5.1 Individual Residential Spray Irrigation System (IRSIS)

This system must serve individual residences and are permitted by the municipal SEO. An individual spray irrigation system means "an individual sewage system permitted under Section 7 of Act 537 (recent amendments Act 149) that services a single dwelling, and which treats and disposes of sewage using a system of piping, treatment tanks, and soil renovation through spray irrigation". The IRSIS systems must be monitored annually regardless of the pretreatment. The IRSIS (individual spray irrigation system) may be permitted through the local agency's sewage enforcement officer. If the spray irrigation system services for commercial, industrial, or multiple family dwelling will require PADEP approval. The general requirements are listed below:

1) Soil Requirements: 10" mottling/high water table and 16" bedrock, loose shale, loose gravel. The depth to the limiting zone is measured from the top of the mineral soil.

2) Slope: The ground slope over the length of the irrigation field is as follows:

0-25% mature forest cover
0-12% grassed fields
0-4% cultivated fields, agriculture

3) Spray Field Area: For a 3 bedroom homes ranges from 10,000 to 80,000 ft2.

4) System Components:

Pretreatment Tank: 2 compartment septic tank or 2 septic tanks or Aerobic Unit. The aerobic tank must contain an NSF seal , electrical and mechanical components shall comply with the standards for the National Electric Code and visual/ audible alarms are required. Where intermittent use or there is a lack or dependable service and maintenance, an aerobic tank is not recommended.

Pump tank: The lift tank shall be constructed of materials consistent with specification in Chapter 73, Section 73.45. The dose volume shall be a minimum of 100 gallons and the lift tank shall have a minimum liquid capacity of 200 gallons.

Dosed Intermittent Sand Filter (Free Access or Buried)

A. Free Access Intermittent Sand Filter- A free access filter is designed to allow periodic maintenance and filter accessibility. A small sand surface area is required for the free access filter as the sand can be replaced as needed.

If Aerobic Pretreatment is Used: The minimum surface area is 40 square feet for an aerobic unit for a 3 bedroom home and for each additional bedroom the area will be increased by 10 sq feet.

If Anaerobic Pretreatment is Used: The filter requires two filter units or a two compartment or chamber tank with each tank or chamber providing a surface area of 40 square feet for a septic unit for a 3 bedroom home and for each additional bedroom the area will be increased by 10 ft2 per tank or chamber. Alternating dosing is required.

The material within the chamber will meet the following requirements:

1) The fine aggregate shall have an effective size of between 0.3 to 0.6 mm, a uniformity coefficient of less than 3.5 and less than 4% of the coarse aggregate passing the # 100 sieve. The sieve analysis shall be conducted in accordance with PADOT PTM # 616 and the uniformity coefficient shall be determined by using PADOT PTM # 149.

2) The sand shall not contain more than 10% by weight deleterious material as determined by PADOT PTM# 510.

3) The percentage of weight loss after 5 cycles of immersion and drying cannot be greater than 12% as determined using a sodium sulfate solution in accordance with PADOT PTM # 510.

B. Buried Sand Filter The Buried Sand Filter is designed to be entirely subsurface, except where seasonal water table or bedrock dictate. The filter must be located in stable fill. The larger buried filter surface area is designed to provide enough sand material to treat sewage effluent indefinitely.

1) The size of the sand filter depends on the estimated daily flow in accordance with Chapter 73, Section 73.16(a). The minimum surface area will be 600 ft2 and for a single family home the minimum size will be based on a sizing factor of 1.5 sq ft per gallon per day.

2) General Construction Specifications

a) At least 2 inches of coarse aggregate shall surround underdrains and distribution pipes. Coarse aggregate used in underdrains and distribution system shall meet the requirements in PADOT specifications publication # 408, Section 703. The size and grading of the aggregate shall meet AASHTO 57 requirement from a PADOT certified stockile. The transition layer will be a minimum of 4 inches of coarse aggregate and shall be placed above the aggregate underdrain material.

b) At least 24 inches of sand must be placed over the transition layer. The size and grading shall meet bituminous concrete sand Type B#1 or #3 requirement from a PADOT certified stockpile. The sieve analysis shall be conducted in accordance with PTM # 616 and # 100. A soundness test in accordance with PTM # 510. The soundness loss shall be a maximum of 12 % and test annually.

c) Minimum depth of earth cover is 12 inches and soil cover must extend beyond the filter area by at least 3 feet.

Chlorine contact/ disinfection facility

Disinfection is required prior to spray irrigation and will produce an effluent of less than 200 fecal coliform colonies per 100 ml. The chlorinator must maintain a chlorine residual of 0.2 to 2.0 ppm and provide a thirty minute contact time. Storage tanks provide further disinfection action and server to retain the effluent until it is distributed to the spray field. The minimum liquid capacity of an individual residential spray irrigation system storage tank shall be: