Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems (Civil and Environmental Engineering) [Hardcover]

Ronald W. Crites (Author), E. Joe Middlebrooks (Author), Sherwood C. Reed (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849338042 | ISBN-13: 978-0849338045 | Publication Date: August 24, 2005 | Edition: 1

Although initially based purely on environmental principles of reuse and recycling, natural waste treatment systems proved to have economic advantages over mechanical systems in many cases, being less expensive to build and operate as well as requiring less energy. Thus, natural waste treatment methods reemerged even as advanced wastewater treatment technologies exploded in growth. Reflecting this burgeoning popularity, Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems is the first book to integrate all the major types of natural treatment systems into a single source.

Beginning with an overview of the types of natural treatment systems, the book outlines the planning, feasibility assessment, and site selection processes unique to natural processes as well as the basic process responses and interactions governing natural systems. The authors then examine the systems in detail, discussing wastewater pond systems, free water surface constructed wetlands, subsurface and vertical flow constructed wetlands, land treatment, sludge management, and onsite wastewater systems. They illustrate the practical aspects through 30 examples; include 178 data tables for comparing costs, performance, and constraints; and describe new approaches to partially mixed ponds, including dual-powered aeration ponds.

Written by eminent experts in natural waste treatment, Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems is an invaluable tool for selecting, planning, and implementing ecologically and economically sound wastewater treatment systems.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (August 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849338042
• ISBN-13: 978-0849338045
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #964,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Water Supply & Land Use

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars passing the torch, November 24, 2007

By 

S. D. Wallace (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems (Civil and Environmental Engineering) (Hardcover)

I have been a consulting engineer for over 20 years now, and this book has a lot to offer. It sits on the top shelf of my bookcase when I need simple answers fast. The original edition of this book was essentially a summarization of design manuals published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the late 1970's and early 1980's. If you are old enough to have these original "purple manuals" on your shelf (and actually use them), then you probably don't need this book.

But the reality in the environmental engineering field is that most of the "old guard" who worked in the Construction Grants and Superfund program are at, or close, to retirement. If you are part of the new generation entering the field, this is a great book as it essentially encapsulates 4 of the old EPA manuals, plus you get the benefit of the extensive career experience of the authors.

This book did not get 5 stars in my review because most of the data analysis is from the late 1980's and early 1990's, and there are a lot empirical equations drawn from this old (and limited) data set. Most of the observations on "new" technology developments are in the literature review sections and the design equations have not necessarily been updated to reflect new research findings. Since 90% of the data on natural treatment systems has been published in the last 10 years, readers should be aware that assumptions behind old equation sets are limited and need to treated critically.

If you have an interest in natural wastewater treatment systems, this is a good starting point for the environmental engineer and a great overview manual for other practitioners in the field. If you want to specialize at a graduate-school level in a particular technology like constructed wetlands or pond systems, then you will have to dig deeper to find the cutting edge in more specialized books and the research journal literature.