Subsurface sewage disposal and wastewater treatment system

Abstract

A modular subsurface sewage disposal and wastewater treatment system is presented for treating effluent from a septic tank. The system includes an elongated member, leach field medium and at least one pipe. The elongated member is arranged in one of a serpentine or a ladder-shaped configuration and includes a core wrapped in a fabric. The medium is disposed about open areas in the configuration. The pipe uniformly distributes effluent from the septic tank to the elongated member. In one embodiment, the core is a pliable plastic membrane and the fabric wrap is a non-woven fabric. In one embodiment, the elongated member is disposed in a box and retained by an adhesive to permit ease of manufacture, shipping, and installation. In another embodiment, the elongated member is disposed in a rigid or semi-rigid frame defining channels retaining the elongated member. The frame is detectable by a non-invasive above surface detector.

1 . A subsurface sewage disposal and wastewater treatment system for treating effluent passed from a septic tank, the system comprising:
 an elongated member arranged in a predetermined configuration, the elongated member including a core structure wrapped in a fabric;   leach field medium disposed about open areas defined by the predetermined configuration and under the elongated member; and   a pipe having an outlet for uniformly distributing effluent from the septic tank to the elongated member and from the elongated member to the leach field medium.   
   
   
       2 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined configuration includes a serpentine-shaped form. 
   
   
       3 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined configuration includes a ladder-shaped form. 
   
   
       4 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined configuration includes a form defined by the mathematics of fractal geometry. 
   
   
       5 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the core structure is comprised of a pliable plastic membrane. 
   
   
       6 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the core structure is comprised of at least one of an open and a semi-open area surrounded by at least one of a permeable and a semi-permeable plate and rib that holds the fabric wrapped about exterior surfaces of the core structure apart. 
   
   
       7 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric wrap is comprised of a non-woven fabric. 
   
   
       8 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a box for retaining the elongated member; and   an adhesive for holding the elongated member within the predetermined configuration within the box.   
   
   
       9 . The subsurface system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined configuration includes at least one of a serpentine-shaped form and a ladder-shaped form. 
   
   
       10 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a frame having a plurality of support members, adjacent support members defining a plurality of channels;   wherein the channels retain the elongated member within the predetermined configuration.   
   
   
       11 . The subsurface system of  claim 10 , wherein the frame is comprised of at least one of a rigid and semi-rigid material. 
   
   
       12 . The subsurface system of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid and semi-rigid material includes at least one of ferrous and non-ferrous wire, plastic, cellulose, timber, a plant-derived man-made fibrous substance, and petroleum and hydrocarbon based materials. 
   
   
       13 . The subsurface system of  claim 10 , wherein the channels retain the elongated member by a friction fit between adjacent support members. 
   
   
       14 . The subsurface system of  claim 10 , wherein the channels retain the elongated member with at least one of a plurality of ties and fasteners to couple the elongated member to adjacent support members. 
   
   
       15 . The subsurface system of  claim 10 , wherein the frame is comprised of a material that is detectable by a non-invasive above surface detector. 
   
   
       16 . The subsurface system of  claim 15 , wherein the frame is comprised of a ferrous material and the detector is a metal detector. 
   
   
       17 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , including:
 a first set of the elongated member, the leach field medium and the pipe disposed in a leach field area; and   a second set of the elongated member, the leach field medium and the pipe disposed in the leach field area; and   an interconnectivity feature coupling the pipe of the first set and the pipe of the second set together for uniformly distributing the effluent from the septic tank to the elongated members within both of the first set and the second set.   
   
   
       18 . The subsurface system of  claim 17 , wherein the first set and the second set are arranged in one of a side-by-side arrangement and a vertically stacked arrangement. 
   
   
       19 . The subsurface system of  claim 1 , wherein the leach field medium is comprised of sand including a highly predictable and definable composition by percentage of grain size. 
   
   
       20 . A subsurface sewage disposal and wastewater treatment system for treating effluent passed from a septic tank, the system comprising:
 an elongated member arranged in a predetermined configuration, the elongated member including a core structure wrapped in a fabric;   a frame having a plurality of support members, adjacent support members defining a plurality of channels, the channels retaining the elongated member within the predetermined configuration;   leach field medium disposed about open areas defined between the plurality of channels and under the frame; and   a pipe having an outlet for uniformly distributing effluent from the septic tank to the elongated member and from the elongated member to the leach field medium.