US5690827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sewage treatment system using peat and a constructed wetland
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-10-19
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Granted: 1997-11-25
•
Expires: 2015-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of sewage treatment which comprises the sequential steps of: (i) subjecting waste water to be treated to a primary settling means to remove settleable solids and suspended solids and produce settled effluent; (ii) passing the settled effluent through a peat filter; and (iii) collecting the effluent from the peat filter and passing it through a sub-surface constructed wetland.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen G. Simmering
- 👤 Dennis Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:59
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/04; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of sewage treatment comprising the sequential steps of: (i) subjecting waste water to be treated to primary settling to remove settleable solids and suspended solids and produce settled effluent; (ii) passing the settled effluent through an aerobic filter medium consisting entirely of sphagnum peat; and (iii) collecting the aerated aerobic effluent from the peat filter and passing it through a sub-surface constructed wetland, which exposes the aerated aerobic effluent to anaerobic conditions prior to discharge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of sewage treatment comprising the sequential steps of: (i) subjecting waste water to be treated to primary settling to remove settleable solids and suspended solids and produce settled effluent; (ii) passing the settled effluent through an aerobic filter medium consisting entirely of sphagnum peat; and (iii) collecting the aerated aerobic effluent from the peat filter and passing it through a sub-surface constructed wetland, which exposes the aerated aerobic effluent to anaerobic conditions prior to discharge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising a further step of passing the settled effluent through a porous media filter for further filtration, adsorption of phosphate and adjustment of the pH, as required, prior to passing it through the wetland.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein effluent from the peat filter is passed through the porous media filter and the effluent from the porous medium filter is passed through the sub-surface constructed wetland.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the effluent, after passing through the sub-surface constructed wetland is passed through the porous media filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the media for the porous media filter is at least one material selected from the group consisting of pit run, gravel, sand, crushed stone, graded sand, ceramic, clay pellets, or clay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the peat filter comprises a peat bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the bed is about 1 m in thickness and the settled effluent from the primary settling step is passed through the bed by gravity flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the sub-surface constructed wetland comprising a depression filled with porous media permitting effluent flow and supporting the growth of wetland plant life.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the plant life consists of one or more species and is selected from the group consisting of phragmites, cattails and bulrushes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the effluent passed through the sub-surface constructed wetland is discharged to soils below the wetland.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the effluent passed through the sub-surface constructed wetland is collected for surface discharge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein effluent passed through the sub-surface constructed wetland is passed through a porous media filter and discharged to surface or the soil below.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the effluent passed through the sub-surface constructed wetland is discharged to soils below the wetland as well as surface discharge.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
52 words
A system for sewage treatment comprising a primary settling means, a filter medium consisting entirely of sphagnum peat and a sub-surface constructed wetland in which anaerobic conditions predominate, means for passing settled effluent from the primary settling means to the peat filter and from the peat filter to the sub-surface constructed wetland.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
52 words
A system for sewage treatment comprising a primary settling means, a filter medium consisting entirely of sphagnum peat and a sub-surface constructed wetland in which anaerobic conditions predominate, means for passing settled effluent from the primary settling means to the peat filter and from the peat filter to the sub-surface constructed wetland.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 14 further comprising a porous medium filter for further filtration, adsorption of phosphorus and adjustment of effluent pH as required.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein the porous medium filter is positioned between the peat filter and the sub-surface constructed wetland.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein the porous medium filter is located after the sub-surface constructed wetland.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein the medium for the porous medium filter is at least one material selected from the group consisting of pit run, gravel, sand, crushed stone, graded sand, ceramic, clay pellets or clay.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein settled effluent is delivered to the peat filter through a perforated drainage pipe network in an upper portion of the bed, to disperse the effluent over the surface of the porous medium filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein the porous medium filter is positioned below the peat filter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 14 adapted to treating sewage from multiple sources wherein the primary settling means comprises a primary tank located at each source or at the end of a sewer collection system receiving sewage from each source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 21 further comprising a pump chamber to receive the settled effluent from the primary tank and permit the balancing of sewage flows and/or provide chemical treatment if desired.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein the peat filter comprises a sphagnum peat bed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |