scope:

This Standard contains minimum requirements for residential wastewater treatment systems having rated treatment capacities of 1514 L/d (400 gal/d) to 5678 L/d (1500 gal/d) that are designed to provide reduction of nitrogen in residential wastewater. Management methods for the treated effluent discharged from these systems are not addressed by this Standard. A system, in the same configuration, must either be demonstrated to have met the Class I requirements of NSF/ANSI 40 or must meet the Class I requirements of NSF/ANSI 40 during concurrent testing for nutrient removal.

The water chemistry of a site for installation and use of these systems is critical to achieve expected water quality results. Before these systems are installed at a location, the water used within the residence must be analyzed to verify that there is sufficient alkalinity to achieve the system's performance. Refer to Annex A for further explanation.

Natural systems involving features such as vegetation, wetlands, free access or buried sand filters, and soil systems may be evaluated using this protocol as long as effluent samples are representative of all treated effluent discharged from the system, as sampled from a central point of collection of all treated effluent.

Alternate materials, design, and construction

While specific materials, designs, and constructions may be stipulated in this Standard, systems that incorporate alternate materials, designs, or constructions may be acceptable when it is verified that such systems meet the applicable requirements herein.

Performance classification

For the purpose of this Standard, systems are classified according to the chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of their effluents as determined by the performance testing and evaluations described herein.

All systems within a manufacturer's model series may be classified according to the performance testing and evaluation of the system with the smallest hydraulic capacity within the series. Performance testing and evaluation of larger systems within the series (having hydraulic treatment capacities within the scope of this Standard) may not be necessary provided that the dimensions, hydraulics, mixing, filtering and biological treatment capabilities, and other applicable design characteristics are proportionately equivalent to the evaluated system.

Purpose

The purpose of this Standard is to establish minimum materials, design and construction, and performance requirements for residential wastewater treatment systems providing for nitrogen reduction. This Standard also specifies the minimum literature that manufacturers shall supply to authorized representatives and owners, as well as the minimum service-related obligations that manufacturers shall extend to owners.