Owner's manual

12
© Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
P R E L I M I N A RY
The following steps are to be completed during each 6-month
inspection. All information collected during the inspection is to be
recorded on the Maintenance and Service Report (CL0059). Begin
the inspection by recording the date, arrival time, weather conditions,
purpose of the visit, water use, model number, serial number, the
presence or absence of a septic tank, and the system owner and
service provider information in the space provided on the report.
1. Are any odors present? There should be no odor
with the lids closed, if properly sealed. With lids
removed, a septic or sewer-like odor is indicative
of poor treatment and is common immediately after
startup due to hydrogen sulde and other gases. A
well-operating system will have a musty, earthy smell
similar to wet peat moss.
2. Are any insects present? Typically, no insects
are present in the cold weather months. In warmer
months, sewage ies can be found inside risers, on
the underside of lids, and larvae can be found in the
scum layer of the sedimentation chamber.
3. Is there evidence of high water? Typically indicated
by a water level above the black wall markings and
above the “0” graduation on the partition wall stickers.
May also be indicated by debris on partition walls.
4. Is there excess foam formation? Foam may be
present during an inspection. Brown foam indicates
bacterial buildup following startup. White foam is due
to detergent use. Neither is a problem if occurring
intermittently. Detergent-based foam will often be
accompanied by low transparency readings.
5. Is there residue build-up on piping? Typically
indicated by gray or black residue (dried foam) on
aeration chamber piping.
6. Is there even and vigorous bubbling? Bubbles
surfacing in the aeration chamber should be even
across the entire chamber. If uneven, cleaning steps
should resolve this issue.
PART A: Clean Water Storage Chamber – Collect samples
from the clean water storage chamber to be used for the
following analyses
1. pH – Measures the hydrogen ion-concentration and is
determined with the use of the pH test strips included
in the Fusion
®
Maintenance Kit. Dip a test strip into the
water sample for 1 second, remove, and read by comparing
to the color chart provided on the container. A pH = 7.0
is neutral. The range suitable for biological activity is 6.5
to 7.5. Recurring results outside this range should be
investigated – check the water source for the home or
business, chemical use, etc.
2. NO
2
-
N – Determined with the use of the nitrite test strips
included in the Fusion
®
Maintenance Kit. Dip a test strip
into the water sample for 1 second, remove, allow to
react for 30 seconds and read by comparing to the color
chart provided on the container. Nitrite-nitrogen is an
intermediate step in the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate
and the reduction of nitrate. 0 to 3 mg/L is common and
1mg/L is average. The presence of nitrite is indicative of
biological activity. The absence of nitrite could be due
to a young system or a recirculation rate that is too high.
To correct low nitrite readings in established systems,
decrease the recirculation rate.
3. Transparency – Measures the ability of the water to
transmit light. Using the ladle, ll the transparency tube
with a water sample collected from the clean water storage
chamber. Looking down through the water column,
slowly drain the transparency tube using the valve on the
exible hose until you can rst distinguish between the
black and white colors on the secchi disk in the bottom
of the tube. When the secchi disk is visible, close the
valve and read the transparency (in centimeters) on the
side. Dirty water samples transmit less light and result
in a lower transparency. A transparency reading > 20
cm is preferred and 34 cm is average. Low transparency
may be due to a lack of biological activity as in a young
system, a recirculation rate that is too high, or a system
inuent high in detergent concentration. To correct low
transparency readings not caused by detergent, decrease
the recirculation rate. Detergent based problems may
require consultation with owner.
4. Scum – Very small amounts of scum may accumulate
in the corners on the outlet end of the system. This is
normal. Scum, should not be present elsewhere in the
clean water storage chamber unless the recirculation rate
is too high or daily ow exceeds the design capacity. If
present, use ladle to transfer to sedimentation chamber.
5. Sludge – Test the sludge depth using the sampling device
included in the maintenance kit. The bottom section of
the sampler includes a check valve, which opens as the
unit is lowered into the liquid. When the sampler has
reached the bottom of the chamber and the liquid level
equilibrated at surface level, lift the sampler and this
action will set the check valve and retain the sample in
the tubing. Withdraw the sampler and note the depth of
settled solids within the sample. To release the material
in the unit, touch the stem extending from the bottom
section against a hard surface such as the partition wall
in the sedimentation chamber. This opens the check
valve to drain the sample. A range of 0” to 4” is preferred.
Typically solids are brown and well occed. More than 4”
(0-102 mm) is typically due to high recirculation rates and
sludge will appear black in color. To correct sludge depths
greater than 4” (0-102 mm), decrease the recirculation
rate and increase the backwash rate.
Sludge Descriptions:
Black – septic or sewer-like odor due to hydrogen sulde
and other gases
Brown – undigested sludge is light brown, becomes
darker with digestion, lightly settled
Clear – may see a clear water layer beneath solids if gas
carries solids upwards
Flocced - settled with texture similar to a tuft of wool
Grainy - gritty or sandy texture
Gray - partially digested sludge
Milky – light in color, cloudy, not transparent
Muddy – typically well settled, often present just after
startup, may be due to inltration
Mustard - an off-color, remnants of digestion are often
yellowish in color
White - sometimes present after new construction often
due
to drywall mud
PART B: Anaerobic Chamber - collect samples from the
outlet bafe of the anaerobic chamber to be used for the
following analyses:
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
REQUIRED WATER QUALITY ANALYSES
FUSION
®
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE