Abstract:
A system and method for treating contaminated water are provided. The system can include one or more collecting basins for collecting water, such as rain water, runoff water, etc. The system can further include one or more containment basins, one or more polishing basins, and a pumping system for moving water through the system. The containment basins and polishing basins can utilize techniques for reducing a contaminant concentration in the water. The system can further include a source for adding process water to the system and combining it with the collected water to form a system water in order to reduce a contaminant concentration in the system water and accommodate higher volumes of collected water and/or higher pollutant concentrations therein. The system can also include an ultraviolet emitting device and/or a heating device for reducing the level of living bacteria in the system water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/096,461, filed Dec. 23, 2014, to Wayne R. Hawks entitled “System and Method for Treating Contaminated Water,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/677,683, filed Apr. 2, 2015, to Wayne R. Hawks entitled “Self-Contained Irrigation Polishing System,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/627,765, filed Sep. 26, 2012, to Wayne R. Hawks entitled “Self-Contained Irrigation Polishing System,” and now U.S. Pat. No. 9,011,681 issued Apr. 21, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/219,080, filed Aug. 26, 2011, to Wayne R. Hawks entitled “Self-Contained Irrigation Polishing System,” and now U.S. Pat. No. 8,974,672 issued Mar. 10, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Run-off water and wastewater generally contain pollutants and contaminants that have adverse effects on the environment and the surroundings. Therefore, many environmental laws and regulations require run-off water and wastewater to be treated in developed areas before being discharged into a body of water, such as a stream or river. Many water treatment systems are presently known in the art. However, the water treatment systems currently known generally require large amounts of space, are ineffective at treating large volumes of heavily polluted or contaminated water, and cannot easily and effectively eliminate certain bacteria, such as  Escherichia coli.    
         [0003]    Thus, a need exists for a flexible and scalable water treatment system and method for treatment of run-off water and wastewater that is capable of treating large quantities of heavily polluted water in a limited area while also removing various contaminants and eliminating bacteria. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to a water treatment system and method. The water treatment system can be used to treat run-off water, storm water, drainage water, wastewater, contaminated water and the like. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the treatment system can include one or more small-scale containment basins for collecting water via various collection means. The water collected by the small-scale containment basins can then be transferred to a first large-scale containment basin, which can be one in a series of large-scale containment basins. Upon entering the first large-scale containment basin, the collected water can be combined with process water from another source to form the system water. The process water can be provided by a well, river, stream, pond, lake or other source of generally uncontaminated water or water having a contamination or pollutant concentration that is less than a contamination or pollutant concentration of the collected water. The system water can then be pumped through the one or more large-scale containment basins and one or more polishing basins to reduce the concentration of contaminants and/or pollutants in the system water, after which it can be released from the system or reinserted into the system as the process water. 
         [0005]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inclusion of the process water into the system can be controlled by a variable control valve. The control valve can selectively control the amount of process water added based on various criteria. In one embodiment, the flow rate of added process water is at least partially based on the flow rate of collected water into the first large-scale containment basin. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the control valve can selectively control the amount of process water added to the system based on the concentration of contaminants and/or pollutants in the collected water entering the first large-scale containment basin. 
         [0006]    The system can also incorporate a device for treating the system water with ultraviolet light to kill certain bacteria and other micro-organisms present in the system water. In addition to the ultraviolet device, or alternatively, the system can also incorporate a device for heating the system water to kill certain bacteria and other micro-organisms. 
         [0007]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0008]    In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a water treatment system and the surrounding environment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of a water treatment system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a series of containment basins in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of the series of containment basins in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of a vacuum pumping system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of a polishing basin in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of a mechanical containment separation device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. 
         [0017]    The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a general schematic of a water treatment system  10  of the present invention and demonstrates how it can operate with respect to a surrounding environment. System  10  generally works by collecting run-off water, such as storm water, wastewater, drainage water, etc., combining the collected water with processed water from another source and passing the water through various treatment systems by means of a pumping system, such as a vacuum pumping system, a negative pressure system, and/or a positive pressure system, until the water is fit for release into the environment. The run-off water, or collected water  100 , can be collected by various means and transferred to containment basins (“CBs”). In  FIG. 1 , collected water  100  is schematically shown as flowing from buildings, parking lots, and roadways and being collected in a series of small-scale CBs  12  interconnected with one another. Collected water  100  can then flow from small-scale CBs  12  to large-scale CBs  14 , where it can be combined with process water  102  from another source such as well  20 , or other source of generally uncontaminated water (or less contaminated water) to form system water  104 . From large-scale CBs  14 , system water  104  (the combined collected water and process water) can be pumped under vacuum through a vacuum pumping system to one or more polishing basins  16 , and can be treated with ultraviolet light and/or heat to kill certain bacteria and other micro-organisms. In alternative embodiments, system water  104  can be pumped using any number of other suitable pumping means employing a positive or negative pressure system. The term “polishing” is used herein to refer to a treatment process that involves, among other things, the removal of harmful pollutants that prevent the growth of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms in a stream or body of water. By eliminating undesirable chemicals from the collected water, the water is “polished.” After passing through the polishing basins  16 , the water may be tested for specific impurities. 
