ALASKAN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
IN
ARCTIC SEWAGE TREATMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WATER QUALITY OFFICE
NORTHWEST REGION
ALASKA WATER LABORATORY
College, Alaska

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ALASKAN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
IN
ARCTIC SEWAGE TREATMENT
by
Sidney E. Clark-
Amos J. Alter
0. W. Scribner
H. J. Coutts
C. D. Christianson
W. T. McFall
Presented at
26th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference
Purdue Un-i.v"ersity
Lafayette, Indiana
May 1971
Alaska Water Laboratory
Environmental Protection Agency
and
Alaska Department of Health and Welfare
State of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska

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A Working Paper presents results of investigations
which are to some extent limited or incomplete.
Therefore, conclusions or recommendations—expressed
or implied—are tentative.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page-
INTRODUCTION	1
SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION	4
WASTE CHARACTERIZATION	12
DISCUSSION OF SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE	17
CONCLUSIONS	20
SELECTED REFERENCES	25
ii

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LIST OF FIGURES
Pa^e
Figure
1
Base Camp at Prudhoe Bay
2
Figure
2
Pipeline Road Construction Camp
2
Figure
3
Oil Exploration Camp
2
Figure
4
Alaska Pipeline Route
5
Fi gure
5
Aerial View of Pipeline Road Construction Camp
7
Figure
6
Physical-Chemical Treatment Plant at Pipeline
Road Construction Camp
7
Figure
7
Physical-Chemical Treatment Plant
8
Fi gure
8
Surge Tank and Positive Displacement Pumps at Base
Camp Sewage Treatment System
9
Figure
9
Extended Aeration System at Base Camp
9
Figure
10
Pasteurization-Incineration Modular System at
Drill Camp
9
Fi gure
11
Interior of Pasteurization-Incineration System;
Surge Tank and Sewage Metering Pump
11
Figure
12
Piping to Incinerator at Pasteurization-
Incineration System
11
Figure
13
Permafrost and Pipeline Failure
13
Figure
14
Aerated Lagoon at Work Camp
13
Fi gure
15
Extended Package Plant at Drill Site
14
Figure
16
Base Camp Water Supply Flexible Line
14
Figure
17
Compressor House for Aerated Lagoon at Work Camp
14
iii

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LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 1 North Slope and Arctic Sector Pipeline Waste
Water Treatment Facilities, March 1971	6
Table 2- North Slope Raw Sewage Characteristics	15
Table 3 Domestic Waste Disposal Methods	17
Table 4 North Slope Sewage Treatment Plant Effluent
Characteristics	19
Table 5 Camp Water Usage	21
Table 6 Household Sewage Distribution	21
Table 7 Water Conservation Systems	23
iv

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ALASKAN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE IN ARCTIC SEWAGE TREATMENT
INTRODUCTION
Alaska is America's last frontier and is a very large state. In fact,
Alaska is as large as Texas, California, and Montana collectively with
586,400 square miles. Alaska has two-thirds of the United States'
coastline or 33,904 miles of coastline and 40 percent of America's fresh
water (1). The North Slope of the Brooks Range lying at the southern
edge of Arctic Alaska, is a very harsh region having freezing conditions
approximately 260 days of the year, and receives approximately five
inches of precipitation each year. Lenses of dirty ice exist throughout
the soil cover and mean annual ground temperatures at depths of 20 to 30
feet are near 15°F or lower (2). The environment of Alaska's North Slope
is hostile to water supply and waste disposal practices common to
southern Alaska, North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Minnesota.
Camps on the North Slope must be thought of as isolated life support
systems and therefore all of the aspects of public health must be con-
sidered for their impact, one on the others. Sewage disposal, solid
waste disposal, and water supply are all parts of the same North Slope
life support system, and solutions must be provided in a manner that
prevents disease while simultaneously minimizing adverse effects on the
environment. Several types of camps are utilized and Figures 1, 2, and
3 show three types. It should be obvious that solutions to utility
problems will be different at each type of site.
The discovery of oil on Alaska's Arctic slope caused a tremendous scramble
to define the extent of the find. Oil companies and their subcontractors
soon found that Alaska intended to practice multiple use concepts in land
management, thus requiring them to provide secondary waste treatment and,
in many cases, complete treatment. The North Slope companies' systems
range from simple stabilization ponds to tertiary treatment.
While all of the operations are unique by the nature of their North Slope
location, two physical-chemical systems are of special interest. These
advanced waste treatment systems are treating raw sewage from two mobile
camps and are the only advanced waste treatment systems operating in the
Arctic. A unique split system has recently been placed in operation at
one drilling site. The system has an incinerator as its central core
with all of the waste water except toilet flush water heat treated and
chlorinated. The toilet flush water is burned in the incinerator. A
variety of extended aeration package plants are in operation including
facilities with long detention facultative polishing lagoons.
1

