Designer/Engineer Updates

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12/15/11 Update

A "Merit Badge" In Greywater

As greywater systems have increased in popularity, Orenco's AdvanTex Treatment Systems have been increasingly specified for these kinds of re-use applications. Our largest system to-date is the one that's currently being installed at the Boy Scouts of America's new, National Jamboree site in West Virginia. AdvanTex AX-RTs will be treating greywater from 117 separate shower/bathhouse facilities, spread out over the 10,000-acre (4047 ha) campground, to be re-used for toilet-flushing, saving a quarter-million gallons of water, per day!

According to Eric Lanning, Orenco's project manager, AdvanTex won the Boy Scout's RFP after first winning the bid for – and producing – a successful demo project. "This is probably one of the largest greywater applications that you'll ever come across, and it fits the Boy Scout's goal of demonstrating eco-friendly camping," said Lanning.

Plans for another Boy Scout camp using AdvanTex for greywater treatment were featured in the August issue of "Plumbing Engineer" magazine.

For more information about our greywater treatment systems, read our new AX-Greywater brochure, Or, to order a hard copy, go to our Request Literature page (and select "AX-Greywater" under "Brochures").

AX-RT Grade Extensions

The AdvanTex AX-RT, Orenco's pre-packaged, plug-and-play residential treatment system, is now available with a 6-inch or 12-inch tall (150-mm or 300-mm tall) fiberglass grade ring extension. Since we began offering the AX-RT, we've had numerous requests for these.

Grade extensions can be used in applications where a deep bury is necessary due to site constraints. They are also ideal for repair sites where the existing septic tank is too deep for gravity flow to a standard AX-RT. Grade extensions can be factory-installed right onto the RT, or grade extension kits can be purchased for field installations. For more information, call Orenco at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

Recirc Ratio Info

Although Orenco’s “Operator News” newsletter is intended for system operators, it has good information for designers and engineers too, such as a recent article on recirc ratios.

The recirc ratio is the amount of effluent recirculated back into the treatment system’s recirculation tank compared to the amount of effluent discharged from the system. The recirc ratio helps to provide the right environment in the treatment media for the bacteria that make treatment happen. It also sets and maintains a good balance of food-to-microorganisms in the media.

Recirc ratios are controlled by adjustments to the pump timer settings, based on flow data. Recirc ratios usually fall between 2:1 and 6:1. Orenco’s factory-default setting for recirc ratios in AdvanTex Systems is 4:1. However, with normal strength influent, a ratio of 3:1 can also work well.

Typically, the recirc ratio shouldn't exceed 6:1. In some cases, however, a recirc ratio higher than 6:1 can help meet permit limits and prevent odor problems. Two-stage systems with very strict nutrient limits, for example, might even require recirc ratios of 10:1 or higher. But unnecessarily high recirc ratios can cause problems. For one thing, they increase energy use and electricity costs. Unnecessarily high recirc ratios can also deplete alkalinity enough to lower pH levels below acceptable limits within the system if sufficient alkalinity isn’t available. And low influent alkalinity inhibits nutrient removal, interfering with the ability to … again … meet permit limits.

On the other hand, an excessively low recirc ratio can cause problems too. For example, a recirc ratio of 2:1 may not provide sufficient aeration for the treatment bacteria, causing poor treatment. It can also create anaerobic conditions that lead to odor control issues. As always, facility permit limits and influent wastewater chemistry dictate setting requirements. For more information on recirc ratios, timer settings, or general questions about media filters and nutrient reduction, contact Orenco at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

Orenco Expands International Presence

Photo courtesy of Anthoussa Hotels - www.anthoussa.gr

This year has been a good one for Orenco’s international division, with its highest annual sales to date. “We dedicated more resources to international business in 2011, and it has paid off,” says Geoff Salthouse, Regional Sales Manager of the international team. Orenco's AdvanTex AX-Max and AX-Mobile products have been especially popular solutions for international clients. Recent installations range from a hospital in Angola, Africa, to a mining camp in remote northern Canada. The variety of Orenco’s products and configurations allows for scalable, affordable, and effective treatment, regardless of the terrain or environmental conditions in a particular location.

The International Region has added new points of distribution in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, and welcomed new staff to our Sutherlin, Oregon headquarters. Sales engineers and account managers have spoken at conferences, exhibited at tradeshows, and conducted trainings in many areas of the world, and new document translations are available in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

The rest of our AdvanTex product line is doing well internationally, also. For example, check out the updated Anthoussa Beach Hotel case study on an AX100 system installed (and later expanded) at a resort in Stalis, Crete, Greece. If you have an international project you’d like to discuss, please contact our international team at +1-541-459-4449.

