Small Community & Cluster Sewage/Septic Systems
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News Release – ETC to receive investment funding to commercialize Septic Sitter
For Immediate Release: March 31, 2015 Stratford, Prince Edward Island Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd. (ETC) is pleased to announce that our product division, Dynamic Monitors, will receive a financial investment from Innovation PEI to help commercialize our patented Septic SitterTM system. ETC is one of five companies selected to receive funding through Innovation PEI’s Development and Commercialization Fund. Recipients were chosen from a pool of over twenty applicants through a competitive, peer review process. “It is indeed an honour to have been selected to receive this financial support by an independent peer review committee made up of leaders from the private sector, academia and government” says ETC President, Kelly Galloway, P.Eng. “It is a real vote of confidence, in the business opportunity and our company”. Companies will receive up to $100,000 which must be matched dollar for dollar. Dynamic Monitors designs and develops innovative electronic devices which make on-site sewage systems more sustainable, effective and affordable. The Septic Sitter is an internet-connected monitor and early warning alert system for septic drainfields and tanks. Approximately 30 million homes in North America use onsite sewage treatment (aka septic) systems as opposed to centralized sewage collection and treatment. It is estimated that 40%
PEI Department of Environment – (UPDATED) regulations regarding septic licensing
This is our understanding of the current policies regarding the various licenses issued by the PEI Dept. of Environment related to on-site sewage disposal. In summary, the Department issues site assesors licenses ($250), septic contractors licenses ($250) and septic installers licenses ($25). The septic contractors license ($250) is generally issued to the owner of a company. Only the contractor can select a system from the guideline document. He can not design a system. Only Engineers can design a system. To obtain a contractors license you must have a site assessors license (see below) and a pass mark on the Department’s contractor’s license exam. License is good for 2 years and is to be renewed on April 1 of the year it is due. It is also required to attend a meeting/seminar at least once in the two year period. An installers license ($25) is issued to an employee of the company (someone who has the knowledge of how to install a system but has not written an exam). Essentially he/she is just an employee of the company and is registered with the Department as an installer. He must also attend one of the PEI Department of Environment’s seminar/meetings once every
Alternative Sewers: A Good Option for Many Communities
Note: The following article was excerpted from Pipeline, published by National Small Flows Clearinghouse. For an example of how alternative sewers were used to provide a cost effective solution for one rural Maritime community, read ETC’s Project Profile of the award winning, Victoria Water and Wastewater Project. Those who are fortunate enough to own a home in a small or rural community probably appreciate certain aspects of country living. Being close to nature and far from the noise and complications of life in the city are among the popular reasons for choosing a home in a rural area. Although the advantages are many, rural life isn’t always simpler than big city life. One example is the problem of how best to collect, treat and dispose of wastewater from all the homes and businesses located in different parts of the community. A variety of factors help determine which wastewater technologies are best suited for a particular home or area. Often, communities will use a combination of different approaches for different circumstances to save money, control development, and protect public health and the environment. For example, in densely populated areas, like the business section of town, a community may find that a
Victoria Water & Wastewater Project – Village of Victoria, PE
3 Minute long video overview of the project: (Photo credit: Ron Garnett, AirScapes.ca) The Village of Victoria, PE is a quaint, rural village and picturesque tourist destination with many period buildings, artisans, restaurants and a bustling waterfront. Residential lots were subdivided in the mid 1800s and most are not large enough to accommodate modern septic systems. Sewage flows from many commercial establishments greatly exceeded the on-site sewage disposal capacity, requiring expensive pump-outs. New residential and commercial development was on hold until the Village solved its septic problems. Public health, the environment, and property values were threatened if a viable solution was not found. The Community of Victoria retained Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd. (ETC) to investigate conventional and alternative waste-water management options, and in 2005, to design and oversee the implementation of a new central sewage collection and treatment system. Project Objectives Orenco Advantex treatment modules being installed. • To find a solution to the sanitation problems in the core area of the Village due to failing septic systems and expensive holding tanks. • To provide affordable (life cycle basis), sustainable and effective wastewater management which would allow the Community to grow and develop. • To eliminate the direct discharge to
Villa Sur Plage Condominiums – Robichaud, NB
Villa_Sur_Plage View the PDF version here. Villa Sur Plage Condominiums Robichaud, New Brunswick Client: Les Entreprises Mapoma Ltée Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd. (ETC) designed the first private cluster sewage system in New Brunswick to be managed by a condominium corporation. The system includes: Alternative Collection System – Septic Tank Effluent Gravity Sewer ● Innovative Sewage Treatment System – Recirculating Textile Packed-bed Filter. ● 100 mm HDDE Outfall to Northumberland Strait
Engineered Septic System Elementary School – Donagh, PE
Donagh_School Engineered Septic System Elementary School, Donagh, PEI Client: PEI Dept. Transportation and Public Works Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd. (ETC) has developed and refined a state-of-the-art, pressurized HDPE Leaching Chamber septic system design. Each system is customized to suit the specific soil, rock, groundwater conditions and topography so that it blends into the existing landscape. The ease with which the system can be expanded is made possible through the use of an innovative Distributing Valve first introduced to the Maritimes by ETC engineers. Inspection and Maintenance Ports ensure the system is easy to monitor and maintain. This system has provided cost effective on-site sewage treatment and disposal for numerous commercial, recreational and institutional developments such as this new school in Donagh,PEI.
