DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOFILTER USING AN ORGANIC MEDIUM FOR ON-SITE WASTE-WATER TREATMENT

In recent years, many authors identified peat-based systems as a very promising technology for on-site wastewater treatment. In that context , Premier Tech has been working, since 1988, on the development and co mmercialization of a peat-based biofilter suitable for on-site wastewa ter treatment. This research and development programme comprised three major phases: an experimental phase where one type of peat out of 21 was chosen to be used in biofilters; a second phase where two prototyp e biofilters were installed in the field and their performances follow ed for 5 years; and a third phase where 4 biofilters were installed in order to demonstrate the adaptability of the system. The results obta ined in this three-phase programme allowed the introduction on the mar ket of a compact, reliable, and easy to operate biofilter requiring li ttle investment from the home owner. In this paper an overview of the research and development programme carried out in the last 8 years in relation to on-site wastewater treatment is given. Copyright (C) 1996 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.