11/16/11 Update

Commercial-Scale Treatment Packages

Set, plumb, wire, and go! Orenco’s complete, fully-plumbed wastewater treatment plants for commercial properties and communities – the AdvanTex AX-Max™ and the AdvanTex AX-Mobile™ – are now being shipped all over the world.

If you didn’t see our AX-Max at WEFTEC, you can see a photo of its “sister product” – the AX-Mobile – on the cover of this month’s WaterWorld magazine. Like all AdvanTex Treatment Systems, the Max and the Mobile produce re-use quality effluent while using less than 2 kWh of electricity per 1000 treated gallons (3.785 m³). They’re pre-plumbed and – because they combine treatment, recirculation, and discharge into a single modular unit – they’re easy to install, above-ground or below.

We’ve developed new AX-Max and AX-Mobile brochures that describe applications, performance, benefits, and recent projects. You can order them from our “Request Literature” page, under the “Brochures” heading.

The Video We Didn't Show at WEFTEC

It took us so long to create an oh-so-clever cutaway display of a 20' AX-Max for WEFTEC that we never got our video finished in time for the show. So here it is. This five-minute movie highlights award-winning and/or notable projects using Orenco equipment from 2000 to 2011. It ends with the Mt. Union, Iowa, AdvanTex project – in a two-stage, nutrient-reducing configuration – which was cited by the judges when singling out AdvanTex for the 2011 WEF Innovative Technology Award.

To send us a quick e-mail about YOUR upcoming wastewater treatment project, click here.

Large Multi-Purpose Fiberglass Structures Now Available

In addition to manufacturing commercial-scale wastewater treatment systems, like the AX-Max and the AX-Mobile, Orenco is now manufacturing and selling large-scale fiberglass products (up to 42' x 7.5' x 8') for a variety of applications:

water/wastewater tanks
solar hot water tanks
lift station buildings and wet wells
controls buildings
digesters
architectural panels

“We’re vacuum-infusing some of the largest fiberglass products in the world,” said Eric Ball, VP of Product Development. “It’s a complex process without a lot of margin for error. When you’re making a 10,000-pound part, you don’t want to be throwing any bad ones away.”

In 2009, Orenco acquired a 130,000 sq ft (1.2 ha) building in Winchester, Oregon, for the express purpose of manufacturing “big parts.” “This building gave us the space – including the vertical space – to make this kind of manufacturing possible,” said Jeff Ball, VP of Operations. “Plus, the building came equipped with all the necessary equipment, such as large bridge cranes. And, of course, we have the trained staff to do the job.”

For more information about large-scale fiberglass structures, call or e-mail Eric Ball, x219, 800-348-9843, 541-459-4449, eball@orenco.com.

New Vault For Smaller Diameter, Low-Profile Tanks

Orenco has added a new 48" high (1219 mm) vault to our line of small-diameter pump vaults.

The PV48 was designed to fit inside the Roth® FRALO tank used in some effluent sewer systems. But it’s equally at home in any shallow or low-profile concrete tank where a small diameter pump vault is required.

The PV48 is only 13.5 inches (343 mm) in diameter and can fit in a tank access port as small as 16 inches (406 mm). It has the same type of easy-to-service Biotube® effluent filter used in our PVU and PV55 series, removing two-thirds of suspended solids, on average. Download our PV Series Tech Data Sheet, or contact us for questions.

9/21/11 Update

AX-RT Product Line Expanded and Improved!

Orenco^®’s AX-RT line of pre-packaged, “plug & play” wastewater treatment systems for residential applications has expanded to include the new AX25-RT unit for 1-6 bedroom homes. There’s also a new AX20-RT equipped with our Orenco AXUV unit for jurisdictions requiring disinfection.

We’ve redesigned all of the units for better performance and easier O&M, too. A simplified manifold design and Orenco Spin Nozzles provide improved effluent distribution over the textile media for better treatment. And, for easy access, all of the components that are commonly removed for servicing and maintenance are now located on the same end of the unit.

The AX-RT’s simplified design reduces costs for excavation, installation, and O&M, providing AdvanTex®-quality treatment in a simple-to-install package. See the latest AX-RT Product Flyer to learn more about the expanded RT line. You can also download AX-RT technical documents and AX20-RTUV technical documents.

Orenco's Nutrient-Reduction Technology Spotlighted at WEF Forum on Oct. 18

The Water Environment Federation recently honored Orenco with its 2011 “Innovative Technology Award” for the nutrient-removal capabilities of its AdvanTex® Textile Treatment Systems. Tyler Molatore, Orenco's Community Systems Program Manager, will be describing the system at WEFTEC's "Innovative Technology Forum" in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct 18, 9:40 am, in Kentia Hall.

"Many communities face increasingly stringent nutrient-reduction limits for wastewater discharges," said Molatore. "For example, Mt. Union, Iowa needed to be able to meet the Iowa Department of Natural Resources NPDES permit requirements with low nutrient loads, specifically a low ammonia limit. Using a two-stage AdvanTex Treatment System, Mt. Union is now producing effluent with <10 mg/L BOD/TSS and <1 mg/L Ammonia-Nitrogen."

For more information, read Orenco's AdvanTex AX-Polishing Brochure or contact tmolatore@orenco.com. If you're going to be attending WEFTEC 2011, you can also stop by Booth 4207 and visit with any of Orenco's systems engineers.

Energy Trust of Oregon Awards first $400 Cash Incentive for Orenco's AdvanTex System

A home owner living outside of Portland is the first recipient of a $400 check from Energy Trust of Oregon for purchasing an energy-efficient wastewater system: Orenco's AdvanTex Treatment System. To our knowledge, the cash incentive is the first of its kind for wastewater systems in the U.S.

“The annual electricity cost for our AdvanTex Treatment System averages $17,” said Sam Carter, AdvanTex program manager. “The annual electricity cost for other systems can run as high as $500. Collectively, Oregon property owners — and their electric utilities — can save more than one million kilowatts of electricity each year by installing an energy-efficient wastewater system. That’s why Energy Trust is offering this incentive.”

According to David Nelson, Orenco’s regional sales manager, Energy Trust’s incentive will help to level the playing field between manufacturers. “Wastewater systems that use a lot of electricity are typically $500 or $1,000 cheaper to buy, up front,” said Nelson. “And nobody likes spending money on a wastewater system. It’s not like buying beautiful countertops or a cool barbeque. So it’s tempting for people to choose a system that’s $500 or $1,000 cheaper, even if they know the electricity costs will be higher. With this $400 incentive, buyers will have another good reason to take energy savings into consideration.” Over the life of a wastewater system, Nelson explains, homeowners who purchase energy-efficient systems can literally save thousands of dollars.

To find out more about AdvanTex systems and Energy Trust’s cash incentive, visit Energy Trust's website. Or call the Orenco sales staff at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

8/26/11 Update

See Our Self-Contained AX-Max (and Mobile) in L.A.!

If you'd like to see Orenco's new "plug & play" AdvanTex® AX-Max™ Treatment System, you can visit the restrooms at the famous Pt. Dume beach park in Malibu, where three AX-Max's have recently been installed by L.A. County. Or you can skip the beach traffic and just stop by Booth 4207 at WEFTEC 2011, October 17-19, where we'll have a 21-ft (6.4 m) AX-Max on display.

The full-sized 42-ft AX-Max has about three times the capacity of an AX-100, so it's cheaper to install than multiple AX-100's. Each 42-ft AX-Max can handle 15,000 gpd (56,780 L) when treating wastewater from a primary tank. And it produces the same re-use quality effluent and still uses just 1-2 kWh per 1000 treated gallons. At Pt. Dume, half-sized units have been configured in two stages, for ammonia-polishing ... a configuration that just won WEFTEC's 2011 Innovative Technology Award. Orenco representatives will accept the award at the show and will be describing the technology at the "Innovative Technology Forum," Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 9:40 am.

The largest AX-Mobile unit serves up to 150
persons, weighs 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg), and is
easy to ship and set.

When we add a catwalk surrounding the AX-Max and a control panel cabinet on the end, we have Orenco's new AX-Mobile™-- a rapidly deployable, pre-packaged treatment system serving up to 150 persons per full-sized unit. The AX-Mobile is ideal for remote sanitation facilities, military installations, mining camps and emergency sanitation. It can be shipped by truck, rail, cargo container, or aircraft.

The AX-Mobile provides excellent wastewater treatment in any climate or topography, and systems have now been installed in a variety of locations, soils, and climates.

The AX-Mobile at the Alyeska Pump Station on the Alaska pipeline is installed above-ground on permafrost, operating in temperatures ranging from -60° to 90° F. It includes a control room installed above the unit, so operators are protected from extreme temperatures. Effluent quality averages <7 mg/L cBOD5 and TSS. You can read the Alyeska Case Study here.

Two AX-Mobile units at the Jalousie Plantation resort on the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia are sited on rocky, volcanic soil. They were quickly deployed and installed to temporarily replace a wastewater system destroyed by Hurricane Tomas in 2010. (Installation was completed 2 days after the units arrived on the island!) Both units are slated for future integration into the resort’s decentralized wastewater infrastructure. You can read the Jalousie Plantation Case Study here.

To find out more, read our new AX-Mobile brochure that features our latest installation at the Carrizo Springs Mining Camp in Texas. Or call the Orenco sales staff at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

New UV Unit for AdvanTex Systems

Orenco's new AXUV Disinfection Unit
kills 99.999% of bacteria and viruses
in wastewater treated to
secondary standards.

If you design residential or commercial AdvanTex Treatment Systems in a state or province that requires disinfection before dispersal, Orenco now offers an improved UV disinfection unit. The Orenco AXUV Disinfection Unit is more effective, more durable, more safe, and more serviceable than any other onsite UV unit on the market.

The Orenco AXUV uses no chemicals and has no moving parts. Treated effluent flows by gravity through the housing and around the UV lamp where it is disinfected in a 360-degree contact zone. In side-by-side NSF® equivalency testing, the AXUV reduced bacteria by 99.999% (5 logs), meeting or exceeding the performance of other residential UV disinfection units.

A Teflon sleeve that minimizes buildup and reduces service intervals protects the UV lamp. The unit requires yearly cleaning and a lamp replacement every two years.

The power ballast for the unit and a lamp current sensor are housed in the system’s VeriComm or MVP control panel – outside of the wet well – to protect the UV unit’s electronic components. The control panel prevents discharge of non-disinfected effluent due to lamp failure or control panel failure. The current sensor monitors lamp function and, in the event of lamp failure, the discharge pump is automatically disabled.

An Orenco UV Disinfection Unit for other secondary treatment systems will be available soon. For more information on the Orenco AXUV or Orenco UV Disinfection Units, call the Orenco sales staff at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

It’s Hip to be Square

Better dispersal, fewer nozzles -- square is finally cool!

AdvanTex AX100, AX-Max, and AX-Mobile Treatment Systems now have an improved manifold design using Orenco Spin Nozzles. The Orenco Spin Nozzle sprays in a square-shaped pattern that evenly disperses effluent across more of the textile media than spray nozzles with circular patterns. Better dispersal can lead to better treatment because more of the textile is being used. And the larger spray pattern means fewer nozzles, a simplified manifold design, and easier maintenance.

We’re now selling retrofit kits for existing AX100 installations. The kit comes with Spin Nozzles, an upgraded and streamlined manifold, and splashguards. For more information, call the Orenco sales staff at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

4/1/11 Update

Orenco Project Wins U.S. Environmental Award

EcoCenter in San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy of OpenHomesPhotography.com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored San Francisco's new 100% off-the-grid EcoCenter with the 2010 Environmental Justice Achievement Award.

The 1,500 sq ft EcoCenter includes solar panels, a vegetative roof, rainwater catchment, and Orenco's AdvanTex AX20 Treatment System. The AX20 is followed by a constructed wetland and UV disinfection, before the treated water is recycled for landscape irrigation. Since the entire system has been installed inside the building, above-ground, Program Manager Tracy Zhu regularly explains the treatment process to school groups and volunteers in easy-to-understand terms.

"Everything is built around the wastewater treatment system," said Laurie Schoeman, project manager and now a director of New York Sun Works. "It's the primary function of this building ... It's the baseline function of a 'built environment.'"

According to System Designer Noadiah Eckman, the city's permit requires that the system meet "recreational standards" because of the exposed indoor wetland, as well as the "surface flow wetland" standard. "We're off to a strong start," says Eckman. "Sampling results from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission shows total coliform of only 100 MPN/100 mL and e. coli of <100 MPN/100 mL."

Orenco Project Wins Canadian Environmental Award

Victoria, PEI Aerial
Photo courtesy of AirScapes.ca

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities presented the seaside community of Victoria, PEI, with its 2011 Sustainable Community Award in the Water category. The award honored the community, as well as its consulting engineer, Kelly Galloway of Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd, for its innovative and affordable wastewater solution, a solution that ...

eliminated a public health hazard caused by failing septic systems,
eliminated discharge to Victoria Harbor,
is reducing nitrate, and
is reducing water consumption.

Their solution? An Orenco Effluent Sewer, followed by a cluster of 10 AdvanTex AX-100 Treatment Systems capable of handling highly-variable seasonal flows: from 4,000 gpd (15,000 Lpd) during the winter to 15,000 gpd (57,000 Lpd) during the summer.

Victoria's Wastewater Treatment System

Installed in 2008, the system is producing 6/5 BOD/TSS and exceeding treatment requirements for TN. Total project cost for 63 connections was $2.1M ($2.5M CDN); annual rates are $515/EDU.

Community Administrator Hilary Price said that the wastewater system "has been a stimulus for expansion in our tourism businesses and has allowed our residential population to dramatically increase." Click here for a Victoria PEI Case Study. You can also download our standard brochures describing Victoria's collection and treatment technologies:

California Beach Projects Showcase AdvanTex Reliability

Surfrider Beach, Malibu, CA

The famous Surfrider Beach in Malibu is one of 13 beach parks in Southern California that are being upgraded by L.A. County with AdvanTex wastewater treatment systems. "We started these projects three years ago, working with the county's Public Works department and Orenco's engineers," said Steve Braband of Biosolutions, Inc., an Orenco distributor. "Surfrider, which was started up in March, is the sixth completed project. Three additional jobs are scheduled to be completed at Point Dume by Memorial Day."

