Purdue University Animal Science Research and Education Center Waste Separation

The human and animal wastewater generated by the operation of the ASREC was combined and treated in several different lagoons. Waste streams from the education center, machinery maintenance, sheep, hatchery, poultry, swine, aquaculture, and beef facilities were separated to direct the human wastewater stream to new treatment facilities while the animal waste streams continue to be treated via their respective lagoon systems. Interior plumbing modifications to achieve waste stream separation, gravity sewers, elevated sand mound, lift station, perimeter drains, and site restoration were designed to serve the beef facilities. Interior plumbing modifications, septic tanks, and a low-pressure septic tank effluent pumping system were designed with a series of elevated sand mounds for the remainder of the facilities. Eight research and education areas were separated. Low-pressure sewers, gravity sewers, recirculating sand filters, small wastewater treatment plants, and sand mound septic systems were considered as alternates for transportation and treatment. Direct discharge to a receiving stream, subsurface irrigation, and conventional septic disposal systems were evaluated as alternatives for final disposal of the treated water.