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Total nitrogen concentration of the effluent wastewater after septic tank treatment was determined <br /> in the calculations above (NW- Page 7) and found to be 42 mg N/L. Therefore,to determine the <br /> assumed total nitrogen concentration of raw wastewater influent,this nitrogen concentration in <br /> septic tank treated influent must be increased by 20%to account for nitrogen reduction occurring in <br /> the septic tank, in accordance with the findings of Dr. Stewart Oakley. <br /> Consequently, the total influent(raw wastewater)nitrogen concentration can be assumed to be 42 <br /> mg N/L x 20%=50 mg N/L. Complying with the 50%reduction in nitrogen concentrations <br /> between the raw wastewater influent and treated effluent, places the effluent concentration <br /> requirement after the proposed vegetative treatment at no greater than 25 mg N/L. <br /> According to The International Plant Nutrition Institute,which is now part of The Fertilizer <br /> Institute, 0.675 tons of Fescue grass removes 25 lbs of nitrogen per ton of Fescue removed. The <br /> following calculations demonstrate that the Fescue lawn grass can theoretically uptake the effluent <br /> nitrogen to lower the effluent concentration from 50 mg N/L to 25 mg N/L: <br /> 0.1 lbs Fescue grass/sf x 750 sf filter bed=75 pounds grass/cutting. <br /> 2 cuttings per month over eight month growing season(Feb-Oct) = 18 cuttings <br /> 75 lbs. grass/cutting x 18 cuttings = 1,350 lbs grass (0.675 tons) <br /> However, 50 mg/L of total nitrogen equates to 0.000416794 pounds of nitrogen per gallon of <br /> influent. The total volume of raw wastewater flow from the second unit dwelling is estimated to be: <br /> 225 gals ADF x 365 d/yr= 82,125 gals. Pounds of nitrogen in this volume= <br /> 82,125 gals x 0.000416794 lbs nitrogen/gals= 34 lbs of nitrogen spread over 750 ft', or 0.0453 lbs <br /> nitrogen/ft'. But based on the 50%reduction in total nitrogen requirements as referenced above, <br /> only 17 lbs of nitrogen would have to be treated by vegetative uptake, not the 25 lbs as calculated. <br /> The ammonium fraction of the wastewater,which constitutes approximately 80% of the septic <br /> tank-treated effluent is immediately available for uptake by the Fescue grass. The remaining 20% <br /> organic fraction must undergo ammonification before uptake. The total nitrogen is used since it is <br /> assumed this 20%will eventually undergo ammonification. <br /> V. MONITORING PROGRAM <br /> To determine nitrate concentrations from within vadose zone water under the EZFIow tubes, a Soil <br /> Solution Access Tube (SSAT)manufactured by the Irrometer Company is proposed, as illustrated in <br /> the attached data sheets. I am proposing to use this device to sample effluent that has percolated <br /> into the vadose zone under the EZFIow tubes. <br /> As-builts must be provided by the installer specifying the depth(soil-interface depth) and the exact <br /> location of the filter bed perimeter, either by placing stakes or some other marker at the four <br /> corners, or tying a filter bed corner distance from a fixed object. <br /> A hand auger will be used to drill a boring in between the tubes. A 48" SSAT will be installed, then <br /> extraction of a vadose zone water sample from at least 1 ft below the soil-effluent interface will be <br /> obtained by suction. <br /> I <br /> Page -10- <br /> Chesney Consulting <br />