Because of their proximity to the ocean, the beach parks are using a number of Orenco technologies to produce the cleanest possible effluent, before discharging it underground: AX20s, AX100s, AX-MAXs, two-stage configurations for ammonia-reduction, sand traps, alkalinity chem feeds, UV disinfection, and pressurized drainfields. "Surfrider was a real challenge," said Braband. "The county wanted a sea wall to prevent the pressurized drainfield from washing away during storms. But the surfers were afraid a sea wall would change the wave patterns. Ultimately, we came up with a new location for the drainfield within a very tight footprint."

Braband is no stranger to placing AdvanTex systems in high-profile and/or environmentally sensitive areas. He's also provided equipment to the Audubon Center at Debs Park, Malibu Creek Plaza, the Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge, the Topanga Library, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. According to Tristian Bounds, Orenco's R&D Engineer, AdvanTex is a good match for these kinds of projects. "AdvanTex systems reliably produce clear water without producing odors. Plus they're installed subsurface and have a small footprint, so they're easy to disguise. In fact, Steve sent us samples of the beach sand and the parking lot asphalt for the AX-MAXs going into the Point Dume project, so we could match the lid paint to disguise the treatment system even more."

For more information about another Orenco wastewater project, at a beach resort half-way 'round the world, visit Orenco's Solutions for Hotels and Resorts page.

12/23/10 Update

Affordable Blow-Molded Tank Now Available for Orenco Effluent Sewers

Orenco and Roth Global Plastics have just signed an exclusive agreement to allow Orenco to sell Roth HDPE blow-molded tanks into Orenco Effluent Sewers in North America. HDPE blow-molded tanks provide a cost-effective, lightweight, consistent, and watertight vessel that simplifies the installation process. All Roth tanks used in effluent sewer applications will be sourced through Orenco.

“We’ve been evaluating thermoplastic tanks for years, and this is the only one that has ever met Orenco’s specifications,” said Grant Denn, Engineered Systems Manager.

The Roth tanks are being fitted with a new, Orenco-designed tank adapter that provides a watertight, structural joint with appropriate risers. According to VP of Product Development Eric Ball, “We require watertight tanks in all our systems, including risers, joints, and penetrations. To create a watertight, structural joint between the tank and riser, we developed a Roth Tank Adapter Kit that includes the new tank adapter, stainless steel screws, and sealant.”

For more information about Orenco Effluent Sewers, click here.

Campgrounds, Rest Areas, Recreational Facilities: All Ideal for AdvanTex

Engineers designing wastewater projects for campgrounds and recreational facilities are discovering that “packed bed filter” technologies in general — and AdvanTex in particular — are ideal. Consequently, they’ve installed AdvanTex systems on more than 100 projects. These kinds of projects have special design considerations:

Highly variable flows
Prolonged periods of low flows or disuse (seasonal use)
Environmentally sensitive locations
Minimal maintenance requirements

AdvanTex filters start up quickly and can handle a wide range of flows. In fact, unlike more conventional activated sludge technologies, AdvanTex actually performs even better at low loading rates.

In addition, because AdvanTex systems produce outstanding effluent (<10/10 BOD/TSS, with significant TN and NH3-N reduction), they can meet the strict discharge limits often found in environmentally sensitive locales or on projects with NPDES requirements. And because they have a small footprint, don’t use a noisy blower, and don’t produce odors, they’re practically invisible to visitors. Finally, they can be easily maintained; so no advanced operator training is required.

The Bee Run Day Use Area on Sutton Lake in West Virginia is a good example. For a case study on Bee Run, click here. Orenco is currently working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on another recreational facility in West Virginia, as well.

Get more information about Orenco’s campground solutions here.

Talking to Your VCOM Panel Just Got Easier

For the past several years, Orenco has offered a Bluetooth device and software program — BT-VCOM — for wireless connectivity and real-time communication with Orenco’s VeriComm (VCOM) remote telemetry control panels (used in residential applications).

Recently, BT-VCOM’s functionality and graphical interfaces have been improved. You can now upload programs and software to VCOM boards and check phone or internet connections at the site. Analytical functions have been upgraded too. Plus BT-VCOM software is now available for Mac and Windows PC’s, as well as for Windows Mobile (versions 5, 6, and 2003).

If you’re a current VCOM user, you can download the latest version of BT-VCOM by logging onto www.vericomm.net and clicking on the “Help and Resources” link. Then click the link for BT-VCOM. While you’re there, be sure to download the newly revised version of the VeriComm User Manual. If you just want more information about BT-VCOM, call an Orenco Tech Sales Rep at 800-348-9843 or 541-459-4449.

