Abstract |
A pilot plant was designed, constructed and operated to asses the feasibility of providing a facility for the collection, treatment, storage and final disposition of a portion of the storm overflow from a combined sewer system serving a thirty-acre drainage area in Washington, D.C. A Parshall flume was installed in the overflow line for measurement of flow rates and determination of total overflow volume. A portion of the overflow was diverted to the pilot plant through grit chambers and a comminutor. Flow was stored in two 100,000-gallon underwater bags fibricated of nylon reinforced synthetic rubber and fastened to the river bed by a system of patented anchors. During the period of storage, compressed air was delivered to the tanks for agitation of the solids. Following cessation of the storm, contents of the bags were pumped to the interceptor sewer for delivery to the District of Columbia Sewage Treatment Plant at Blue Plains. Flow into and out of each underwater storage tank was metered and recorded. Samples of the combined sewage overflow discharged to the bags and pumped discharge from the bags were collected and subjected to laboratory analyses. (Author) |