WASTEWATER TREATMENT
The importance of sand filtration wastewater treatment
OVERVIEW
Sand filtration is an effective wastewater treatment step for your wastewater treatment system. Why? Discover sand filtration wastewater treatment below!
Table of Contents
Why use sand filtration wastewater treatment?
The key features of the sand filtration wastewater treatment?
Sand polishing filters can be used for tertiary treatment when placed after a wastewater treatment plant. They can also be used as a secondary treatment when placed after a septic tank.
The tertiary treated effluent has been treated to a high enough standard following the overriding principles of the EPA Code of Practice that it may be discharged to groundwater.
The tertiary sand polishing filter will require discharge to a tertiary infiltration area designed and sized in accordance with Option 6 in Table 10.1. They are made up with stratified layers of sand (fine and coarse) and gravel. These layers remove the thinnest particles that can still be present in the effluent after secondary treatment.
Sand polishing filters must be compliant with the EPA Code of Practice. Tricel solution, the Tricel Sandcel has many advantages such as:
- A small footprint
- Easy to install
- Made in GRP impermeable panels, a resistant and waterproof material that avoid any leak
- High treatment quality as the final effluent quality of <1 mg/ltr BODs.
What is sand filtration wastewater treatment?
What is the tertiary treatment system?
A tertiary treatment system may be used when primary and secondary treatments are insufficient, for example, when discharging water to surface waters or reducing nutrients and pathogens in sensitive areas.
A tertiary treatment system can consist of sand filters, constructed wetlands, and packaged media filters, the same kinds of systems used for a secondary treatment, or be more specialised systems for disinfection or nitrogen removal.
Prefabricated tertiary treatment systems must comply with EN 12566 Part 7 as applicable, and should be certified. In Ireland, it must also be certified to SR66.
Focus on sand filtration wastewater treatment
A tertiary treatment system may be used when primary and secondary treatments are insufficient, for example, when discharging water to surface waters or reducing nutrients and pathogens in sensitive areas.
A tertiary treatment system can consist of sand filters, constructed wetlands, and packaged media filters, the same kinds of systems used for a secondary treatment, or be more specialised systems for disinfection or nitrogen removal.
Prefabricated tertiary treatment systems must comply with EN 12566 Part 7 as applicable, and should be certified. In Ireland, it must also be certified to SR66.
According to EPA Code of Practice, sand filters may be employed for tertiary treatment. These tertiary sand polishing filters can be monograde (single-layer) or stratified and must be at least 900 mm thick.
The hydraulic load must not exceed 60 l/m2 .d and the sandshine filter can be covered with topsoil and grassed to a maximum depth of 300 mm. In a typical stratified filter layout, three layers of sand, consisting of coarse sand in the top layer and fine sand in the middle and bottom layers, are separated by thin layers of washed pea gravel or crushed stone. Access to regular visual inspection of media should be guaranteed.
Regarding the monograde filter, please see below the criteria for sand grades suitable for sand polishing filter layers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
|
Design Factor
|
Design criteria
|
|---|---|
|
Pre-treatment
|
Minimum of secondary treatment
|
|
Top coarse sand layer
|
Effective size (D10) 0.25–0.75 mm; D60/D10 (Cu ) < 4
|
|
Fine sand layers
|
Effective size (D10) 0.15–0.25 mm; D60/D10 (Cu ) < 4
|
Sand filtration wastewater treatment size
Regarding sizing the area required for the Tertiary infiltration area underneath the sand polishing filter, please find below Table 10.1 referring to option 6 : according to the EPA Code of Practice 2021.
Which sand filtration wastewater treatment to choose?
Tricel Sandcel Wastewater Treatment
Sand polishing filters provide a dual function of polishing the effluent from a wastewater treatment system and disposing of the treated liquid into groundwater.
The Tricel sand filtration treatment system can be installed at varying heights on the site to suit all conditions, including under or overground.
Tricel offers Sandcel, which is an effective and high-quality sand polishing filter.
It provides you with an additional solution for your wastewater treatment process.
Tricel Sandcel is composed of certified sand and pea gravel layers according to the EPA Code of Practice. Our product is made with GRP panels, following the EPA Code of Practice, which ensures a resistant and effective tertiary treatment over the years.
Tricel Sandcel offers you quality treatment of your wastewater and many advantages as well.
A Tricel Sandcel wastewater system means:
- high performance
- a flexible design
- a small area required
- a system quick to install
- an aesthetic finish for your garden
- an impermeable and not deteriorating structure
Please look at our page to learn more about the Tricel Sandcel.
What do Tricel offer?
