Request to State Board of Plumbers and Gas Fi ers
The Value of Falmouth’s Estuaries
Falmouth has more estuaries than any other town in Massachuse s (15 total)
Home to a wide variety of marine life
A focal point for community recrea on - fishing, boa ng, passive enjoyment Our Estuaries are in Trouble
50 years of development: • Excess nitrogen is the main cause of the decline of our estuaries • At least 75% of the controllable nitrogen input comes from sep c systems (MA DEP)
Li le Pond, 1950 Li le Pond, 2009 Why Remove Nitrogen?
Fish Kills Loss of Habitat
Algae Blooms Loss of Recrea on Odors
What is Falmouth Doing?
• April 2011 Town Mee ng unanimously passed Ar cle 17, appropria ng $2.7 million to proceed with sewer design and alterna ve demonstra on projects
• Voters approved this measure on a town-wide ballot, by a 2 – 1 margin in every precinct Y3E0%-#-!63!/0*3!GBB,(A#-!2@! )#0#E'1#3!*3-!8(Z3!L##J3F!
!!K&@&/!+(@&/!+5L#&!M(13! !!N53&1!'(B/1&*!M(13!O1#&:! !!P(1I:/%350(1%#!K(#B0(1*Q! •! •! -(%3!-B1(U!-&)&35%0(1! •! M&/)&%9#&!-&%.0F&!'%//5&/*! ! Falmouth’s Goal Implement nitrogen-reduc on strategies that solve the problem at the LOWEST COST possible First, we need to figure out what really works What the Studies Say: Why Urine Diver ng Fixtures? Over 140 residents have indicated interest in “eco-toilets” Of those, over 40 requested site visits (completed) Compos ng toilets technically feasible in ~ 20 homes (crawl space, no basement, finished basement) ~ 30 homeowners prefer urine-diver ng op on More residents con nue to ask for urine diver ng fixtures MA DEP & Cape Cod Commission strongly support UD research Eco-Toilet Research Project RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: Ø Scien fically validate the amount of nitrogen removed from household effluent when human waste is removed. Required by MaDEP for assignment of N-removal credit to “eco-toilets” Ø Determine the real cost of retrofits into exis ng homes Ø Document the technical feasibility of retrofits Ø Study whether urine diver ng fixtures func on properly Details of Toilet Installa on Thousands installed in Sweden; dozens installed in Switzerland, Germany, Australia Research published in “peer-reviewed” journals For example: • 130 condos in Stockholm • 400 homes in Tantum • 250 homes in Kullon Details of Toilet Installa ons Swiss Federal Ins tute of Aqua c Science and Technology From 2000 to 2006, this cross-cutting project explored the potential of urine diverting toilets, (NoMix). Participating in the project were researchers from the fields of sociology, economics, natural sciences and engineering. They worked closely together with the sanitary technology industry. Pilot project I: Four private apartments (2001) Pilot project II: Eawag office building (2001) Pilot project III: Vocational college (2002) University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) operated three NoMix toilets and six waterless urinals in a vocational college. Pilot project IV: Basel-Landschaft cantonal library in Liestal (2005) 200,000 visitors annually 30 homes in KingLake AU: Mitchell et. Al., (2011) 'Mutual Learning for Social Change: Using social research to support the introduc on of urine diver ng toilets in the Kinglake West Sewerage Project', Ins tute of Sustainable Futures, Sydney Toilet Installa on Key Findings Design, smell, hygiene, and concept highly acceptable to general users. Bibliography Berndtsson, J.C., Experiences from the implementation of a urine separation system: Goals, planning, reality, Building and Environment 41, 427–437(2006) Blume , S., Winker, M., Three years of operation of the urine-diversion system in GTZ headquarters in Germany, user opinions and maintenance challenges. IWA Conference Manuscript Number IWA-4173R1 (2010) Esrey, S., Andersson, I., Hillers, A., Sawyer, R., Closing the Loop: Ecological Sanitation for Food Security, UNDP, Sida, (2001) Guest, J. S.; Skerlos, S. J.; Barnard, J. L.; Beck, M. B.; Daigger, G. T.; Hilger, H.; Jackson, S. J.; Karvazy, K.; Kelly, L.; Macpherson, L.; Mihelcic, J. R.; Pramanik, A.; Raskin, L.; van Loosdrecht, M. C. M.; Yeh, D.; Love, N. G. A new planning and design paradigm to achieve sustainable resource recovery from Wastewater, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43 (16), 6126–6130 (2009) Hazen and Sawyer, Florida Onsite Sewage Nitrogen Reduction Strategies Study, Task A.2: Literature Review of Nitrogen Reduction Technologies for Onsite Sewage Treatment Systems, Final Report (2009) Johansson, M., Wijkmark, J., Urine Separation- Closing the Nutrient Cycle: Final Report on the R&D Project on Source Separated Human Urine Stockholm Water (2001) Kvarnström, E., Emilsson, K., Stintzing, A.R., Johansson, M., Jönsson, H., Ebba af Petersens, Schönning, C., Christensen, J., Hellström, D., Qvarnström, L., Ridderstolpe, P., Drangert, J., Urine Diversion: One Step Towards Sustainable Sanitation, Stockholm Environment Institute (2006) Larsen, T. A., Lienert, J. Novaquatis final report. NoMix – A new approach to urban water management. Eawag, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland (2007) Lienert J. & Larsen T... Considering user attitude in early development of environmentally friendly technology: A case study of NoMix toilets, Environ. Sci.Technol. 40(16), 4838-4844, (2006) Lienert J. & Larsen T., High Acceptance of Urine Source Separation in Seven European Countries: A Review, Environ. Sci. Technol. 44, 556–566 (2006) Meinzinger F. , Oldenburg M., Characteristics of source-separated household wastewater flows - a statistical assessment, Water Sci. Technol. 59(9), 1785-1791 (2009) Pahl-Wostl, C., Schönborn, A., Muncke N., Willi, J., Larsen, T.A., Investigating consumer attitudes towards the new technology of urine separation, Water Science and Technology Vol 48(1) 57–65 (2003) Peter-Fro¨ hlich, A., A., Pawlowski, L., Bonhomme, A., and Oldenburg , M., EU demonstration project for separate discharge and treatment of urine, faeces and greywater – Part I: Results, Water Science & Technology Vol 56 (5) 239–249 (2007) SuSanA Case study of sustainable sanitation projects. Urine and brownwater separation at Eschborn, Germany. Sustainable Sanitation Alliance. URL: http://www.susana.org/images/documents/06-case- studies/ensusana-cs-germany-eschborn-house-1-2009.pdf. (2009) Vogel, G., Finding a New Way to Go, Science, Vol. 337 (10) ( 2012) Why not Manufacturer? Evere Rogers in Diffusion of Innova ons UD fixture does not meet a pressing need. Customers buy for ideological reasons. Businesses that serve innovators and early adopters are small and do not have market base to support R&D. ONLY manufacturers are in Sweden, adding significant costs to US R&D. Request for Test Site Status • This is a Research Project • Limited to single family residences in Falmouth • Limited to homeowners that enroll in Ecotoilet Program Enrollment includes signing a contract with town • Licensed plumber installs en re system • Local Board of Health approval • Monthly oversight by BCDHE, Program Manager • Documenta