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Figure 1 Base Camp at Prudhoe Bay
Figure 2 Pipeline Road Construction Camp
Figure 3 Oil Exploration Camp

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Conservation of water and approaches for possible partial reuse become
very interesting when one considers, the cost of potable water. Estimates
of $0.04 to $1.00 per gallon are common, depending upon site and availa-
bility of water. Considering a drilling site of 50 men wh^re domestic
water costs $0.40 per gallon (exclusive of treatment), toilet flushing
water alone will cost $500 per day (1,250 gal/day) or $60,000 for a 120
day drilling operation (3).
In December 1.969, th'ere was only one operating plant (4), an aerated
lagoon; however, in March 1971, there were 17 operating^ plants, an
indication of the industry attitude once the ground-rules are defined.
3

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SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION
A quick look at the location map of the North Slope and Arctic pipeline
route, Figure 4, indicates the industry response to needs and require-
ments for adequate sewage treatment facilities for their construction,
drilling, and base camps. There are still several cases where open
disposal pits are being relied upon, but most of the permanent or semi-
permanent camps have" attempted to comply with State and Federal require-
ments. Several types of systems are represented, including physical-
chemical, pasteurization-incineration, complete mix extended aeration,
rated aeration, oxidation ditch extended aeration, and aerated lagoon.
Table 1 tabulates plant type, size, location, fabrication, capacity, and
discharge point.
Several of the extended aeration plants are followed by long detention
lagoons, with the longest detention system being capable of storing the
complete annual flow of the camp it serves at design capacity. An
example of effluent lagooning from extended aeration is shown in Figure
5, North Slope Pipeline Construction Camp. The lagoon appears alongside
and to the right of stacks of culverts.
The physical-chemical plants incorporate alum flocculation, upflow
clarification, first stage downflow carbon adsorption-filtration, second
stage upflow carbon adsorption, and clilorination with effluent storage
for future reuse for toilet flushing. The physical-chemical plants are
compact with the holding tanks taking up more space than the treatment
units as illustrated in Figure 6, Physical-Chemical Waste Treatment.
Figure 7 gives a better view of the plant. Note the use of a traveling
belt paper filter for waste sludge conditioning.
With the exception of the oxidation ditches and the aerated lagoon, all
systems are housed innheated structures. One of the more sophisticated
extended aeration layouts is shown in Figures 8 and 9. Note the use of
polyurethane insulation.
The North Slope sewage treatment plants because they are housed and
heated are not really subjected to Arctic climatic problems, except
humidity and air handling related to the associated housing that must be
overcome.
The oxidation ditches are split culverts exposed to the environment. A
very unique system, utilizing the pasteurization-incineration principles
with the sewage split into "sewage" (toilet wastes) and "Waste" (Kitchen,
laundry, and shower effluents) flows has been placed in operation at a
drill site. The "sewage" is fed into a surge tank and metered into the
incinerator burner. The burner system is currently being converted to
an atomized approach. Primary clarification will be accomplished with a
100 micron vibratory screen. The metering pump and surge tank are
4

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Barrow
Pruddhoe
Bay
&
Teshekpuk
6
BR O O K S RANGE
(p ALASKA
KEY MAP
\ Figure 4
ALASKA PIPELINE ROUTE

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TABLE 1
NORTH SLOPE AND ARCTIC SECTOR PIPELINE WASTE
Activity
Location

