American Consulting Engineers Council of Vermont

2001 Engineering Excellence Grand Award

CATEGORY D - WATER RESOURCES

WARREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

INNOVATIVE/ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT & DISPERSAL SYSTEM

WARREN, VERMONT

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Meeting/exceeding client's needs:

• Economical solution within original budget utilizing 75% EPA Demonstration Grant.

• Meets all goals and concepts of the client as listed above.

• Meets aggressive schedule of client- Less than 6 months from beginning of design to substantial completion, including extreme winter construction.

• Fast-track design/build project included engineer-assisted direct purchase of long lead-time components in advance of bids for installation.  This resulted in shortening of the project duration and saving money for the Client.

• New applications of innovative/alternative technology:

• This is the first Innovative/Alternative System permitted by a Vermont Environmental Regional Engineer under the Small Scale Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Rules.

• Treatment system utilized innovative/alternative design utilizing textile filters, which fit in less than half the area of previously allowed systems.

• Dispersal system utilizes many readily available materials in shallow, gravel-less trenches that optimize microbial removal of contaminants within the topsoil stratum.

• The system control panel utilizes a modem and user-friendly software for remote monitoring and control to increase flexibility and to reduce O&M costs by allowing operator access from their home computer.

• Social/economic considerations:

• Replaced existing failed septic system at elementary school.

• Intended to help correct drinking water contamination at elementary school that had apparently resulted from the existing failed septic system.

• Provides public and professional education and outreach to educate the Towns-people in I/A systems to be used in the proposed Village area decentralized wastewater project.

• Complexity:

• Utilizes innovative/alternative technology in conjunction with many readily available local materials.

• State-of-the-art control panel and remote monitoring that is commonly used in a  much larger systems.

• Fast track design/build project included engineer-assisted direct purchase of long lead-time components in advance of bids for installation.

• Extreme winter construction of wastewater treatment system facilitated by innovative, yet simple system design.

• Technical value to the profession:

• Demonstration to Federal/State agencies in use of Innovative/Alternative technology to be considered for subsurface wastewater disposal systems throughout Vermont.

• System provides an economic alternative that works in heavier soils with higher groundwater and has a much smaller footprint than previously allowed technologies.

Photo and award plaque