TREATABILITY OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WASTEWATER IN SEPTIC SYSTEMS AT HIGHWAY REST AREAS

Recreational vehicle (RV) owners commonly use chemical toilet additives containing formaldehyde to minimize odors from their wastewater holding tanks. The purpose of this study is to determine the character and treatability of this wastewater using conventional septic tank-drainfield systems at highway rest areas. RV wastewater is a high-strength waste. Mean concentrations from 72 samples are 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) 3110 mg per liter, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 8230 mg per liter, total suspended solids (TSS) 3120 mg per liter, and volatile suspended solids (VSS) 2640 mg per liter, with a formaldehyde concentration of 170 mg per liter. The average volume per vehicle is 62 liters. Because RV wastewater is highly concentrated, sludge and scum accumulation and pumpout interval should be considered in addition to hydraulic residence time when sizing septic tanks for RV waste. A model for sludge and scum accumulation is developed based on the concept that some organic material in sludge and scum is readily degradable and compactible, some is degradable and compactible with extended residence time, and some material is inert and not compactible.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/995/995-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=TREATABILITY+OF+RECREATIONAL+VEHICLE+WASTEWATER+IN+SEPTIC+SYSTEMS+AT+HIGHWAY+REST+AREAS&author=C.+Brown&author=K.+Kiernan&author=J.+Ferguson&author=M.+Benjamin&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Water Quality.
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• Authors:
  • Brown, Charles A
  • Kiernan, Kevin E
  • Ferguson, John F
  • Benjamin, Mark M
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-10
• Monograph Title: WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND HYDRAULICS
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 995
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demand; Formaldehyde; Oxygen; Recreational vehicles; Roadside rest areas; Septic tanks; Sewage treatment; Sludge (Deposit)
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450681
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309038049
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 995
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 28 1986 12:00AM