Assessment of on-site sewage disposal systems after severe

flooding

Steven R. Tidwell, E.I.U.S. Public Health Service APHT3 – Disaster EngineerPresentation June 21, 2011

Presentation ObjectivesBe able to:

Describe the basics of on-site sewer assessments.

Explain the alternative development process for Wastewater treatment options for a community.

List four issues affecting wastewater treatment in a disaster area.

Disaster BackgroundOn July 17, 2010 a slow-moving frontal

system crossed Kentucky, spreading severe weather with flooding and heavy rains

On July 20, 2010 Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency and issues request for federal assistance.

On July 23, 2010 President Barrack Obama approved the national disaster declaration.

Impact on CommunityOver 25,000 residents on a boil water advisoryOver 2,000 residents without water5 sewer plants down72 bridges destroyed preventing access to homesOver 200 homes impacted by flood waters2 deaths directly related to flood

Pike County requests assistanceJuly 21, 2010 Pike County Health Dept.

requested technical assistance because they were overwhelmed.Assist with assessments of affected areasDiscuss options for the restoration of water and

sewage systems

July 23, 2010 an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request was sent to Region IV states Mississippi offered to assist

Our Deployment ProcessAn EMAC was sent for interstate aid.

State of Mississippi responded - 2 person team

It was determined that greater expertise was required

OFRD put together our team to assist (they needed professional engineers)

The team reported to FEMA daily (no HHS IRCT was in the field)

Then to Pike County Health Department to assist

MissionWork with Pike County Department of Public

Health to provide technical assistance:Assess on-site sewage disposal systems and

potable water accessibilityConsider restoration options both long term and

short term (Completed Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) to

help the community proceed with funding requests)

Pike County, Kentucky

Harless Creek Community

Erosion of property

Homes washed away from site

Septic tank dislodged

Plan of AttackComplete assessments of the sites in Harless

Creek (2 days)Use the Health Department Assesssment

sheets for future use availabilityComplete a summary of the assessments Determine the best course of action both short

term and long term

On-site AssessmentsThe basics:

Area required or availabilityTopographySoil typeTreatment method (possible area reduction)Water table

Many on-site systems had been there for many years, and were insufficient before the flood.

Septic System Assessment in Pike County, Kentucky August 11-12, 2010

No. of sites assessed (N=123)

Characteristic No. (%) Site suitable for on-site system

yes 34 (27.65)no 66 (53.65)

maybe 23 (18.70)

Site application completedyes 58 (47.20)no 65 (52.80)

Site plan drawnyes 121 (98.37)no 2 (1.63)

Source of waterWell 58 (47.15)

Municipal 56 (45.53)Both 4 (3.25)

unknown 5 (4.06)

Short Term RecommendationTemporary solutionAccess to materialsOn-site requirements – power, landConstruction issuesEnvironmental concerns – treatment level

Thoughts.

FAST System -

FixedActivatedSludgeTreatment

Long Term RecommendationsLand/Space availabilitySoil types/disposalPossible construction issues (environmental

concerns, archeology, real estate)Costs and maintenance capabilityService Size: Individual, Cluster, Centralized

ThoughtsHow to best help the communityWhat is the best use of the limited time deployedWhat tangibles/deliverables will be there after

the deploymentOur Team:

Completed 120+ on-site sewage treatment assessments

Completed PER with short term recommendations and long term alternatives

AcknowledgementsPaul Hopkins, Director, Pike County Health DeptZora May, Environmental Supervisor, Pike CountyDwight Minz, Technical consultant, DPHCDR Margo Riggs, PhD, MPH, USPHS, Kentucky DPHCDR Rick Rivers, PE,USPHS, Indian Health Service

Phoenix AreaLT Matthew Ireland, PE, USPHS, Indian Health

Service Beminji Area

Thank you,Questions?