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Nitrate Contamination pp 415–433Cite as

Elimination of Ground-Water Contamination by Septic-Tank Effluent

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 30))

Abstract

In the laboratory, a sand-filled tank was used to represent a cross section of a soil-absorption trench. The top layer received half of the septic-tank effluent under aerobic conditions, while the remaining half directly entered the lower section. The lower section had a raised discharge to maintain anaerobic conditions. The unit removed more than 90% of nitrogen from the effluent, resulting in nitrogen concentrations consistently less than 10 mg/L. The results suggest that design modifications to conventional absorption trenches can achieve excellent nitrate removal without an external carbon source, mechanical additions, or other complexities.

“Nitrates are increasing almost everywhere in surface and underground waters. The amounts had been declining until recent years. Massive documentation has not disclosed any resulting benefit to man. Evidence is accumulating that both nitrates and nitrites may create adverse effects on humans.” Abel Wolman (1983)

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Author information

Author notes

  1. S. Irrinki

    Present address: Wright Pierce Engineers, 99 Main Street, Topsham, ME, 04086, USA

  2. P. S. Pinkham

    Present address: Terratech Inc., 1365 Vander Way, San Jose, CA, 95112, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA

    C. A. Rock, S. Irrinki & P. S. Pinkham

Authors
  1. C. A. Rock
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  2. S. Irrinki
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  3. P. S. Pinkham
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0531, USA

    Istvan Bogárdi  & Wilma G. Ennenga  & 

  2. University of Nebraska Water Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68583-0844, USA

    Robert D. Kuzelka

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Rock, C.A., Irrinki, S., Pinkham, P.S. (1991). Elimination of Ground-Water Contamination by Septic-Tank Effluent. In: Bogárdi, I., Kuzelka, R.D., Ennenga, W.G. (eds) Nitrate Contamination. NATO ASI Series, vol 30. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76040-2_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76040-2_31

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76042-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76040-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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