The majority of homes and businesses in the Greater Richmond area rely on their municipality to receive water and process wastewater once it has been used. As a responsible and fiscally concerned citizen, It is your responsibility to maintain your sewer and water pipes and keep them in good working order. Overburdening your municipalities wastewater treatment plant through poorly maintained pipes leads to more maintenance for your municipality which can in turn be passed onto you through fees and higher taxes.
What happens when I flush my toilet?
Wastewater treatment various depending on what municipality you live in, but there are generally three major stages in involved in cleaning wastewater. When you flush your toilet, the waste runs out of your house through your sewer lateral, which connects with the main sewer line that normally runs down the middle of your street. The wastewater flows through the sewer main flows into progressively larger pipes until it reaches the treatment plant. Ideally, the treatment plant it located in a low lying area so gravity can do the work, but if it’s not the city will install a pump station to help get the wastewater to the treatment facility.
There are generally three major stages in the treatment of wastewater, the primary treatment, the secondary treatment and the tertiary treatment.
Primary Treatment- this stage is basically works like a large septic tank. All of the solids settle to the bottom of a holding tank, allowing the water to rise to the top. The plant then collects the solids for disposal in either an incinerator or a landfill.
Secondary Treatment- The second stage’s goal is to remove organic materials from the water with the help of bacteria. Generally the wastewater is stored in large aerated tanks that allows bacteria to eat away at the organic matter. It then flows into another settling tank where the remaining bateria settles to the bottom.
Tertiary Treatment- The third stage can include such things as using chemicals to remove phosphorous and nitrogen from the water, using filter beds, or adding chlorine or using ultrviolet light to remove any remaining bacteria.
The newly treated water is then discharged into nearby lakes, oceans, rivers and streams to eventaully be processed as drinking water and sent back to your home.
For more information on your municipalities wastewater treatment facilities visit their website:
- Richmond Department of Public Utilities: http://www.richmondgov.com/DPU/
- Chesterfield County Utilities: http://www.chesterfield.gov/Utilities.aspx?id=2750
- Henrico County: http://www.co.henrico.va.us/departments/utility/
- Hanover County: http://www.co.hanover.va.us/utilities/default.htm
- Goochland: http://www.co.goochland.va.us/Departments/DepartmentsGZ/PublicUtilities/tabid/83/Default.aspx
- Prince George: http://www.princegeorgeva.org/index.aspx?page=78
- Petersburg: http://www.petersburg-va.org/pubworks/index.asp
- Powhatan: http://www.powhatanva.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B42E3C095-1D42-4A1F-A463-1163B093A377%7D
- New Kent : http://www.co.new-kent.va.us/publicutilities/index.php
- Charles City: http://co.charles-city.va.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B3E7BF3AE-60C5-4441-8EFC-9C0E87A836FC%7D
- Amelia: http://www.ameliacova.com/department/view/28/
What is a Combined Sewer Overflow System?
Some municipalities, such as Richmond, VA, rely on a combined sewer overflow system (SCO). The wastewater from your house flows in its own pipe, and the storm sewers run in their own pipe. Before they get to the wastewater treatment plant, the two pipes converge and the wastewater and storm sewer water enter the facility as one unit.
The advantage of a combined sewer system vs. an uncombined system is that the municipality only needs one major treatment facilty. The disadvantage is that in heavy rain events there is a chance that the facility will become overtaxed and the water can become contaminated.
My Municipality is Installing a Sewer Line down my street, why should I switch from my septic system?
Many municipalities will install a sewer line in neighborhoods that can no longer (or cannot) use septic systems as a viable means of processing wastewater. Depending on your county, you may or may not be forced to connect to the sewer system.
Advantages
- There are very little maintenance issues associated with new sewer hook ups. You will not have to maintain a drainfield and reserve drainfield, nor will you have to have your septic tank pumped every few years.
- You will be able to utilize your yard however you would like. You will not have to worry about “crushing” your septic tank or drainfield
- If your house existing construction, a garbage disposal will be easy to install.
- If your septic system is no longer viable or you don’t have a back-up drainfield, and you have the choice to switch to sewer, this is generally a less expensive option.
- If have small or odd shape lot where a traditional septic system cannot be installed, this is a cheaper alternative to a alternative system
Disadvantages
- Hooking up to sewer can be expensive. There is generally a fee you have to to pay to the county as well as paying someone to come out and do the work.
- There is monthly utility fee.
- A sewer line has a larger environmental impact than a septic system. Large treatment facilities must be built and maintained.