Type

Mfr.
Construction
Pipeline
Toolik
A
Phys-Chem
I
Aluminum
Oil Field
Deadhorse
B
Phys-
-Chem
I
Aluminum
Oil Field
Mikkelson
C
Incineration
II
Steel
Oil Field
Deadhorse
D
Ext.
Aer.
III
Steel
Pipe!ine
Galbraith
E
Ext.
Aer.
III
Steel
Pipe!ine
Happy Valley
F
Ext.
Aer.
III
Steel
Oil Field
Kuparuk
G
Ext.
Aer.
III
Steel
Oil Field
Deadhorse
H
Ext.
Aer.
III
Steel
Oil Field
Deadhorse
I
Ext.
Aer.
IV
Steel
Pipe!ine
Chandalar
J
Ext.
Aer.
IV
Steel
Oil Field
Deadhorse
K
Ext.
Aer.
IV
Steel
Oil Field
Prudhoe
L
Ext.
Aer.
V
Steel
Pipeline
Prospect
M
Ext.
Aer.
VI
Pipe
Pipe!ine
Coldfoot'
N
Ext.
Aer.
VI
Pipe
Pipeline
Dietrich
0
Ext.
Aer.
VI
Pipe
Pipe!ine
5-Mile Camp
P
Rated Aer.
VII
Steel
Pipeline
Crazyhorse
Q
Aer.
Lagoon
VIII
Permafrost
Oilfield
Deadhorse

Pit


Permafrost
Oilfield
Deadhorse

Pit


Permafrost
TREATMENT FACILITIES, MARCH 1971
Unit	Design Effluent
Capac. GPP Pischarge Pop. Chlor.
24,000
Lined lagoon
340
yes
24,000
Lined lagoon
75
yes
5,000
Tundra pond
50
yes
2,500
Tundra pond
50
yes
19,000
Lagoon
320
yes
24,000
Sagavani rktok
220
yes
6,000
Kuparuk
60
yes
5,000
Tundra
50
yes
7,000
Tundra pond .
50
yes
7,000
Chandalar
92
yes
8,333
Tundra pond
75
yes
15,000
Tundra pond
200
yes
18,000
Jim River
250
yes
15,000
Koyukuk
190
yes
15,000
Dietrich
190
yes
15,000
Surface
208
yes
15,000
Sagavani rktok
160
yes

Tundra

no

Tundra

no

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Figure 5 Aerial View of Pipeline Road Construction Camp
limit' .(• minimum,,
Figure 6 Physical-Chemical Treatment Plant at Pipeline Road Construction Camp

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Figure 7 Physical-Chemical Treatment Plant

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Figure 8 Surge Tank and Positive Displacement Pumps at Base Camp Sewage Treatment System
Figure 9 Extended Aeration System at Base Camp
Figure 10 Pasteurization-Incineration Modular System at Drill Camp

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shown in Figure 11, and tl\e Metered flow goes into the incinerator
through the uninsulated pipe shown in Figure 12. The total pasteuri-
zation-incineration module .shown in Figure 10 also houses water treatment
and storage. The "waste" waters are collected in the rectangular tank
alongside the "sewage" surge tank shov/n in Figure 11, and are fed
through a heat exchanger in the incinerator, with rate flow controlled
by a thermostatically actuated valve.
10

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Figure 12 Piping to Incinerator at Pasteurization-Incineration System

