STEAM @ HAH

Engineering

Water treatment plant: rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) are permeable basins dug directly into the ground and use the soil ecosystem to treat municipal wastewater.
“Treatment, including filtration, adsorption, ion exchange, precipitation, and microbial action, occurs as the wastewater moves through the soil matrix. Phosphorus and most metals are retained in the soil while toxic organics are degraded or adsorbed. As wastewater percolates through the soil, it can be collected, or it can flow to native surface water or groundwater aquifers. Where the groundwater table is relatively shallow, the use of underdrains allows control of groundwater mounding and recovery of the renovated water. In areas with deeper groundwater, wells are used to recover the renovated water. This recovered water can be for irrigating crops or for industrial uses. This is known as “beneficial reuse.” Water that is not recovered can recharge groundwater aquifers.” (source EPA)