Free “TCOM Viewer” Now in Beta-Testing

A user-friendly “TCOM Viewer” Windows Application for Orenco’s affordable SCADA line of real-time telemetry control panels is now being beta-tested and will be available after the first of the year.

“One reason why our TCOM commercial-scale SCADA panels are so affordable is that the fancy software interfaces and graphics that help operators view system information remotely have always been an optional ‘add-on,’” said Brent Ballow, Controls Division manager. “Our customers on limited budgets have been able to save money by opting for the generic ‘HyperTerminal’ software that used to come free with every Windows PC. But HyperTerminal is not free any longer, and we knew we could simplify some of the functions. So we’ve been developing a better solution. And it will still be FREE for any functions that were previously possible with HyperTerminal.”

The basic version of Orenco’s new TCOM Viewer will feature:

Compatibility with virtually all Orenco TCOM panels
New screen color choices for better visibility
“Double-click to select” mouse interface for menu items
Easy storage of site info for multiple sites
Simple, “click and choose” log retrieval with the ability to constrain log data by date
Built-in graphing and plotting of log data
Easy log data exports to Excel
Ability to upload program and firmware to control panels (contact Orenco Controls for more details regarding this function)

According to Ballow, there WILL be an optional user-friendly “Graphic View” available for purchase. For more information and pricing, call one of our Controls Engineers at 800-348-9843 or 541-459-4449.

9/17/10 Update

See the Supersized AX-MAX™ at WEF in New Orleans Oct. 4-6

Orenco is showing a scale model of its latest AdvanTex Textile Treatment System — the AdvanTex-MAX™ Wastewater Treatment Plant— at WEFTEC, Oct. 4-6, Booth #7451.

The AdvanTex-MAX is a modular, fully plumbed wastewater treatment plant for commercial, residential, municipal, and mobile applications. Bury it, berm it, or leave it above-ground to disconnect and redeploy. It's ideal for decentralized applications with medium-to-large flows (5000 gpd and up) and for permits requiring secondary treatment or better, since it can treat blackwater and graywater to re-use levels.

Like all AdvanTex treatment systems, the MAX is easily serviceable and highly energy efficient, using only 3 kWh of electricity per 1000 treated gallons. The AdvanTex-MAX is built inside an insulated fiberglass tank that is durable, lightweight, and watertight. Tanks range from 20 ft to 40 ft in length and can be installed singly or in multi-tank arrays.

Download an AdvanTex-MAX flyer

Visit Us at West Coast Green in San Francisco, Sept. 30-Oct. 2

Chris Helliwell, Orenco’s Western Regional Account Manager, will be showcasing the environmental benefits of Orenco's technologies at West Coast Green in San Francisco, at the Fort Mason Center. Stop by and talk with him at booth #544. Or, to set up an appointment, e-mail him at chelliwell@orenco.com.

New 4-in-1 Control Panel Simplifies Inventory

Orenco’s new 4-in-1 control panel is versatile and flexible. It’s allows you to spec a single panel for multiple designs and applications, including ...

On-demand dosing
Timed dosing
115 volts
230 volts

For installers and service providers, the 4-in-1 control panel means they’ll always have the right panel in stock, in their, truck, or at the job site. For more information, call your local Orenco distributor, or call an Orenco tech sales rep: 800-348-9843.

Updated Custom Controls Brochure Now Available

Orenco manufactures more than 20,000 control panels a year, many of which come out of our custom panel shop. We build panels for industrial process controls, as well as for water/wastewater applications and environmental monitoring. Our completely updated Custom Controls brochure includes additional information on VFDs, PLCs, TCOM/SCADA, and more. It also describes the quality control and safety standards we adhere to as both a UL 508A and UL 698A shop.

Order a copy

Order Spanish Versions of Brochures, Manuals, Documents

If you have Spanish-speaking customers, you’ll want to know that a number of our most important brochures and documents have been translated into Spanish and will be available to order by Oct. 1. They include the following:

ProSTEP brochure (ProSTEP Sistemas de Bombeo para Efluentes)
AdvanTex AX100 brochure (Sistemas de Tratamiento AdvanTex AX100)
AdvanTex AX100 O&M Manual (Manual de Operacion y Mantenimiento AdvanTex)
AdvanTex AX100 Design Criteria (Criterios de Diseno de AdvanTex: Para Aplicaciones Comerciales y Multifamiliares)
Orenco Effluent Sewer brochure (Canerias Para Efluentes Orenco)

And, as a reminder, we still have a Spanish-language version of our basic O&M Manual for residential customers. To order, call an Orenco tech sales rep at 800-348-9843 or +1 (541) 459-4449.

8/9/10 Update

Explore Our New Web Site

Pop the cork! Orenco Systems has just updated its corporate Web site. (And it’s about time!)

