While we can treat water in many different ways, it’s not always in a modern water treatment facility.
In rural areas and small communities across the nation, lagoons are the preferred tool for managing wastewater.
But how do they work? What do you need to know when it comes to understanding things like lagoon maintenance, cleaning, and land use regulations?
Let’s answer those questions and more.
What are Wastewater Lagoons?
Wastewater lagoons, also known as ponds, are bodies of water or basins designed to treat wastewater.
Popular in smaller communities where larger water treatment is less available, lagoons offer a simple and cost-effective way to manage wastewater and sewage. They do this using natural and energy-efficient methods.
Rural areas across the U.S. leverage the treatment power of lagoons for several key reasons:
Easier to treat wastewater
Cost less to construct
Simpler to maintain
Require less land
You’ll also find lagoons in use at rental properties or seasonal locations with intermittent wastewater treatment needs.
Lagoons receive, hold, and treat wastewater using a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods. While much of this process happens naturally, some lagoon systems will employ oxygen aeration to assist the treatment process.
Let’s explore a few of the most common lagoon types.
Anaerobic Lagoons
As the name implies, anaerobic lagoons utilize an anaerobic, meaning without oxygen, treatment method.
Usually used to treat animal waste from livestock farms and other industrial waste, anaerobic lagoons tend to be deeper, around 8’ to 10’, and are often part of a series of lagoons or included in a greater wastewater treatment process.
These anaerobic lagoons hold and treat water for around 20 to 150 days.
Inside the lagoon itself, waste separates into several layers:
A top layer of oils and other materials (also known as scum)
A middle layer of wastewater
A bottom layer of sewage sludge
If a septic tank doesn't come before the lagoon, the sludge will build up and eventually need removal. Moreover, water coming from this type of lagoon usually needs additional treatment.
Aerobic Lagoons
In contrast to anaerobic lagoons, aerobic lagoons require dissolved oxygen to be present for proper treatment.
Aerobic lagoons tend to be shallower than their anaerobic counterparts. This is because sunlight and air need to penetrate the water for efficient treatment. As such, aerobic lagoons are better suited for warmer climates where freezing isn’t a big issue.
With aerobic lagoons, it takes around 50 days for proper wastewater treatment.
Aerated Lagoons
Common in smaller communities, aerated lagoons leverage aerators to mix up the contents of the wastewater. This adds extra oxygen to the wastewater and, in turn, results in more efficient water treatment with a smaller footprint.
While aeration makes treatment more efficient, these systems do require power for proper operation.
Compared to a full wastewater treatment plant, though, an aerated lagoon uses much less energy.
Wastewater vs. Sewage Lagoons
You’ll find quite a few terms used interchangeably to describe wastewater lagoons. For instance, both “pond” and “lagoon” tend to mean the same thing.
Additionally, terms like stabilization, maturation, or polishing can refer to a lagoon in use at a particular stage of the treatment process. When it comes to the difference between wastewater and sewage lagoons, the two are the same.
What you should be aware of is the difference between a lagoon and a septic field.
While both offer a way to treat wastewater, a septic field is specific to septic tank treatment. Lagoons, on the other hand, sometimes treat water after a septic tank but find use in other applications without one.
The key difference is how they each treat wastewater.
Lagoons use a variety of processes to accomplish this task, as we’ve learned. Septic fields use a series of perforated pipes that run underground and evenly disperse the water from tanks through gravel beds and into the soil below.
During this process, microorganisms take care of harmful bacteria and leave the water for safe absorption into the ground.
When an impermeable layer of soil prevents proper drainage from a septic tank field, a lagoon is a suitable alternative.
Lagoon Cleaning Services
While builders line lagoons with materials such as clay or synthetic liners to protect the ground soil from contamination, periodic cleanings are still necessary
During this process, equipment dredges the lagoon and collects the solids from the bottom. This is usually sewage sludge and other biological material. Depending on the wastewater management company, this collected sludge receives treatment in a few ways:
On-site treatment
Off-site treatment
Most companies will leverage portable dewatering equipment to keep solids concentration high and sludge volume down. During the entire process, it’s not uncommon for other tasks to take place, like regular maintenance, rehabilitation and rebuilding of lagoon walls.
NJ Land Use Regulations
When it comes to New Jersey land use and regulations regarding lagoons and other wastewater treatment ponds (WTPs), the Federal Clean Water Act determines the constraints in terms of construction and requirements for existing lagoons.
In this situation, the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act does not regulate these existing lagoons.
If you intend to build a new lagoon, you must understand whether your project resides in areas regulated by the Division of Land Use Regulation (DLUR). If so, you’ll need to source the proper permits. If not, no permit for construction or maintenance is required.
While you might need a permit for drainage in NJ, it’s not always the case for lagoons and other water treatment ponds.
Even if you don’t need permits, you should always adhere to proper waste management guidelines. If you have any questions, be sure to connect with the proper authorities for clarification.
New Jersey Lagoons: Wastewater Treatment Services and More
Lagoons offer areas a way to treat wastewater without the need for massive treatment centers. This makes lagoons the go-to choice for rural areas and small communities.
Whether you have an anaerobic or aerobic wastewater treatment pond, finding a reliable service for maintenance and cleaning is key to proper upkeep.
O&M Solutions helps both the public and private sectors with efficient wastewater management solutions. Our team has decades of experience servicing areas across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. Get in touch today to learn more about our services.