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WASTE CHARACTER!ZATION
The mode of life in North Slope camps varies from camp to camp according
to the size of camp and the type of operation that it services; however,
a basic trend exists. Camp life revolves around shift work with 10 or
12 hours per day shifts being dominant. Smaller camps will have sewage
peak loads that are many times the average load. Larger camps, partic-
ularly those having central laundry facilities, including laundry service
to satelite camps, will have a more evenly distributed load. Like any
institutional sewage flow, North Slope camp flow tends to show very high
peaks due to required activities.
Industry camps in remote locations have a hi story,of providing excellent
food in quantity and the men have a tendency to eat more. The Arctic
places much greater demands on men. Therefore, one must assume that more
BOD and COD per man finds its way into the waste streams. This, in
fact, seems to be the case as is borne out in Table 2, North Slope Raw
Sewage Characteristics. Sewage flows will vary from 30 gallons per
capita per day to 130 gallons per capita per day depending upon the
availability of water and weather conditions. When water is not severely
short, due to weather conditions, trail conditions or mechanical fail-
ures, men of the North Slope camps use lots of water for warm-up showers,
regardless of the cost of water per gallon.
Figures 13, Permafrost and Pipeline Failure, and 14, Aerated Lagoon,
show the impact of heated sev/age water on permafrost and demonstrate the
results. The water from a sewer failure has created a large depression,
indicating that the line was located over ice rich permafrost. Note the
obvious embankment sloughing associated with the aerated lagoon. The
aerated lagoon has a mild turbulance that assists in undermining the
unstable ice rich permafrost that it is located in. The relatively warm
aerated lagoon provides a heat source to promote thawing of underlying
zones. These pictures should indicate the reasons for excluding lagoons
from ice-rich permafrost areas. Arctic facultative lagoons are nothing
more than storage lagoons, and are therefore eliminated for that reason.
If allowed, what about future public health? Figure 15 shows a
preferable means of providing sewage treatment while protecting the
permafrost. Figure 15 also illustrates why sewage treatment is ex-
tremely expensive on the North Slope. Building utilidors and insulating
and heating the isolated plant and individual sewerlines is very costly
in terms of construction materials and maintenance and operating labor.
Figure 16 shows a successful means for providing flexibility and environ-
mental protection for pressure lines. The one shown happens to be a
water line but the same approach is feasible for pressure sewer lines.
The use of wood structures to protect equipment appears to present an
unnecessary fire hazard, particularly if equipment is in a small space
such as shown in Figure 17.
12

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Figure 13 Permafrost and Pipeline Failure
Figure 14 Aerated Lagoon at Work Camp

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Figure 15 Extended Package Plant at Drill Site
Figure 16 Base Camp Water Supply Flexible Line Figure 17 Compressor House for Aerated Lagoon
at Work Camp

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TABLE 2
NORTH SLOPE RAW SEWAGE CHARACTERISTICS
Location
Date
Population
BOD
COD
JS
SS
A
7/16/70*
12
484
842
894
387

8/20/70*
12
380
2440
2790
330

9/30/70*
9
-
1605
1298
228

3/17/71*
7
-
7610
-
-

3/22/71*
7
-
3260
-
-
B
8/20/70*
10
740
2000
2024
816

9/16/70*
6
-
842
-
811
C (All wastes
except toi-
let)
4/13/71**
50
.
550
_

C (Toilet
wastes)
4/21/71
50
-
4601
-
-
E
7/16/70*
15
500-1100
3600
3316
2788

9/30/70*
10
-
232
582
256
L
8/20/70*
85
7330
2510
3154
1547
(Average of 7

75
600
1150
-
1500
days of composites in March 1971)**
*Grab samples from mixed surge tanks
**Composite samples taken with composite sampler on basis of
frequency but not flow matching
1 Sampled by others
15

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The extended aeration plant at site D serves a drilling operation and is,
therefore, subjected to start-up conditions several times per year and
variations in flow. During the past winter, start-up was slow and a
biological mass had not developed after three months of operation. The
reasons for this slow start-up are not clear, but probably can be
attributed to hydraulic overloading, as well as a normal lag period.
16

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DISCUSSION OF SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE
Placing- sewage treatment systems in operation on the North Slope of
Alaska is not an easy task. Yet, several companies within less' than
one year responded to State requirements (Alaska, Environmental Health
Practices) in an admirable way as can be seen by comparison of Table 1,
North Slope and Arctic Sector Pi peline Waste Treatment Facilities,
March 1971, and Table 3, Domestic Waste Disposal Methods, December 1969.
Several different types of sewage treatment plants found their way to
the North Slope and a discussion of their performance is worth while.
TABLE 3
Domestic Waste Disposal Methods*
Man-made ponds: Direct to ponds
From recirculating toilets
From septic pit
Number used Remarks
28
3
1
32
One aerated
Burial methods: Outhouses
Dry collection (barrels, bags and
chemical toilets)
Recirculating toilets (effluent
buried)
4
1
One on
tundra,
with no
pit
Package plant	_1_ Not oper-
1 able yet,
being in-
	 stalled
42**
^Reference 4
**0ne geophysical camp used lagoons for wastes from chemical toilets plus
an outhouse.
17

