NEWTS:
Nature-Emulating
Waste Treatment System
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NEWTS?
NEWTS
is a nature-emulating waste treatment system designed especially for
Boxerwood
Gardens
.
NEWTS treats human
waste by utilizing natural processes.
It is designed to be environmentally friendly, educational, flexible, and
attractive. It also provides
opportunities for research, thereby contributing to our knowledge about nature
and human waste treatment
NEWTS converts waste into resource -
As the water moves through NEWTS – at each stage, in whatever shape
the water is in – something (microorganism, plant, fish, and/or animal) finds
it attractive and recomposes it so that it is attractive at the next stage.
The waste becomes a resource.
From NEWTS - water returns safely to the natural water cycle.
Why build NEWTS? (considerations for Boxerwood,
or generally for our area)
The
land available for a traditional septic system at Boxerwood was
not large enough and does not “perk.”
When water is discharged to land that does not perk, it cannot seep into
the ground fast enough.
It frequently puddles for days creating a health hazard.
The
limestone geology in western
Virginia
is predominately karst. When
surface water infiltrates the ground, its acids slowly dissolve calcium
carbonate in the limestone bedrock. Fissures and sinkholes develop through
which water flows freely underground. Instead
of slowly filtrating through the soil, untreated waste can leak directly into
the groundwater.
Virginia
Building
Code for septic systems
sets the placement for a septic field too deep for plants to take up excess
nutrients and toxins before wastewater moves toward the groundwater.
Chesapeake
Bay Watershed
- The toxins and excess nutrients (particularly nitrates) in
human waste are a threat to all the waters in our watershed address: Boxerwood,
Woods Creek,
Maury
River
,
James River
, the
Chesapeake Bay
.
How
does it work (generally)?
NEWTS is a combination of recirculating
media filter, ultraviolet light, and constructed wetlands. The workers are
microorganisms, the diverse community of aquatic pond life, and ultraviolet
light.
Wastewater
flows from Munger Lodge to a
traditional Septic Tank.
There the water separates into three layers and the cleaner, middle
layer flows to the Pumping Chamber.
It joins a portion of wastewater that has already been treated and is
being returned for further treatment. The pump conveys the wastewater mixture to
the Recirculating Media Filter,
where it is distributed over the top of the filter bed. As the wastewater flows
through the carefully graded media, microorganisms that are attached to the
particles further break it down.
The
treated wastewater collects in underdrains and moves toward the
Distribution
Box where a portion (4/5) is directed back to the
Pumping Chamber where it is recycled for further treatment
and another portion (1/5) is sent to the Greenhouse
and its Constructed Wetlands.
The
Constructed Wetlands
consists of two
parts: Subsurface
Wetlands and
Free
Surface Wetlands,
where the
plants and the
microorganisms that naturally live on their stems and roots feed on the
nutrients and toxins remaining in the wastewater.
In between the two
wetlands, water is pumped to a
UV
Light which
kills residual bacteria and
viruses. At
this point, the wastewater has been cleaned and can be enjoyed by Goldfish in
the
Greenhouse Pond.
When
water leaves NEWTS,
it returns to the
natural water cycle at the
Runoff Pond.
And….
Why
does the water recirculate?
Recirculation increases the oxygen content in the treated wastewater thereby
reducing odor and increases the number of treatment opportunities by the
microorganisms.
What
is a constructed wetland and how does it work?
Constructed wetlands are designed to mimic processes found in natural
wetland ecosystems. Wetland plants, soils and their associated
microorganisms remove contaminants and excessive nutrients, including nitrogen
and phosphorous. Treatment wetlands are also especially efficient at removing
contaminants such as suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and even metals.
Are
constructed wetlands reliable?
When applied appropriately and constructed properly, treatment wetlands can
effectively remove most pollutants associated with municipal and industrial
wastewater and storm water. Currently over 500 wastewater and storm water
treatment wetlands have been constructed in the
US
alone. New applications range from
small rural communities, such as
Mt. Angel
,
Oregon
, to large urban areas, such as
Phoenix
,
Arizona
.
What
is ultraviolet light and what does it do?
Ultraviolet light is a form of luminous energy occupying a position in
the spectrum of sunlight beyond the violet with wavelengths that do not enter
the visible spectrum. UV rays accelerate deterioration of many things including
our skin, our eyes, but also such waterborne diseases as: E. coli, hepatitis,
cholera, dysentery and typhoid fever.
Because enough sunlight (containing UV light) is not always available to
our water, we use an artificial system to assure there will always be enough .
Water
enters the purifier’s chamber.
Once inside, it is exposed to UV light.
UV light can destroy up to 99.99% of
all bacteria, protozoa, viruses, molds, algae and other microbes.
Who built NEWTS?
Designed
by:
Rodney Pierson, Professional Engineer
In
consultation with: John
Schoffield,
Va.
Health Dept. Water
Programs, Brandon
Kiracofe, Environmental Engineer, DEQ
- Valley Regional Office, James
Kreissl, US Environmental Protection Agency* (* provided by Canaan Valley
Institute)
Construction by: Contractor - Hunter Mohring; Backhoe & Plumbing - Steve
Thomas; Electricity & Electronics - Ben & Lois Brown; Work Force &
Garden oversight - K B Landscapes; Laborer & problem solver extraordinaire -
Will Norris,
all
under the watchful and helpful eye of John Schoffield.