Both our sand polishing filter (Sandcel) and our packaged filter system (Puraflo) are performant. Depending on your project and the type of ground you have, one must be recommended to you over the other one. Both will provide Tertiary treatment to treat the effluent to a higher quality before discharging into a tertiary infiltration area
What is the difference between both?
Sand polishing filter as Tricel Sandcel is composed of sand and pea gravel. This system uses sand technology to remove the effluent’s dissolved particles. It is usually recommended for smaller sites with restricted areas.
A packaged filter system such as Tricel Puraflo is composed of coconut fibre. The packaged filter system collects the effluent from the septic tank or the wastewater treatment plant via a pump. The pumped effluent filters through the coco fibre media, which treats the effluent. The process combines biological, chemical and physical processes that remove high-level pathogens and nutrients.
The packaged filter system is usually recommended for environmentally sensitive sites that require a high level of treatment, i.e. water table protection areas.
Our range of products
Tricel Vento Septic Tank
Shallow dig tank, strong & robust underground tank, No electrical or moving parts. Ideal for sites with good drainage & plenty of space.
Tricel Novo Sewage Treatment Plant
Durable & long lasting SMC tank, shallow dig tank, easy installation (Plug and Play), long life components.
Tricel Maxus Sewage Treatment Plant
Commercial plant. Submerged Aerated Filter (SAF) technology. Ideal for every project over 50 Population Equivalent.
Tricel Tero Tertiary Treatment
An eco-friendly and modular system with proven E.Coli Treatment capabilities in line with the new EPA requirements.
Tricel Puraflo Secondary treatment plant
Ideal for sensitive sites, compliant to Irish Standard, small footprint.
Tricel Sandcel
Sand Polishing Filter
Provides a dual function of polishing the effluent from a wastewater treatment system and disposing it into groundwater.
Tricel Pumping Stations
Pump fluids from one place to another where gravity drainage cannot be used, easy and trouble-free installation
Quality
WHY CHOOSE US
Because Tricel manufactures and chooses the best materials for the design of its products. Most Tricel products have warranties of up to 10 years guarantee. All our products within this product range is CE certified to EU safety, health and environmental requirements.
Please find below the list of our products and the warranty that is applied. Note that this warranty is only valid if the sewage system is properly installed by a qualified installer. Please also know that all warranties are subject to correct use of the product, including maintenance as per manufacturer guidelines.
50 YEARS IN BUSINESS
A highly successful multinational corporation with over 50 years’ valuable industry experience
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS
Plants available for all capacities, from 1PE up to 50PE. Free advice on request.
Fast Delivery
On-time delivery is a core requirement of our successful business operations
Recent projects with Tricel Novo IE6 treatment plant
Extensive industry experience, manufacturing since 1973.
Tricel manufacture deliver & install sewage treatment plants across a wide range of industry sectors throughout Ireland & the UK. Tricel also provide import/export services for our international clients. Top quality material offers outstanding capabilities including long life, durability and is a cost-effective solution for sewage treatment even in the harshest environments.
Tricel has installed many of its Tricel Novo Sewage Treatment Plants across the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS PE ?
PE represents the initials of Population Equivalent. Population equivalent: conversion value which aims at expressing non-domestic applications in terms of domestic loading based on 1 person creates 60 g/day BOD5 and 150l/day. (Code of Practice: Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (p.e. < 10), EPA)
DIFFERENT PRODUCTS SOLD BY TRICEL
Tricel Novo & Vitae
Both are wastewater treament plant solutions manufactured by Tricel. Wastewater treatment plants offer a superior quality of treatment. For example, the Tricel Novo comprises of three independent wastewater treatment zones and offers an average of efficiency of 95.9% BOD removal.
This is a higher treatment standard than the effluent from a septic tank. Please note: all wastewater treatment plants used in Ireland must comply with the EN12566-3 standard and all septic tanks must comply with the EN12566-1 standard..
Tricel Vento
The septic tank from Tricel is manufactured as a primary treatment. Designed for the settlement of your effluent. This product may need an additional treatment like the Sandcel or Puraflo.
WARRANTIES
Most Tricel products have a warranty. To discover all the guarantees on our products, as well as on the internal parts, consult our dedicated product pages.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF THE WASTEWATER PRODUCED?
The required standards are 20:30:20 BOD, SS, NH4. All Tricel produces exceed the requirements when tested to En12566-3 and comply with SR66.
Learn more about our certification
MAINTENANCE ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Tricel recommends that you maintain your device to the fullest. You are obliged by law to avoid all types of pollution or nuisances. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information on our service contracts. An annual maintenance contract may be offered.
Get in touch