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The effluent quality on specific dates for a number of the plants is
listed in Table 4. As cair be-seen from Table 4, the plant effluents
still have a considerable load of.BOD,.COD, and suspended solids.
Assigning usual removal percentages is not an easy task with these
plants, as the basic strengths of raw waste needs better definition.
When looking at Table 2, what do you use for raw B0D--330, or 1100, or an
average of 590? For raw C0D--232 or 7610, or an average of 2085? Al-
though the results are not indicative, the physical-chemical plants
produced very clear effluents. Visual examination of samples showed a
much clearer effluent from them than from the biological plants. One of
the two physical-chemical plants was utilized by Kreissl for studies con-
ducted at Cincinnati and his results are reported in a paper presented
at the Cold Regions Engineering Symposium, August 17-19, 1970 (5). In
that report, he stated that the mean effluent COD for the unit was 13.5
mg/1, and the total hydrolyzable phosphorus in the final effluent was
equal to less than 0.1 mg/1 as P during 50 percent of the runs. Kreissl,
et al., states, "It is significant to note that the effluent color levels
were below the U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards,
maximum of 15 units during 90 percent of the runs. A recent recommend -
tion for a toilet flushing standard of 30 units of color was never
exceeded during the testing period. The turbidity of the product water
was below one 0. U. during most of the runs. In terms of requirements,
the product quality was below the USPHS standards for drinking water,
5 J. U. during approximately 85 percent of the test runs and below the
suggested limit for toilet flushing water, 20 J. U. 100 percent of the
time."
While the physical-chemical plants outperformed biological plants, one
must ask why they did not perform as well as the one unit did when tested
in Cincinnati. Several potential reasons exist: (1) The raw wastes are
stronger; (2) The raw water chemical make-up is significantly different;
(3) The plants operated at less than 10 percent of design capacity and,
therefore, were not operated for long periods of time; (4) Untrained
operators; and (5) Infrequent carbon backwash and allowing the pin floe
to accelerate the carbon aging. The contractor has noted that the belt
paper filter utilizes an excessive amount of paper, thus, creating an
extremely expensive operation when the raw sewage is pre-filtered through
it. When paper filtering was only applied to the sludge dewatering, the
paper utilization decreased tremendously, but sedimentation problems were
created with the flat bottom feed surge tank, because the solids origi-
nally taken out of the raw sewage by the paper filter were now going into
the tank to settle out.
The biological treatment plant at Site E is operated by the camp manager
because he has taken a special interest in the system. He has augmented
the feed with kitchen scraps and fish wastes to increase the organic feed
concentration, thus compensating for the fact that the camp has run at
less than 10 percent of capacity most of the time. Table 4 shows the
results of this conscientious operator when compared to other extended
aeration plants. However, this is the exception, not the rule.
The authors have observed that biological plants placed in operation to
serve drill sites really are not much more than primary settling basins
for the first two months.

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TABLE 4
NORTH SLOPE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
System
Date
BOD
COD
SS
A
7/16/70
78
160
69

8/20/70
46
221
111

9/16/70
-
318
16

9/30/70
-
309
11

3/17/71
-
373
25
B
8/20/70
329
435
61
D
9/16/70
-
696
291
E
7/16/70
33
—
68

9/01/70
28
-
15

9/30/70
-
113
28
F
9/30/70
0
324
147
L
7/30/70
180
364
34

(1)
10
49
10

8/20/70
153
371
106

(1)
15
106
22

9/16/70
-
1167
1049

(D
-
357
388

3/12/71
40
170
68
Q
9/16/70
-
268
148
(1) Sample at end of.long detention lagoon
19

