Sanitary System Overflow, or SSO, is a condition where untreated sewage becomes expelled from a sanitary sewer into the environment prior to reaching sewage treatment plants. When there’s rainfall, it’s commonly known as wet weather overflow. In developed countries with extensive treatment facilities, there is a great struggle, however, it’s worse in developing countries. So, what can we do to prevent sanitary system overflow?
What Causes Sanitary System Overflow?
Frequent causes of SSOs include broken or blockage of sewer lines. For instance, in the sewer of a seaside town in England, operators found a giant obstruction made up of hardened fat, oil, and grease, (FOG) wet wipes, and other waste items, commonly called a fatberg. This type of example can easily cause an SSO. Malfunctioning of pumping station lifts, or electrical power failure, as well as the infiltration or inflow of excessive stormwater into sewer lines during heavy rainfall results in SSO. They also occur if you poorly operate and maintain the wastewater collection system or lack enough capacity to collect or store flows for treatment.
SSOs contribute to human illness, including gastrointestinal illnesses, thus requiring restrictions on fish and shellfish consumption, as well as beach closures. They also affect aquatic life, causing harm to plankton, microflora, and microfauna, and killing fish. Turbidity also increases while dissolved oxygen decreases in receiving waters, which then leads to heightened effects. These effects cause damage to marine animals, such as certain seals and sea lions who are known to experience peaks in pathogenic harm. According to the EPA, at least 23,000-75,000 SSO events happen every year in the United States.
How Can Wastewater Treatment Facilities Prevent or Reduce SSOs?
Even though it’s difficult to nearly impossible to eliminate SSOs, taking proactive measures helps to prevent them. A solution to dry weather SSOs includes:
- Internal inspections for wax or grease buildup allowing for FOG execution or program for more frequent cleanings
- Pipeline inspections that identify the contributing effects from roots, oil, and grease, or poor pipe condition, along with a combination of multiple effects, which allow for FOG programs, pipeline repair, and root removal programs
- Monetary incentives for prevention and fines if no action occurs
- High-frequency cleanings in problem areas prone to dry weather SSOs, including flat pipelines, tree root intrusion, and multi-family high density
- Remotely monitoring flow levels inside manholes
- Public awareness of what not to put down sinks and in toilets
For wet weather overflow prevention or reduction, ways to help include:
- Climate monitoring for El Nino or other predicted weather changes
- New pipeline or pipe-burst the existing pipeline for more capacity
- To eliminate capacity losses, remove sand/silt buildup with regular cleaning, and remove obstructions
- Improve reliability, including programmed system review and cleaning
- Preventative maintenance every quarter
- Hire additional maintenance workers to clean lines throughout basins in advance of any issues
Contact ATS Innova for SSO Prevention
When you contact our ATS Innova representatives, we’ll discuss with you the issues you have or may be facing. We offer a FREE wastewater plant walk-through and identify areas that need improving or changing to ensure you have the best ways to prevent sewer system overflow. Call us today at 855.215.4600.