As a wastewater system designer or engineer, you may be especially interested in the new Technical Resources and News sections and, of course, the entire Engineered Solutions market area. We've also added a new Regulatory Resources area with state-by-state approval information.

Or just start at the new Home page and explore

Regulators, Installers Embrace AX20-RT

In the six months since the AdvanTex AX20-RT made its first appearance at the Washington Onsite Sewage Association's 2010 conference, Orenco's "plug & play" advanced textile treatment system has been approved in more than 20 regulatory jurisdictions. Additional approvals are pending in half a dozen others.

"It's being widely accepted in the regulatory community," says Sam Carter, Orenco's Government Relations Manager. "NSF approved the AX20-RT last year as an equivalent to the AX20. So it has a Standard 40 listing, suitable for applications needing BOD/TSS reductions to <10 mg/L and nitrogen-reduction of 60-70 percent or better."

Concrete Septic Tank and AdvanTex AX20-RT To assess the RT's nitrogen-reduction capabilities under "real-life" conditions, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has added the RT to its one-year field trials program. Twelve RTs were installed in a matter of weeks, and MDE subsequently removed any limits on the number of systems that could be installed in the state. "When the regulators saw the product, they saw it really was equivalent to an AX20," said distributor Bob Johnson, Atlantic Solutions. "Same media, pump vault, pump, and control panel."

According to Johnson, designers and their customers lean towards the RT whenever there's an existing tank, discharge pump requirement, small lot, or access issue. And installers lean towards the RT because it can be installed in half-a-day: "They're done by lunch and putting the tools in the truck." Darren Simmie, Orenco's director of sales, agrees. "Many installers are quoting it the way they'd quote the install of a 1000-gal. tank. It's a shallow install, with inlet and outlet plumbing. That's it."

The AX20-RT has been APPROVED in the following jurisdictions:
Alabama, Alberta, Arkansas, British Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada County (CA), Oregon, Ohio, Oregon, Sonoma County (CA), South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

The RT also has approvals PENDING in the following jurisdictions:
Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee

For more information, contact Orenco at 800-348-9843 or +1-541-459-4449.

Upcoming Trainings at Orenco Cover Community and Residential Design Topics

At our headquarters in Sutherlin, Oregon, we have an AdvanTex Boot Camp, a Control Panels training, and a Pumps training scheduled for August 16-19. Although these are aimed at installers and service providers, they can benefit residential system designers who want to know more about how our systems work.

Visit our Registration page

4/23/10 Update

Treatment Configurations for Nitrogen Reduction

For commercial-scale projects facing nitrogen requirements, AdvanTex can be used in specific treatment train configurations to meet those stringent limits.

For ammonia (NH3-N) requirements, a Two-Stage AdvanTex system can get the job done, with minimal operator input. Orenco can assist with sizing and historical performance data. See our case studies on Truesdale, Iowa and Class VI Resort, West Virginia for examples.

For total nitrogen (TN) projects, AdvanTex has been partnered with carbonaceous upflow filters to reduce average TN by over 90%. Designers can confidently expect performance below 10 mg/L, like that achieved at Rancho Encantado, New Mexico or Malibu Creek Plaza, California.

To learn more and download case studies, visit our new Nitrogen Solutions page.

Control Panels for Industrial Markets

Orenco's standard and custom control panels are becoming increasingly popular for applications other than water/wastewater. Our industrial panels include motor and valve controls and a variety of functions for energy efficiency, such as variable frequency drives and reduced voltage starters. They also include alarms, monitoring systems, programmable logic, graphical interfaces, touchscreens, etc.

Orenco's industrial controls can be found in facilities that produce heavy equipment, cables, composite products, filtration devices, and more. To spread the word, Orenco Controls managers are heading to PTXi next month -- an international process equipment show -- and they've completed a major update to their Web site: www.orencocontrols.com. You can go straight to the page about controls for industrial process equipment. Or, to talk shop, contact Jerry Snyder, Sales Manager, at (877) 257-8712 (toll-free in USA) or (541)-459-6917, x273.

Visit the Orenco Controls Web site

Check Out Our New "Green" Case Studies

Projects using Orenco's environmentally sustainable, "green" technologies are earning LEED credits, winning awards, and earning lots of "first of its kind" designations in jurisdictions all over the world. Not to mention producing re-use quality effluent!

We've profiled three of these projects in our new "Green Case Study" series. For the residential market, check out our Esther's Island Retreat case study, which describes a solar-powered AX20 Treatment System on an off-the-grid cottage located on a small island adjacent to Nantucket, Massachusetts.

For the commercial market, check out our Audubon Education Center case study, which describes an AdvanTex Treatment System for an educational facility in Debs Park, Los Angeles, that earned the Green Building Council's first-ever Platinum LEED rating.