Brudenell Fairway Chalets – Roseneath, PE
Brudenell-Fairway The Brudenell Fairway Chalets are located in Roseneath, Prince Edward Island. This rural development provides some of the most beautiful lodgings on PEI and required a practical, low maintenance and cost effective sewer servicing solution. The wastewater collection and treatment system is composed of three components: a septic tank effluent gravity (STEG) sewer, a mainline effluent pumping station and a pressurized HDPE leaching chamber disposal field. The most significant feature of the effluent sewer is that septic tanks provide primary treatment upstream of each connection. The effluent sewer was less expensive, easier to install and is less prone to infiltration than conventional sewers. The collection sewer drains into an effluent pumping station. Septic tank effluent is pressure dosed to an HDPE InfiltratorTM Leaching Chamber Disposal Field centrally located in a recreational area. The disposal field was designed as three separate zones. Each zone is dosed intermittently and sequentially using a mechanical distributing value.This innovative value also makes it easy to expand the disposal field in the future by installing additional zones.
Residential Septic Systems
View the brochure here. THREE BEDROOM HOME, GLENWOOD POND, PE Client: Myrna Boulter Contractor: Rodney Costain Project Objectives: ● To design a septic system that would overcome significant property challenges including high water table, limited space, wetlands and a pond located on the property. System Overview: ● Category 3 conditions with high water table and heavy clayey soil. ● Tankage consisted of a 4092 L (900 Igal) septic tank and a 2955 L (650 Igal) pump tank. ● Anti-flotation ballast was utilized to counteract uplift forces on tanks. ● Pressurized septic field consisting of four lines of InfiltratorTM chambers, each 28.5 m (93′) long for a total of 114 linear meters of trench. ● A total of 90 cm of Approved Fill was used. ● Permits were received for this extremely difficult lot with very tight set backs to the property lines and wetlands. LUXURY FIVE BEDROOM HOME, MILL RIVER EAST, PE Client: Allan and Colleen Parker Contractor: O’Meara’s Heavy Equipment Project Objectives: ● To design and oversee the construction of a septic system to service a new five bedroom luxury home that would blend in with the site landscaping. ● To provide adequate capacity to accommodate periodic peak flows
Residential Advanced Sewage System
View the brochure here. On the shores of St. Peter’s Bay you will find this private seaside retreat designed by acclaimed Architect,Thomas Moore. The previous failed septic system was located in an area with a high water table. ETC was retained to design an environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing system that could overcome the site limitations and accommodate a five bedroom cottage. Client: Thomas & Debbie Moore Contractor: G&P Trucking and Construction System Overview ●Category 3 lot with high water table. ●An advanced treatment system (Waterloo Biolfilter) treats septic tank effluent to advanced secondary levels before it is dispersed into an area bed constructed with imported sand fill. ●Tankage consisted of 2200 Igal septic tank and wet well pumping station. ●The dispersal bed was located in a clearing in the woods approximately 128 m (400ft) upgrade from the pump tank. ●A total of 30 cm of Good Quality Fill was specified and 50 cm of Approved Imported Sand under the Waterloo Biofilter shed. Client Testimonial “The new sewage system rescued the long term use and potential redevelopment for a 5 bedroom cottage on the site, a major benefit to the real estate value of the property.” “Pumping to a remote
Video of Award Winning Project Released
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has published a video of ETC’s award winning “Victoria Water and Wastewater Pilot Project”. The Community of Victoria in PEI and ETC were jointly awarded the 2011 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Communities Award in the Water Category. You can read about the project, and view the video here (link dead).
ETC President receives award
Kelly Galloway, P.Eng. was pleased to accept the 2009 Engineers PEI Award of “Engineering Achievement” on the behalf of Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd for the Victoria Water & Waste Water Project. Engineers PEI Website Engineers PEI Newsletter has some pics of the awards banquet on pages 7, 8 and 9. PDF version from Engineers PEI website (link dead)