Non–proprietary N–removal onsite wastewater treatment systems are less costly than proprietary systems, increasing the likelihood of adoption to lower N inputs to receiving waters. We assessed the capacity of non–proprietary lignocellulose–amended soil treatment areas (LCSTAs)—a 45–cm–deep layer of sand above a 45–cm–deep layer of sand and sawdust—to lower the concentration of total N (TN) in septic tank effluent (STE) at mesocosm and field scales. The mesocosm received wastewater for two years and had a median effluent TN concentration of 3.1 mg/L and TN removal of 60–100%, meeting regulatory standards of 19 mg/L or 50% removal. Removal varied inversely with temperature, and was lower below 10^oC. Removal was higher in the mesocosm than in five field sites monitored for 12–42 months. Median effluent TN concentration and removal met the standard in three continuously–occupied homes but not for two seasonally–occupied homes. Sites differed in temporal pattern of TN removal, and in four of five sites TN removal was greater—and effluent TN concentration lower—in the LCSTA than in a control STA containing only sand. The performance of non–proprietary LCSTAs was comparable to that for proprietary systems, suggesting that these may be a viable, more affordable alternative for lowering N inputs to receiving waters.

中文翻译：

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木质纤维素的中观和田间规模评估——修正土壤处理区以去除废水中的氮

非专有的除氮现场废水处理系统比专有系统成本更低，增加了采用降低受纳水体氮输入的可能性。我们评估了非专有木质纤维素改良土壤处理区 (LCSTA)——45 厘米深的沙子和锯末层上方的 45 厘米深的沙层——降低总氮 (TN) 浓度的能力在中观和现场规模的化粪池污水 (STE) 中。中层空间接收废水两年，出水 TN 浓度中位数为 3.1 mg/L，TN 去除率为 60-100%，符合 19 mg/L 或 50% 去除率的监管标准。去除率与温度成反比，低于 10 ^oC. 在 12-42 个月内监测到的五个现场站点中，中宇宙的去除率更高。三个连续居住的家庭出水 TN 浓度和去除的中位数符合标准，但两个季节性居住的家庭不符合标准。站点在 TN 去除的时间模式上有所不同，在五个站点中的四个站点中，LCSTA 中的 TN 去除量大于仅含沙子的对照 STA 中的 TN 去除量，而出水 TN 浓度较低。非专有 LCSTA 的性能与专有系统的性能相当，这表明它们可能是降低受纳水体氮输入的可行、更经济的替代方案。