HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Daniel, T. C. Articles by Bouma, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Daniel, T. C. Articles by Bouma, J. Agricola Articles by Daniel, T. C. Articles by Bouma, J.

Column Studies of Soil Clogging in a Slowly Permeable Soil as a Function of Effluent Quality¹

ABSTRACT

Clogging as a function of effluent quality was investigated in cores of the very slowly permeable Almena silt loam soil which offers problems for conventional on-site liquid waste disposal. Undisturbed 60 cm long cores were subjected for approximately 120 days to constant ponding with simulated septic tank effluent, extended aeration effluent and distilled water. Column influents and effluents were monitored with respect to chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and solid residue fractions. Column influents differed markedly in COD and BOD content but column effluents had consistently low contents indicating the high renovative capacity of the soil. In situ tensiometric, redox, and flow rate measurements indicated development of the most severe barriers to flow in columns ponded with low BOD aerated effluent, followed closely by those ponded with high BOD septic tank effluent. No barriers developed in columns ponded with water. Total concentrations of solid residue fractions in the two effluents and the cumulative load of solids applied to the columns did not differ significantly, but particle sizes in the aerated effluent were smaller. Increased pore clogging in aerated influent treatments points to the significant role of effluent solids in the clogging process in slowly permeable clayey soils. Additional studies are in progress to better define critical waste characteristics as related to soil clogging.

Key Words: septic tank effluent • extended aeration • soil disposal • liquid waste

¹ Contribution from the Soil Science Department, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Univ. of Wisconsin and the Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey, Univ. Extension, Madison, Wisconsin. This research was part of the Small Scale Waste Management Project, Univ. of Wisconsin funded by the Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission and the State of Wisconsin.

² Assistant Professor and Associate Professor of Soil Science, respectively.

Received for publication December 9, 1973.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Rodgers, J. Mulqueen, and M. G. Healy Surface Clogging in an Intermittent Stratified Sand Filter Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 2004; 68(6): 1827 - 1832. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]