The Centrailzed Myth - Soil to the Rescue.

SSSA Onsite Wastewater Conference, Innovation in Soil-Based Onsite Wastewater Treatment April 7-8, 2014, Albuquerque, NM Type of Abstract: Community Systems Title of Paper: The Centralized Myth - Soil to the Rescue Abstract In most cases perception is reality, such is the case in the wastewater world. The centralized model has been perceived to be the Cadillac, the approach of choice, the most effective method for the long haul. This while the decentralized model has clawed its way from “ugly stepchild” to alternative, advanced, and cost effective wastewater treatment solution. Cities and towns throughout North America are facing the challenge of dealing with large volumes of wastewater discharged, often with minimal treatment, into concentrated locations such as rivers and other natural waterways. Centralized sewers, often seen as the preferred solution to wastewater issues, are a primary contributor to the discharge to surface waters problem. With a sustainable decentralized approach to wastewater treatment groundwater is extracted, consumed, treated onsite and close to its point of origin to recharge the aquifer. Decentralized systems can treat to the same level as centralized systems. Whatever size flow the project has, whether it is 5,000 gallons per day (gpd), 500,000 gpd, and even over 1 MGD a treatment solution using the decentralized model is available. This presentation will review the centralized model and its shortcomings and then discuss the overall benefits of the decentralized model and then review some large system case studies thus overturning the long held and common misperceptions. 6. About the Presenter Dennis F. Hallahan, PE Mr. Hallahan has over twenty years of experience with onsite wastewater treatment systems’ design and construction. He has authored several articles for onsite industry magazines and has given numerous presentations nationally on the science and fundamentals of onsite wastewater treatment systems. Dennis is currently Technical Director at Infiltrator Systems, where he is responsible for government relations and technology transfer between Infiltrator Systems and the regulatory and design communities. Dennis also oversees a staff that is responsible for product research and testing for both universities and private consultants. He received his MS in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut and his BS in civil engineering from the University of Vermont. Dennis is a registered professional engineer in Connecticut. Dennis also holds several patents for on-site wastewater products. Contact info: Dennis Hallahan 4 Business Park Rd. Old Saybrook, CT 06475 P: 800.221.4436 dhallahan@infiltratorsystems.net.