AST Case Study: Pelahatchie Facultative Lagoon Polishing
Project:
Pilot RCPG System for Facultative Lagoon Polishing
Applications:
- Municipal and Industrial Wastewater
- High Strength Waste
- Pristine Polishing
Problem:
Recently, rural and decentralized wastewater treatment systems discharge standards have been tightened to the point that the traditional treatment methods are being found to be inadequate. These systems, such as facultative lagoons, are being required to meet strict BOD and Ammonia standards. This push for cleaner discharges is pushing these municipalities to either implement tertiary polishing systems or upgrade to expensive mechanical plants, which many small communities cannot afford.

10 ft3 Recirculating PolyGeyser unit, 1 hp regenerative blower, and linear air pump.
Solution:
AST provided a trailer mounted pilot scale test unit to pull a side stream off of the current waste stream. This pilot system included one 10 ft3 Recirculating PolyGeyser® (RCPG) unit, a 1 hp regenerative blower, and a linear air pump. The RCPG 10 is run completely pneumatically. It contains a 10ft3 packed bed of Enhanced Nitrification (EN) media that provides solids capturing and biological filtration. The unit ran for 6 months while data was collected for BOD and ammonia influent and effluent concentrations.
System Benefits:
- High Efficiency
- Low O&M
- Automated Non Mechanical Backwash
- Simultaneous Mechanical and Biological Filtration

Influent & effluent samples.
Results:
AST’s RCPG lines of filters are very efficient at mechanically and biologically filtering a wide variety of waste streams. The Pelahatchie waste stream was an excellent test of the unit’s ability to consistently produce the stringent effluent quality waters that are becoming more common across the rural United States. The filter continued to produce dischargeable quality effluents throughout the 6 month test period.
Stats on the Unit Provided:
Future Projects/Partnership:
Currently plans are moving forward to implement the full scale design for this system.
If you have questions about AST’s filtration systems or you would like to learn how we can help with your filtration needs, please call us at 800.939.3659. We would be happy to help you size a system of your own.
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