The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Environmental Engineering Program, in spite of criticism, is many years ahead of other States in recognizing the importance of sidewall interfaces in Onsite Septic and Wastewater Treatment Systems

The use of the sidewall enhanced surface area was pioneered by the Living Filter in the late eighties and has been used with great efficacy ever since.  The Living Filter was first to provide venting of the soils exterior to the biological matrix, which forms at the anaerobic / aerobic interface in Septic System disposal devices, allowing more partially treated effluent to safely be dispersed into the native soil. 

January 2009 CT DPH Changes

Product I.D.:     

The Living Filters are marked, specifying model number, by a waterproof label located on first filter closest/facing   D-Box or Septic Tank

Living Filter Storage Volume is calculated as follows:

For LF with designation LF xx10:  LF length x vertical height to invert x 5.25 gal

For LF with designation LF xx24:  LF length x vertical height to invert x 9.7 gal

For LF with designation LF xx26:  LF length x vertical height to invert x 10.2 gal

In Massachusetts we have the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection pushing for homeowners and businesses to spend billions of dollars for sewer lines, pump stations and treatment plants in order to supposedly save the Cape Cod embayments from nitrogen, which they claim originate from septic systems.  Several studies indicate that a very small fraction of septic system nitrogen ever reaches open water. 

After more than 10 years of operation at a Condominium Site in South Yarmouth, MA these are the actual readings in the mound (groundwater) directly adjacent (5 lf) and down gradient the BIOREN System.  These test results have been similar during prior years testing.   Samples were drawn on June 26, 2008 by George Huefelder, RS, Barnstable County Health Dept.   Nitrate as Nitrogen = 0.21 mg/l (maximum contaminant level [MCL] is 10 mg/l), Nitrite as Nitrogen = None Detected (ND),   Ammonia as Nitrogen  = ND,   Phosphorous = 0.07 mg/l ,   Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) = 1.3 mg/l,   Total Suspended Solids = ND,   Fecal Coliform < 10 CFU / 100 ml.

Samples drawn by John Schnaible of Coastal Engineering on October 20, 2009 were as follows:

Nitrate as Nitrogen (N) = 0.34 mg/l,  Nitrite (as N) BRL (below reportable limits), Ammonia (as N) 0.84 mg/l,

TKN = 0.98 mg/l ,  BOD 5 Day = BRL  (Reportable Limit is 3.0) , Total Suspended Solids improperly sampled (the Technician uses a stiff pipe and a rapid pumping motion (thumb pump) agitating the liquid in the sampling cell) ,  pH units = 6.12

As a footnote, this particular BIOREN System utilizes approximately 20 % of the available leaching capacity which means little or no chance of overflow.  Septic Systems which back up and overflow to the surface are a severe threat to public health.

As long as there is a shortage of innovative tech savvy and open minds at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Alternative Systems Section,  a likely path is a straight line to an environmental disaster.  The interest in working Septic or other on site wastewater solutions is near non-existent. 

The Central Sewer push by the DEP is totally without basis.  It will worsen the pollution and eutrophication of the Embayments and destroy the Cape as we know it. 

FORMCELL  is an important resource for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and oilspill containment apparatus. The company has developed its own technology to clean water from domestic sewage, commercial discharges, storm water, overflow from lagoons and to treat most other contaminated water. The actual field performance of these systems has been outstanding with discharges within drinking water standards for some parameters (BIOREN System)

• LIVING FILTER cells can be used to construct cost effective, very efficient systems to renovate agricultural wastewater, overflow from lagoons and dairy waste.  The Living Filter cells can also be used in place of lagoons, reducing retention times, eliminating odors and freeing up land for other uses while discharge water quality is vastly improved.  Living Filter Connecticut Installation Manual
• The Living Filter is the time tested Most Efficient Infiltration device, (19 yrs.) for volume efficiency, while providing superior treatment vs open bottom and most other devices approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

• Main components of these systems are intellectual property protected in a number of countries including the United States.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce, U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency  Environmental Technology Initiative Conference (ETI) June, 1997 in Prague, Czech Republic.  A demonstration of U.S. Technologies for Environmental Assessment and Cleanup. 

• New CT Department of Public Health proposed rules will cost Connecticut property owners huge money and may degrade the environment - Speak up - Contact the CT DPH about using nitrogen analysis for small lots - before it converts into law -
• Click here for further reading.

 
• TM, Bioren/Living Filter  © All Rights Reserved, K. E.. Berg

Nitrogen data for a BIOREN System in use at Lone Oak Campground, E. Canaan, CT
Photo of Residential BIOREN System

If you have any comments or would like more information on any of the above please e-mail us at fomcell@nitrap.com Tel: 413 566-0107

For Hartford, Connecticut please call (860) 604-6146