An environmentally friendly alternative to a traditional wastewater treatment has become an innovative complement for the 2,500-acre Bradford Woods Campus, Indiana University’s leading international outdoor education center. Aligning the need to replace aging wastewater collection and treatment systems with the center’s dedication to environmental sustainability resulted in designing trenchless rehabilitation methods for the collection system and a wetlands-based system for treating the wastewater generated at the center. The collection system rehabilitation was accomplished by utilizing CIPP lining, slip lining, manhole rehabilitation, and directional drilling force mains. The treatment system includes pretreatment through three 15,000-gallon septic tanks. The wastewater is then pumped into a subsurface flow constructed wetland, recirculated into a vegetated gravel filter, and finally pumped into a soil absorption system. The soil absorption system was planted with prairie plants. In addition to a cost-effective alternative to conventional wastewater treatment, the project has become a valuable teaching and research tool for the university.
The following are sustainable aspects of this project:
- Plants use carbon dioxide, therefore reducing greenhouse gasses
- Significant reduction in carbon, solids, and nitrogen, thereby protecting the groundwater
- Increased habitat
- Carbon footprint is approximately ten percent of a conventional treatment plant
- Engineering Excellence, Honor Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana