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CONCLUSIONS
The first major conclusion that one should draw is that the oil industry
responded in a major way to the need for adequate sewage treatment in
Arctic Alaska and did so in a relatively short period of time.
Camp water usage varies widely, depending upon the camp. If water becomes
extremely short because of weather or other conditions, the water usage
will drop to approximately 30 grams per capita day (gpcd) as a direct
result of curtailment of shower and laundry activity. These drops in
water use are unplanned and create extremely uncomfortable conditions
for the men. If a camp operator has the means for providing an adequate
water supply, a usage rate greater than 50 gpcd should be expected. The
cost of providing water does not bother North Slope workers; it's just
one of management's problems. Table 5 lists water usages as reported by
North Slope operators.
North Slope sewage strength is going to be greater than suburban temperate
region sewage, with BOD strengths of 400 to 800 mg/1 and COD strengths of
1000 to 1600 to be expected. As was pointed out in the paragraph above,
the flows are not dramatically less.
Biological plants can operate on the North Slope and provide a high level
of BOD and solids removal, in fact, several systems are operated effi-
ciently. Just like extended aeration plants elsewhere, many of the well
protected plants of the North Slope do not receive the qualified operator .
attention that is necessary to assure continuously high levels of removal;
consequently, they do not provide the levels of treatment expected of
them in terms of BOD and COD removal but this may be due in part to the
strength of influent sewage. All of the operators have designed their
extended aeration plants to rely on a "lagoon" to trap the "waste" solids
instead of providing intentional sludge wasting and disposal. Biological
plants do not require a supply of chemicals; therefore, operating costs
should be less than for physical-chemical plants. The first costs of
equipment and on-site preparation are not greatly different for physical-
chemical and biological systems, except when a long detention lagoon is
required behind an extended aeration system. In the latter case, the
first cost of an extended aeration lagoon system can go out of sight when
compared to a physical-chemical, treatment system. Extended aeration
systems that are set up to serve drill sites or other types of camps that
are going to be on location for 120 days or less do not actually reach
optimum operating conditions before the job is one-half to two-thirds
completed, and in some cases, completed. The effluent from an extended
aeration system that is not operating efficiently and is turbid will not
be properly disinfected. If high levels of secondary treatment are
required at a drill site, and no special, extended aeration system start-
up procedures are followed, the first 6 to 10 weeks are nothing more
than an "unintentional" white-wash job.
20

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TABLE 5
CAMP WATER USAGE
(3)
Camp	Gallons Per Capita Per Day
A	100 to 120
C	32 to 80
D	70 to 100
E	50 to 100
F	50
L	100 to 120
Average = 83.8
TABLE 6
HOUSEHOLD SEWAGE DISTRIBUTION
[After Bailey, et al. (6)]
Waste Source	Volume of Waste (gpcd)
Total Flow
30
40
50
75
100
Kitchen
0
7
10
10
15
Toilet
15
15
20
25
30
Showers, wash basins
15
18
20
25
35
Laundry
0
0
0
15
20
21

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The physical-chemical plants- did a reasonable job and provided a clear
effluent most of the time. Like some of the biological plants, these
plants were designed to handle much larger waste loads than were actually
handled during the past year. The plants did not perform as expected, or
as one of them had under prior tests. The probable reasons for the
efficiency reduction are several, including long periods of shut-down
between periods of use, infrequent activated carbon backwashing, and
untrained operators. The physical-chemical plant does not require a
start-up period and,-therefore, produces a quality effluent that can be
effectively disinfected immediately after camp start-up; not 6 to 10
weeks later. At the end.of an.operation, the physical-chemical plant
can be drained, the sludge dewatered and burned, and the activated carbon
removed and burned.
Actually, all the sewage treatment plants on the North Slope are trans-
plants and in fact, misfits. North Slope camps are isolated life support
systems. Newly designed camps are desperately needed that treat the
whole camp and all of its functions as an integrated system, thus recog-
nizing the interdependence of human comfort, group hygiene, basic
services provision, water supply, sewage treatment, solid waste manage-
ment, and air pollution control. Preconceived notions that particular
types of equipment, plumbing, etc., are unacceptable because they are
unconventional or because they are considered to be a luxury, should
not be allowed to bias the new design. Oh yes, the old standard excuse
provides an easy out - "Plumbing codes will stop any changes, after all,
they can never be changed." However, its amazing how new approaches can
become acceptable if they are proven superior and do not threaten any
block of jobs within the jurisdiction involved.
Starting with the interrelationship of water supply, water use fixtures,
human comfort and architecture use, requirements can be reduced dramat-
ically. Let's look at some examples. Tables 5 and 6 give temperate
climate household water usage figures and North Slope water usage figures.
Table 7 shows an analysis of estimated water supply savings based on
utilization of available hardware that actually would provide a more
comfortable camp. If the changes were pushed only to the limits of
available "conventional11 hardware and techniques, the savings in water
use could be 41 gallons per person per day or approximately 2050 gallons
per day for a 50 man'camp. If the water has a true value of 35 cents
per gallon, as one operator has estimated, the .2050 gallon savings turns
into $717.50 per day or $71,750 for a TOO day operation. Going along
with some "unconventional" approaches, the usage of water can be re-
duced approximately 55 gallons per man per day without sacrificing any
comfort or convenience. That additional 14 gallons per man per day
would represent a total of 700 gallons per day for the 50 man camp
example or $245 per day and $24,500 for the 100 day operation. The un-
conventional elements of the system1 consist of either utilizing vacuum
flush systems such as have been utilized in Europe for many years, or
utilization of treated shower water as a flushing water for conventional
22

