I mean that if the soil aerated from the bottom that will increase the microbial activities for water improvement.
I have expertise in treating wastewater in stratified sand filters. In my practice I design stratified sand filters. The settled wastewater is dosed onto the top surface. The settled wastewater is invariably anaerobic. Clogging of the top surface will occur over time, measured in years. The clogging occurs in proportion to the application rate. We use a low application rate.
The clogging is basically a biomat. The infiltration capability of the biomat is very low compared to the original infiltration capability. When such clogging occurs, we have restored the infiltration capability by creating a vacuum at the bottom of the sand filter. Air is drawn through the filter surfaces from the ground surface down. The vacuum process we add is a patented process called SoilAir. In our experience, when we add the vacuum, it does take longer for nitrification to begin. After the filter with the vacuum applied is "mature" (or nitrification is complete), the filters offer the same performance as the original configuration, except a higher concentration of Dissolved Oxygen in the filter effluent. So, I believe that if a sand filter is aerated more than normal, it will improve the longevity of the sand filter. As far as traditional contaminants of 5 Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Total Suspended Solids and Total Nitrogen, we see no distinct difference between the effluent before and after the vacuum is added.
Dear Gaballah,
That is good idea. Aeration will help to aerobic degradation processes in soil. However "how much m3 soil will be aerated?" this is very critical point. You know cost of aeration can be very high if your area is very large.
Dear Professor Olcayto Keshinkan.
Thanks for your reply, your answer valuable. I am thinking on something like what I attached. This method can neglect the cost of aeration. It just decreasing the outlet level under the aeration pipes, the natural aeration will done normally. Nowadays, I am trying to text this method in HSF of constructed wetland in pilot scale and I will share this experiment with you. Kindly regards
Dear Mohamed,
This approach is valuable I think. However, if soil has high level of organic matters (e.g. polluted soils by industrial wastewaters) the aeration method (that you think to apply to your system) will not be effective for aerobic degradation. So, you will need extra aeration system and you will have to use energy for these ultimately. In fact, I would be glad if I would use this method and see the results of experiments.
Dear Professor Olcayto,
Thanks for your reply.
You are right that it needs extra aeration. but, i will test that and share the results with yours.
Kindly regards
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