on of 4 main parameters: – Toilet Func oning/user feedback – Nitrogen-removal – Cost of installa on – Complexity of installa on • Maximum of 40 test sites Urine Diver ng System Tank Specifica ons Annual water SIZING % time at flush@ TOTAL Home daily (L) # Persons liters/day liters/year gallons 10/day (gal) gallons Adult 100% 1.5 2 3 1095 289.08 142 431 Annual water % time at flush@ TOTAL Home daily (L) # Persons liters/day liters/year gallons 10/day (gal) gallons Adult 50% 1.5 2 3 1095 289.08 142 431 Child 50% 0.75 2 1.5 547.5 142.35 142 285 TOTAL (50%) 358 TYPE H-10 or H-20 Storage Tank, that have already been approved by MA DEP for sep c systems Installed on stable, compacted base Alarm at 2/3 full, per local, county Boards of Health 500 gallon, sized for annual pumping Fill from bo om Toilet Details The Plumbing Code protects the public • Vitreous china meets ASTM 1112 • Two separate bowls • Solids bowl is liquid seal flush into sep c • Dual Flush component: Chicago Faucet (Geberit) – IAPMO cer fica on: h p://www.geberit.us/codes_approvals.php • Membrane seal: Dunlop-Hiflex – EU Cer fica on through Din Deutsches Ins tut fur Normung (DIN 3266-1 An -Vacuum Valves) • Urine flush 0.15L (0.6 cup) Flushing Mechanism Manufactured to a standard The component is manufactured by Chicago Faucet/IAPMO-cer fied Aerial View of Bowl Diameter = 1 ¾ inch The urine valve and tubing is manufactured by DUNLOP-HIFLEX Key Issues: Odor Control and Ven ng Preferred installa on – one toilet per drain line: • Membrane trap, direct discharge (no water seal) • Ven ng of urine line (ensure internal pressure is equalized; proper drainage from piping to storage tank) WHY? Liquid seal traps have history of odor because small flush volume (~1/2 cup) does not clear trap, so urine gets stuck. Alternate installa on: • P-trap liquid seal Fixture #2: Wostman EcoFlush Main Differences: • Water Seal Required • Urine flush volume higher: 0.5 L (2 cups) • Urine tube opening smaller (1” OD) • Barrier 3” versus 6”, no lip O,!;I:/%;!B*&3E!)%C!9&!0&3!51:(!&_5*01$!F&1:!*:%.^! O,!)&)9/%1&!*&%#!5*!B*&3E!)B*:!B*&!*&;%/%:&!/((,!F&1:! :8"!i!cl! >I>R ]X!;5;&! a_5*01$!(/!1&@!@%*:&!F&1:! A&)9/%1&!*&%#! "##!&_;(*&3!B/51&!3/%51*! VX!;5;&!(B:! ,(B13%0(1!@%##! )B*:!9&!.#&%/#C!)%/^&3! c/51&!?%1^! Wc-OPa!`-"OP!2P+qX! Fixture #3: Separe The ETL Listed Mark is proof of product compliance (electrical, gas and other safety standards) to North American safety standards. Authori es Having Jurisdic on (AHJ’s) in 50 states and Canada and retailers accept the ETL Listed Mark as proof of product safety. Standards tested for the North American Market: UL, ANSI, CSA, ASTM, NFPA, NOM Urine-Diver ng Dry System Ø Dry compos ng fixture with storage bin for solids Ø Ven ng func onally the same as Product Approved compos ng systems Ø Urine-diversion to standard H-10 or H-20 tanks that are approved by MA DEP for sep c systems Ø 500 gallon, sized for annual pumping Ø Fill from bo om Y3&'*00*J(3!M#'*60&! "! _,63#!M6A#,J3F!56D'%,#!i %,63#!63'(!'*3^! "! )(06-&!n%&9!63'(!G$%*',(3! &#B*,*'(,!B6B#!KZ*'#,!&#*0N! "! )(06-&!-,(B!63'(!*!/,(-%E'! GEE#B'#-!E(1B(&'#,P!Z6'9! -#-6E*'#-!A#3'!'9,(%F9!,((.! "! O6$%6-!F(#&!63'(!&#BJE! &@&'#1! "! /[',*B!2#'Z##3!06$%6-!B6B#! *3-!&#BJE! Use and Maintenance Thank You QUESTIONS? Installa on Details Drain line sizes: 1 3/4” @ fixture to 2” in wall to 4” through founda on Main vent stack is 3” All drain line material: Schedule 40 PVC (non-foam core) Minimum slope of drain lines: 7/8” per foot (4%) NO 90 degree angles