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TABLE 7
WATER CONSERVATION SYSTEMS
(useage in gallons per capita per day)
Unconventional
Conventional Systems	Systems	
System 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Kitchen* 7.00
6.75
6.75
6.75
6.75
6.75
6.75
6.75
6.75
Laundry* 8.75
8.75
8.75
8.75
8.75
4.50
4.50
4.50
4.50
Utility* 1.25
1.25
1 .25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1,25
1.25
Bath** 40.00
40.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
15.00
Lavatory* 2.25
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
Toilet* 25.00
25.00
25.00
17.50
13.50
13.50
2.50
0
0
TOTAL 84.25
83.75
73.75
66.25
62.25
58.00
47.00
44.50
29.50
Water Savings Over 1
0.50
10.00
18.00
22.00
26.25
37.25
39.75
54.75
System Description
System. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1. Conventional Plumbing X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2. Replace Faucets w/Aerator Faucets
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3. Replace Shower Heads w/Flow








Control Heads

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4. Replace Water Closet w/Shallow








Trap Closet


X





5. Replace Water Closet w/Flush Valve








Toilets and Urinals



X
X



6. Replace Top Load Washers w/Front








Load Machines




X
X
X
X
7. Replace Water Closet w/Vacuum








Flush System





X
X
X
8. Add Physical-Chemical Treatment of








Shower Water and Recycle for Toilet Flush






X
X
9. Add Sauna for Warm-up Instead of Shower Warm-
¦up






X
*Figures from Bailey (6)
**Figures adjusted to reflect North Slope averages

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toilets. Use of a vacuum sewage transmission system opens up new avenues
of physical-chemical sewage treatment with a dual collection system pro-
viding for separation of the strong and weak streams. Handling sewage
solids should be considered in conjunction with solid waste management,
and incineration is presently the preferred means for disposal. The
example presented above has been offered to demonstrate how economics,
occupant comfort, and environmental quality control may be combined.
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SELECTED REFERENCES
1.	Anonymous, The Alaska Plan, A Statement of Economic and Ecological
Purpose, Alaska Department of Economic Development, Pouch EE, Juneau,
Alaska 99801.
2.	Alter, Amos J., Sidney E. Clark, E. K. Day, J. M. Cohen, and James
F. Kriessl, "Arctic Waste Management," presented at the 25th Purdue
Industrial Hastes Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
Indiana, May 1970.
3.	Conversations and interviews with North Slope operators.
4.	Scribner, Jonathan W., Elroy K. Day, Warren T. McFall, and Leroy
Reid, "Report of Survey, The Influence of Oil Exploration and
Development on Environmental Health and Quality on the Alaskan
North Slope," Alaska Department of Health and Welfare, Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration, Arctic Health Research
Center, December 1969.
5.	Kreissl, J. F., S. E. Clark, J. M. Cohen, and A. J. A1ter,"Advanced
Waste Treatment and Alaska's North Slope," presented at Cold Regions
Engineering Symposium, 21st Alaska Science Conference, University of
Alaska, College, Alaska, August 17-19, 1970.
6.	Bailey, James R., Richard J. Benoit, John L. Dodson, James M. Robb,
and Harold Wallman. "A Study of Flow Reduction and Treatment of
Waste Water from Households," Contract No. 14-12-428 between the
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration and General Dynamics,
Electric Boat Division, U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration, Cincinnati, Ohio.
25

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