Friday, July 18, 2008

for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Low-water-use toilets might be too effective … By Tony Davis … Arizona Daily Star … Tucson, Arizona Published: 02.11.2008
Can low-flow toilets cause problems for sewer lines? A Pima County program to install the toilets in older neighborhoods at taxpayers' expense is in limbo because of that question. And the answer eventually could change other water-conservation policies as well. The toilets work smoothly and save a little water, most homeowners in the program say. East Siders Jerry Horton, Don Swann and Cathy Kent, for example, called them "perfect," "wonderful" and "awesome." Only a fraction of the residents complained about having to flush the toilets twice, said the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona. But after installing 450 of 1,000 toilets planned for several East Side neighborhoods — in a pilot program that could have been expanded to other areas — the county hasn't ordered any new toilets since late October. The last few already-ordered toilets are now being installed. The program's future is uncertain due to a paradox at the heart of its seeming success. Wastewater officials who originally had hoped to reduce flows into the sewers now say they're concerned that the new toilets may reduce flows too much. They're worried that without enough liquids in sewer lines, solids will settle into the lines, causing corrosion, odor and even sewage backups. The new toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush, compared with 3.5 gallons in older toilets.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction … Sir Issac Newton

The questions posed by the folks in Pima County respecting the possibility the reduced water flowing through their sewer lines may adversely impact the operation of their infrastructure is but only one topic these “low flow toilets” are having on the wastewater industry.

An issue conveniently dismissed by government regulators and lying dormant is the impact these efficient low flow toilets have on the “strength” of the waste any wastewater treatment system must handle, especially a residential septic system. Existing rules, regulations, treatment processes are all predicated on “rules-of-thumb” which increasingly appear obsolete, especially relating to any residential septic system.

These are not insurmountable issues but they are issues which “we” must consider to retain any semblance of implementing viable onsite residential septic systems in Arizona. Sweeping them under the rug and out of the light of day only serves to increase the magnitude of the water crisis when these systems “crash.”

“Crashes” are inevitable it’s merely a matter of time.

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home