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<br />2 <br /> <br />the nitrogen removal within the leachfield system, providing up to approximately 30% <br />additional nitrogen reduction as compared with standard gravity flow systems. This is <br />due mainly to the wetting-drying cycles (from pressure dosing), maintaining an <br />aerobically active gravel-soil interface along trench bottom, and making maximum use of <br />the available soils for wastewater contact and treatment. Calculations indicate that with <br />this mitigation approach, the resultant Nr value would be reduced to 9.73 mg/l, below the <br />10 mg/L compliance criterion. <br /> <br />The following assumptions used in my analysis: <br /> <br /> Recharge Area: 2.5 acres (1.0 acres vegetated, 1.5 acres hardscape) <br /> Wastewater flow: <br /> Proposed project (2 bed): 150 gpd <br /> 241 French Camp Rd (4-bed) 250 gpd <br /> 255 French Camp Rd (Store) 150 gpd <br /> Total 550 gpd <br /> Annual wastewater volume: (550 gpd*365/325,851) = 0.62 ac-ft/yr <br /> Nitrogen effluent concentration, Nw = 62 mg/L <br /> Soil denitrification rate for standard OWTS, d = 0.20 <br /> Soil denitrification rate for pressure distribution leachfield, d=50% <br /> Rainfall recharge, R = 10.68 inches per year, or 2.23 ac-ft/yr for 2.5 acre area <br /> Background nitrate Nb = 0.1 mg/L <br /> <br />Based on this extended analysis of wastewater nitrate loading for the entire “block”, I would <br />revise my prior recommendations to still include the use of a pressure distribution system for <br />nitrogen mitigation, but eliminate the requirement for an advanced nitrogen-removal treatment <br />unit. <br /> <br />Sawdust Mitigation Proposal <br /> <br />The OWTS designer (Don Chesney) has proposed the use of a layer of sawdust over the entire <br />bottom soil-infiltrative surface of the proposed leaching beds as a means of mitigating nitrate- <br />nitrogen loading impacts from the percolating wastewater. I have previously reviewed this <br />proposed mitigation idea for another property, and found no technical information or examples to <br />support this approach. In my opinion this proposal is without merit and would do more harm <br />than good. <br /> <br /> Chesney’s proposal is to line the bottom of the leaching bed with sawdust to create a <br />heavy anaerobic layer to capture nitrogen. The supporting theory for this is missing, but <br />more importantly this would directly interfere with the maintenance of aerobic soil <br />conditions which is essential for long-term infiltration and drainage of wastewater and <br />pathogen removal. The anaerobic layer will lead to early soil clogging and failure of the <br />leachfield. <br />