Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems, Second Edition

Calling for ecologically and economically sound wastewater treatment systems, the authors of Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems explore the use of wetlands, sprinkler or deep irrigation, groundwater recharge, and other natural systems as sustainable methods for the treatment and management of wastewater. Based on work by prominent experts in natural waste treatment, this text provides a thorough explanation on how soil and plants can successfully sustain microbial populations in the treatment of wastewater. Determining that natural systems cost less to construct and operate, and require less energy than mechanical treatment alternatives, this book also explains how these processes produce lower amounts of residual solids, and use little or no chemicals.

What’s New in the Second Edition:

This revised edition includes current design and regulatory and operational developments in the natural wastewater treatment field. It provides detailed examples and analyses along with significant operational data in each chapter. It also considers how processes provide passive treatment with a minimum of mechanical elements, and describes new approaches to partially mixed ponds, including dual-powered aeration ponds.

• Introduces the planning procedures and treatment mechanisms responsible for treatment in ponds, wetlands, land application, and soil absorption systems
• Provides new case studies of constructed wetlands and water reuse systems
• Presents design criteria and methods of pond treatment and pond effluent upgrading
• Describes constructed wetlands design procedures, process applications, treatment performance data, and land treatment concepts and design equations
• Includes information on constituents of emerging concern (CEC) and their fate in natural systems

The text discusses wastewater pond systems, free water surface constructed wetlands, subsurface and vertical flow constructed wetlands, land treatment, sludge management, and onsite wastewater systems. It describes residuals and biosolids management, including nitrogen removal pretreatment methods, and uses U.S. customary and metric units in all chapters. It presents case studies of new applications of natural systems and includes worked examples of design equations for ponds and land treatment. It also provides a biosolids regulatory update from a top EPA scientist, and algae reduction technologies for ponds and wetlands.

Designed for practicing wastewater engineers and scientists involved in the planning, design, and operation of ponds, wetlands, land treatment, biosolids, and onsite soil-based treatment systems, the book integrates many natural treatment systems into one single source.

Ronald W. Crites is a senior associate with Brown and Caldwell in Davis, California. He consults on land treatment, water recycling and reuse, constructed wetlands, biosolids land application, decentralized wastewater treatment, and industrial wastewater land application systems. He received his BS in civil engineering from California State University in Chico and his MS and engineer’s degree in sanitary engineering from Stanford University. He is the recipient of the 2009 Camp Applied Research Medal from Water Environment Federation for innovation in natural systems. He has 44 years of experience in wastewater treatment and reuse experience. He has authored or coauthored over 200 technical publications, including seven textbooks. He is a registered civil engineer in California, Hawaii, and Oregon.

is a consulting environmental engineer based in Superior, Colorado. His 45 years as an engineering college professor as well as administrative positions, including dean of engineering at Utah State University, provided a platform for his extensive research and contributions to the environment engineering field. He received his BS and MS in civil engineering from the University of Florida and his PhD in civil engineering (environmental engineering) from Mississippi State University, followed by postdoctoral studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He has authored or coauthored 14 books and over 300 articles and reports.

is a senior environmental scientist in the office of wastewater management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC. He has extensive experience dealing with natural systems for wastewater treatment, wastewater, and biosolids reuse practices, and has coordinated the development of numerous agency policy and guidance documents, technology assessments, planning and design guidance documents, demonstration projects, and special studies related to treatment technologies and management practices involving natural systems. He received his BS and MS in biology, earth sciences, and mathematics from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

(1932–2003) was an environmental engineer who was a leader in the planning and design of constructed wetlands and land treatment systems. He was the principal of Environmental Engineering Consultants (E.E.C.). He was a graduate of the University of Virginia (BSCE, 1959) and the University of Alaska (MS, 1968) and had a distinguished career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, during which he spent most of his time at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was the author of four textbooks and over 100 technical articles.