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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: October 16, 2001
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON PROPOSED NEW ALTERNATIVE DRAINFIELD OPTION FOR SEPTIC SYSTEMS

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, October 23 to receive comments on a draft guidance document on the design, installation and use of bottomless sand filters (BSF). DEM is proposing to adopt the document and authorize the use of bottomless sand filters as an accepted alternative drainfield option for individual sewage disposal systems (ISDSs).

The BSF is a viable drainfield option for septic systems where soil or site conditions make conventional drainfield options impractical or excessively costly. As compared to conventional technology, the BSF requires significantly less filling of land, less soil disturbance, and eliminates the need for unsightly retaining walls on sites with certain limiting conditions, such as shallow water tables, restrictive soil layers, or moderate to steep slopes.

The BSF may only be used in conjunction with other advanced treatment technologies, and wastewater discharged to it must receive prior advanced pretreatment. Treated wastewater in a BSF system is filtered, travels vertically downward, receives further biological treatment, and then enters the natural soil directly beneath the bottom of the filter.

The BSF guidance document was developed by the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension On-Site Wastewater Training Center, with guidance from DEM's ISDS Technical Review Committee for Innovative or Alternative Technology.

The October 23 meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the community room at the Warwick Sewer Authority at 125 Arthur W. Devine Boulevard, located off Service Avenue in Warwick.

Copies of the draft guidance document are available from DEM's Office of Water Resources by calling 222-4700 ext. 7220. Written comments must be received by that office, located at 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908, by November 16 or may be e-mailed by that date to rchateau@dem.state.ri.us.

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