T

he home wastewater treatment system is a step forward from the older septic tank system for waste
water treatment. It will provide a cleaner environment.
Home systems and small commercial systems are designed to handle waste treatment in areas that
cannot be serviced by city sewer systems. Without a home treatment system, many homes could not
be built in areas with very slow percolating soils, clay, rock or high water tables. Some of those condi-
tions can allow effluent from a septic tank to move through the soil without treatment, polluting under-
ground water supplies, ditches and streams. Home treatment systems can remedy those situations by
using the same treatment process used by large central treatment plants. They are simply treatment
plants down-sized to accommodate smaller requirements.
Basics of Wastewater
Treatment Systems
Because of the high quality of effluent discharged from home
treatment systems, many alternate methods of disposal are now
possible. Some regulatory agencies allow direct discharge of the
effluent to streams, lakes, bays and other bodies of water. In
areas where this is not allowed, other methods are used such as
irrigation or drip irrigation for lawns, pastures, landscaped areas
and golf courses. With additional accessories, recycled effluent
can be used for many other non-potable water uses.
When a stream or small river runs through rocks and over logs,
turbulence is created. Oxygen is captured in the water.
Aerobic bacteria utilize this oxygen to thrive and grow,
speeding up their digestive process allowing the stream to
purify itself. In the same way, a wastewater treatment
system speeds up the aerobic bacteria process through
repeated aeration of the effluent. Air is brought in to the
system by an air compressor. The air is diffused into thou-
sands of tiny bubbles. As these bubbles move through the
wastewater, oxygen is captured and the purification process takes
place just like the stream. The air compressor is located outside the
treatment system for ease of service. This keeps the compressor
away from the corrosive environment and the potential problem
of flooding.
Gast Compressor Options
for Home Treatment Systems
The Concept
Disposal Alternatives
Regenerative Blower
Linear Compressor
Rotary Vane Compressor
*This guide is written to familiarize general terms and system layout for home sewage
treatment systems. It is not intended for any design purposes. It should be noted that several
pneumatic technologies are used when supplying compressed air. In our experience, rotary
vane, regenerative blowers, and linear pumps have all been used as air sources. It is up to
the system installer to determine the air requirements and the Gast sales person to provide
the pneumatic solution.
for the Home*
How it Works
To accomplish this aeration and purification, most systems use two separate compartments within a
single treatment tank. Effluent from the home will enter the aeration compartment of the system. In this
area, thousands of tiny air bubbles provide oxygen for the aerobic digestion process and mixes the
compartments entire contents. These tiny bubbles quicken the aerobic digestion process. Aerobic
bacteria then use the oxygen in the solution to break down the wastewater, converting it to an odorless
liquid.
Hydraulic displacement causes the liquid to enter the second compartment. Due to the sloping walls of
the clarification compartment, any remaining solids will return to the aeration compartment for further
treatment and break down. The remaining clear effluent, then traveling through a filter, is added assur-
ance that only a high quality, clear, odorless, effluent leaves the system. The effluent discharged from a
system has been highly treated and is normally colorless and odorless.
Compressor
Options
TERMS:
There are several terms that are referenced in discussing
wastewater treatment systems:
Flow Volume - is the hydraulic load or flow which is
referenced as GPD or Gallons per Day. A typical three
bedroom home with four people will have an approximate
system flow volume of 360 GPD. Many factors contribute
to flow volume such as flush toilets, sinks, showers,
dishwashers and floor drains. Also to consider is the
condition of these areas. Do the faucets leak? Do the
toilets run? Is the homeowner conscious of water usage?
There are systems available from several manufacturers
as high as 1000 GPD and even 1500 GPD.
Waste Strength - The waste strength is referred to as the
biological load on the system. The primary parameters
used to measure the waste strength are: Biochemical
Oxygen Demand or BOD, Total Suspended Solids or TSS
and Fats, Oils, and Greases or FOGs.
Registered Trademark/ Trademark of Gast Manufacturing Inc.
Copyright Gast Manufacturing Inc. All rights reserved.
IDEX CORPORATION
Alarm Float
Inlet (From Trash Trap)
Air
Line
Connection
Sludge
Deflector
Outlet
Ground Level
Access Cover
Air Drop Line
Air Drop Line
Wastewater Treatment Unit
Clarification
Compartment
Filter
Aeration
Area
Air
Diffusers
GPD- Gallons Per Day
BOD- Biological Oxygen Demand
TSS- Total Suspended Solids
FOGs- Fats, Oils, and Greases
For more information, contact us:
GAST MANUFACTURING, INC.
A Unit of IDEX Corporation
PO Box 97, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49023-
0097
Phone: 616-926-6171 Fax: 616-925-8288
www.gastmfg.com
Regenerative Blower Performance
Pressures to 284 H
2
O (10.25 psig/707 mbar)
Air flow to 810 cfm (1376 m
3
/h)
Linear Performance
Pressures to 10.5 psig (0,72 bar)
Air flow to 8.6 cfm (244 lpm)
Rotary Vane Performance
Pressures to 25 psig (1,7 bar)
Air flow to 112 cfm (190 m
3
/h)