Implementation of a Decentralized Wastewater Management System Employing Reuse in Suburban Mobile, Alabama

In Mobile, Alabama, the first utility-managed decentralized wastewater systems are being implemented to serve a new school and the surrounding neighborhoods now in development. Treatment is being accomplished using interceptor tank (septic tank) primary treatment, recirculating sand filter advanced treatment, and after disinfection, the high quality effluent is being reused to irrigate a 30-acre sod farm. Decentralized wastewater management is a new and exciting concept in wastewater management that may offer advantages in cost effectiveness, enhanced environmental protection, and even land-use planning. The concept of collecting, treating, and disposing of wastewater near the point of generation can eliminate a significant amount of sewer infrastructure, can utilize less complex treatment technologies, and can reuse treated wastewater fro irrigation of community amenities (parks etc.) instead of stream disposal. Costs and design concepts, along with management policies adopted by a large urban utility are described.