For the new development market, check out our Habitat Acres case study, which describes an Orenco Effluent Sewer and AdvanTex AX100 Treatment System for a planned community near Calgary, in Alberta ... the first effluent sewer ever approved in that province.

You can see all these case studies at our Sustainability Advantages Web page.

Also, for more information on how to earn LEED credits for your Orenco-equipped projects, here are two helpful documents:

2/19/10 Update

Introducing AdvanTex AX20-RT: Performs Like AdvanTex, Installs Like a Tank

AdvanTex AX20-RT Wastewater Treatment System Orenco's new AdvanTex AX20-RT Residential Wastewater Treatment System is a completely pre-packaged "plug & play" AX20 that installs as easily as a septic tank. The AX20-RT combines the recirc, treatment, and discharge modules of a standard AX20 system into a single, shallowly buried unit, reducing excavation, installation, and service costs.

The AX20-RT is an economical system for residential sites where an old system has failed but the existing septic tank is still usable. It's also ideal for small sites and those requiring shallow excavations.

The AX20-RT produces the same outstanding, re-use quality effluent produced by a standard AX20 and has been approved by NSF as an AX20-equivalent.

More information, including installation instructions, is available at the AX20-RT page.

Visit the AX20-RT page

Dozens of Wineries Choose AdvanTex

Wineries generate high-strength wastewater when they clean their equipment between batches. The AdvanTex Treatment System is well suited for wineries because it can accommodate highly variable flows. Orenco has provided wastewater treatment systems for dozens of wineries.

For example, Bin to Bottle, a custom-crush winery in Napa, California, recently chose an AdvanTex system to pretreat its process water before discharging it to a municipal sewer. Because of the modular nature of the AdvanTex system, Bin to Bottle was able to start operations with a single AX100 pod. As their production volume grew, they added a second and third pod. The system now accommodates design flows of 1500 gpd, with peak flows of 2500 gpd. Wastewater is treated to an average of 98 mg/L BOD₅ and 63 mg/L TSS.

To learn more about the design of wastewater treatment systems for wineries, visit our Solutions for Wineries page, where you can download the Bin to Bottle Case Study and contact our engineers.

Visit the Solutions for Wineries page

1/29/10 Update

Orenco's First Effluent Sewer Approved in Australia

An Orenco Effluent Sewer supplied by Innoflow Australia Pty. will be installed this year for Yarra Valley Water, in Victoria, Australia. Yarra Valley Water chose Orenco's system to serve 91 new homes in the town of Kinglake West, one of the communities destroyed by the 2009 bush fires. The Orenco Effluent Sewer won out over several alternatives, including a grinder system.

In lifetime cost, ease of maintenance, and convenience to customers, effluent sewers have many advantages over grinder sewers. We've prepared a document, Considering a Pressure Sewer?, that summarizes these advantages. You can download it and other materials from the Effluent Sewer Collection page on our Web site.

Effluent Sewer vs. Grinder: An Operator's View

The current issue of Orenco's Operator News profiles Scott Monroe, manager of the Southwest Barry County Sewer and Water Authority in Michigan. Scott's system includes both grinder and effluent sewer connections.

"I'm not a big fan of grinders," Monroe said. "We get a lot more callouts with grinders than with STEP systems. The grinders tend to have problems with the cutters or with the control panel, whereas the STEP systems usually just have a dirty effluent filter or a float issue."

Monroe described his preventive maintenance program, which helps keep maintenance costs low by minimizing emergency calls -- something that's hard to do with grinders. "Grinders are harder to maintain," Monroe said. "When there is a problem, you have a very small [reserve] capacity to use your facilities until someone gets there to fix it. The pump is heavy and it may be eight or nine feet deep, so it's not a one-man job to get a grinder pump out of there."

The rest of the Operator News describes the role of turbidity testing in a maintenance program and describes some new products of interest to service providers. If you'd like to receive this occasional publication, e-mail Darren Paschke, Account Manager, at dpaschke@orenco.com.

Download Operator News, Vol. 4, No. 1 (December 16, 2009)

How to Keep Water Softener Brine Out of Wastewater Systems

When a household water softener backwashes its resin tank, the resulting brine is detrimental not only to septic systems but also to municipal wastewater treatment systems. Orenco and other manufacturers of onsite systems have maintained this for years, based on the experiences of service providers and customers. We'd like to see codes require water softener discharges to be routed around the wastewater system into a dry well or French drain. But manufacturers of water softener devices deny the problem and resist code changes.

Nevertheless, many jurisdictions do prohibit discharge of this brine to household or municipal systems. We've collected a list of them. We also have some documents that describe the problem and explain simple measures homeowners can take to enjoy softened water without discharging brine to the wastewater system. Please look over these documents to acquaint yourself with the issue. For more information about plumbing brine discharge away from septic systems, or for support with modifying codes in your area, contact Orenco.