........................................................................................................7 C. Typical Size Requirements..................................................................................8 D. Relative Cost.........................................................................................................8 E. Process Description..............................................................................................8 1. Primary Treatment by Septic Tanks...........................................................8 2. Filter Dosing ..............................................................................................9 3. Filter Media and Wastewater Distribution.................................................9 a) Grain Size.....................................................................................11 b) Uniformity....................................................................................12 c) Depth............................................................................................13 d) Selection.......................................................................................13 e) Wastewater Distribution ..............................................................14 4. Liner and Underdrain ...............................................................................14 5. Flow Splitting and Recirculation .............................................................15 III. PERFORMANCE............................................................................................................18 A. Performance Data ..............................................................................................18 1. BOD Removal Data .................................................................................18 a) Sand Media ..................................................................................18 b) Gravel Media ...............................................................................19 2. TSS Removal ...........................................................................................20 a) Sand Media ..................................................................................20 b) Gravel Media ...............................................................................20 3. Ammonia Removal ..................................................................................21 a) Sand Media ..................................................................................22 b) Gravel Media ...............................................................................22 4. Pathogen Reduction .................................................................................23 B. Loading Rate Considerations ...........................................................................26 1. Hydraulic Loading Rates..........................................................................26 2. Dosing Rate and Frequency .....................................................................26 3. Organic Loading Rates.............................................................................27 C. Temperature Considerations ............................................................................29 1. BOD Removal..........................................................................................30 2. Ammonia Removal ..................................................................................30 IV. IDNR BACKGROUND AND REQUIREMENTS .........................................................32 V. DESIGN GUIDANCE .....................................................................................................33 A. Design Process Overview...................................................................................34 Step 1 - Determine design requirements..............................................................34 Step 2 - Size pretreatment unit.............................................................................34 Step 3 - Size Recirculation Tank .........................................................................34 Step 4 - Size Sand Filter and Distribution System...............................................34 Step 5 - Size dosing pumps and controls .............................................................34 Step 6 - Determine size, number and location of filter underdrain collectors ....34 Step 7 - Size flow splitter elements......................................................................35 Step 8 - Size downstream elements .....................................................................35 Step 9 - Determine hydraulic profile and set elevations ......................................35 B. Site Selection.......................................................................................................35 C. Design Requirements .........................................................................................36 1. Design Flow.............................................................................................36 2. Peak Hourly Flow Rate............................................................................36 3. Wastewater Loadings...............................................................................36 4. Treatment Goals.......................................................................................38 D. Recirculation Tank ............................................................................................38 E. Sand Filter ..........................................................................................................38 1. Distribution Piping Spacing.....................................................................38 2. Distribution Piping Layout.......................................................................38 3. Hydraulic Loading Rate Selection ...........................................................40 4. Filter Layout.............................................................................................43 5. Media Selection .......................................................................................46 a) Fine filtering media......................................................................46 b) Coarse underdrain media .............................................................46 6. Filter Bed Depth.......................................................................................47 7. Filter Under drain.....................................................................................47 8. Monitoring Tubes.....................................................................................48 9. Filter Liner ...............................................................................................49 10. Recirculation Control...............................................................................51 F. Dosing Pump Controls.......................................................................................51 G. Design Examples ................................................................................................54 VI. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE INFORMATION