The Central Queensland University developed an on-site wastewater treatment and
reuse technology. Septic tanks were used for primary treatment and the discharged
effluent was then pumped though a series of contained channels. The channels were
designed to be a modified evapotranspiration trench; they were comprised of an
aggregate layer and a soil layer in which were planted a variety of plants. The
aggregate and the soil provided physical filtration, the microorganisms within the
effluent, aggregate and soil provided nutrient reuse and transformation and the
plants also used the nutrients and reused the treated effluent through
evapotranspiration. Any effluent that was not transpired was returned to a holding
tank and pumped through the evapotranspiration again. The treatment technology
was assessed in relation to its ability to treat effluent in a sustainable manner. The
water and soil was examined for concentrations of nutrients, heavy metals, salts,
sodium, and organic carbon %. The pH, temperature and number of colony forming
units of certain microorganism potential pathogens were also inspected in the soil
and the water. The plants grown within the evapotranspiration channels were
assessed in regards to their health, water usage, and in some cases potential
pathogens on fruit. The infrastructure that was used to construct the wastewater
treatment and reuse system was also evaluated in regards to reliability and
maintenance. Certain limiting factors, in particular sodicity and salinity were
identified, but the trial was successful and a sustainable form of on-site wastewater
treatment and reuse technology was developed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/217320 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Kele, Benjamin Mark, b.kele@cqu.edu.au |
| Publisher | Central Queensland University. Biology |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.library.cqu.edu.au/cqulibrary/disclaimer.htm), Copyright Benjamin Mark Kele |
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