NITROGEN REMOVAL:

Five Star takes a unique approach to de-nitrification, by providing the degree of nitrate removal that is needed for each individual site. Nitrates are a very site-specific issue, and it is important to establish the actual nitrate presence, and at what level, as well as the sources or contributing factors on that specific site.
At this point, the focus is on reducing the cause / source of the excessive nitrates at the site, then providing the amount of nitrate reduction to cover the present need plus potential future needs. The bottom line is that the RBC plant can adapt to the site specific challenges and provide < 10 TN consistently in all cases.

COMPLIANCE IS IN PERFORMANCE, NOT PERSCRIPTION:

Nitrates are the issue of the hour in terms of onsite management. Unfortunately, some folks tend to use this as the worst kind of growth management (control). Unlike the other nutrients found in wastewater, the required level of removal of TN (total nitrogen) must be based on the maximum allowable, not like the 30 day average for CBOD5 and TSS. Therefore, it takes a very stable, surge free, consistent treatment to maintain the required level of compliance.

Nitrate reduction can only be managed by site-specific compliance, rather than by product review and evaluation, with its inherent selective interpretation.

Product acceptance based on a percentage of removal is no longer a reasonable approach, for a variety of reasons. First, it has been acknowledged that NSF / ANSI, in a controlled laboratory environment, is not directly related to actual in-field performance. Also, there is a vast difference in influent levels of nitrates, from site to site. The Five Star RDC package plant is one of the very few devices that provides complete / consistent numbers - (< 10 TN) at the end of the pipe, with no dependency on the soils for further treatment.

In the past, some regulators have set a certain percentage of nitrate reduction for compliance. Without an established base-line, any percentage of reduction is valueless

[ IE: A 50% reduction of nothing,is nothing ], further, how can a 50% reduction of 20 TN, equate to 50% of 150 TN, in order to meet < 10 TN ? If it is true that nitrates pose a risk, then it is time for a reality check, and to deal with actual real – time consistent field performance to the level of protection that is needed. Population dilution is not the solution, but unfortunately, it can be used for political agenda’s like growth miss-management.

Conversely, the activated sludge (aerator) pre-treatment devices fail to complete the de-nitrification cycle once the sewage is a mixed liquor solution. With this in mind, the way by which consistent de-nitrification is purported to occur, becomes a major factor. If this is dependent upon mechanical, electronic, digital, and or remote controlled system components, there is no guarantee that any level of TN reduction will be consistent. Re-circulation pumps and their timing / controls, high tech monitoring / control devices, flow surges, are some of the components that equate to weak links, in terms of consistent full de-nitrification. Again, it is not acceptable to meet the 10 (or-20) TN goal “part-time”, with occasional occurrences of 30 to 80 +.

From the start, the RBC package plant has been engineered and manufactured as a de-nitrification plant. RBC technology, in and of Itself, is recognized for it’s highly qualified ability to de-nitrify

Most important, is the fact that nitrate reduction in the RBC unit is provided by a simple re-circulation scoop, which returns a calculated amount of treated effluent back into the anaerobic (septic tank) zone where biological de-nitrification occurs. No pumps, controls, computers, timers, or other "whistles and bells" (weak links). This simplistic dependability ensures the needed amount of nitrate reduction will be provided - 24/7. Additional on-board de-nitrification can be added as needed for the specific site.

Nitrogen removal is covered in a separate report and is available upon request.