Peat Bio Filters
Effective Treatment of Domestic Effluent with a Peat
The discharge of septic tank effluent onto highly permeable soils may lead to nutrients entering the
groundwater or flowing laterally from the site to pollute local streams. Seven domestic dwellings
in a small village in northern New South Wales (NSW) were refurbished with new septic tank
systems, and individual on-site land application systems were constructed to reduce the high risks
of contamination of the groundwater and other off-site effects in this village.
Effective Treatment of Domestic Effluent with a Peat |
Onsite Wastewater Demo Project- Peat Bio Filters
Peat has been used for wastewater treatment since 1891. In Italy a professor of hygiene and the director of public health in Rome described using an early septic tank in combination with a "peat filter" to treat wastewater.
Peat is partially decayed organic matter mainly of plant origin. It consists of partly decomposed remains of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. In peat bogs the soil and the peat that forms on it, are saturated with water for much or all of the year. The partially decayed organic matter cannot complete its decomposition process because of the saturated conditions that exist in the peat bogs. Most of the living roots in the bog are situated in the semi-aquatic layer where the plant heads are just above water. Below this layer, there is an anaerobic zone where the pace of decomposition in the waterlogged soil is very slow. In the depths of the anaerobic layer decomposition has almost stopped. In these conditions peat or partly decomposed plant remains, accumulates in layers. In its natural state, peat may consist of as much as 98 percent water. One of its features is the capacity to bind or retain water. This natural water binding ability of peat accounts for its widespread use in horticultural applications and it also allows for a very long residence time when used to filter wastewater.
Onsite Wastewater Demo Project- Peat Bio Filters |
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