         [0019]    In system  10 , water can be moved from the surface to containment basins that can be located underground, above ground, or some combination of the two, where the water can go through a polishing process before it is released from the treatment site into a stream, river, or other water source. In some embodiments, the water may be guided to an open air concrete fish tank loaded with different species of fish, for purposes of testing the treatment process, before being released from the site. The treated water can also be reinserted into the system as process water in certain embodiments. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates water treatment system  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. Run-off water is collected and drained into one or more small-scale CBs  12  as collected water  100 . Collected water  100  can then be guided from small-scale CBs  12  to one or more large-scale CBs  14 . In one embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , several small-scale CBs  12  can be utilized to collect water  100  and guide it to a first large-scale CB  14  of a series of large-scale CBs  14 . However, it is recognized that several other alternative arrangements of small-scale CBs  12  and large-scale CBs  14  may be used. In each embodiment any or all of the CBs  12  and  14  can be partially filled with limestone rock or calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) material in order to increase the pH of the water  100  and/or  104 , and cause pollutants in the water  100 ,  104  to be precipitated. 
         [0021]    When collected water  100  from small-scale CBs  12  enters the large-scale CBs  14 , it can be combined or mixed with process water  102  from a process water source  20  in order to form system water  104 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , process water source  20  is in the form of a well. Alternatively, process water  102  can come from another source  20 , such as a river, stream, lake, pond, or any body of water. Additionally, process water  102  can have multiple sources, and it can be added at various CBs  14  or other locations throughout system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , process water  102  can be pumped, via a positive or negative pressure system, from well  20  through a well pipe or conduit  24  to a CB well inlet  34 , where it enters large-scale CB  14 . In another embodiment, process water  102  may be fed via gravity. The flow rate of process water  102  from well  20  can be controlled by a variable control valve  26  that can be manually or automatically operable. By adding process water  102  from well  20  (or any other outside source) to large-scale CB  14  so that it combines with collected water  100  from small-scale CBs  12 , water treatment system  10  can be capable of effectively treating large quantities of heavily polluted or contaminated water in a small area. Without the addition of well  20 , or alternative source of generally uncontaminated water  102 , water treatment system  10  described and those similarly known in the prior art are often incapable of treating a large quantity of water that contains high levels of pollutants. 
         [0022]    The amount of process water  102  pumped from well  20  and added to the collected water  100  can depend on the inflow volume of collected water  100  and the concentration of pollutants or contaminants therein. As the volume of collected water  100  that enters system  10  increases, the volume of added process water  102  can also be increased. Additionally, as the level of pollution or contamination of collected water  100  entering system  10  increases, the volume of process  102  water can also increase. At certain times, no process water  102  may be necessary for system  10  to effectively treat collected water  100 . When process water  102  is necessary, variable control valve  26  can control the amount of water  102  that flows from source  20  to large-scale CB  14 . Variable control valve  26  can be operated manually or by a computer. For example, a control device  27  can detect the flow rate of collected water  100  traveling into first CB  14  and adjust the flow rate of process water  102  entering CB  14  via control valve  26 . In addition to or alternatively, control device  27  can detect the concentration of pollutants and/or contaminants in collected water  100  traveling into first CB  14  and adjust the flow rate of process water  102  entering CB  14  via control valve  26 . 
         [0023]    The general layout of large-scale CBs  14  is illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each large-scale CB  14  can be a rectangular container, for example, one formed of concrete. However, it is recognized that many other shapes and materials are suitable for large-scale CBs  14 . Each large-scale CB  14  has an inlet  28  and an outlet  30 . Where a series of large-scale CBs  14  is used, outlet  30  of a preceding large-scale CB  14  can be connected to inlet  28  of the next large-scale CB  14  by conduit  32 , which can be, for example, PVC piping. 
         [0024]    Optionally, the last large-scale CB  14  in a series, or the sole large-scale CB  14  if only one is used, can include a first exit orifice  38  and/or a second exit orifice  40  in place of outlet  30 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . System water  104  flowing from this large-scale CB  14  can be divided and diverted in different directions. First orifice  38 , which can simply be an opening or an opening filled with a grate, can direct part or all of the system water to an outside body of water, such as a stream or river that carries it away from the site. This system water  104  can be exposed to additional limestone or other material prior to being diverted to the aforementioned body of water. The second exit orifice  40  can direct the remaining system water to an additional large-scale CB  14  by means of a vacuum pumping system  18 . 
         [0025]    The bottom of each CB  14  can be lined with limestone rock  44  or calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). The limestone rock  44  can cause unidentified pollutants and street salt to be converted to sodium bicarbonates/carbonates, calcium chloride, and sodium hydroxide which will act to increase the pH of the system water  104  and can cause the pollutants in the system water to be precipitated. Each large-scale CB  14  can also be provided with a pump  36  to move system water from the interior of the large-scale CB  14  out of its outlet  28 . Pump  36  can operate on a positive or negative pressure basis. In addition, large-scale CBs  14  can be provided with varying substrates  42  designed to attract and absorb particular contaminants, such as for example oil or antifreeze. Each large-scale CB  14  can contain a single substrate  42  or multiple substrates  42  directed at different contaminants. 
         [0026]    After passing through large-scale CBs  14 , system water  104  can then be directed toward one or more polishing basins  16 . Any or all of the polishing basins  16  may be provided with one or more substrates  54  for further polishing of system water  104 .  FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a polishing basin  16  for use in water treatment system  10 . Each polishing basin can be a rectangular container or tank and can be formed from concrete, for example, with an inlet  46  and an outlet  48 . It is understood however that polishing basins  16  can have a non-rectangular shape and can be constructed from a suitable material other than concrete. Each polishing basin  16  can also include a baffle wall  50 . Baffle wall  50  divides the interior of polishing basin  16  into two parts and can be provided with an opening therein to allow water to flow from one part of the interior to another part of the interior. In one embodiment, the opening is at a relatively high point of the baffle wall  50 . In a preferred embodiment, polishing basin  16  is provided with a plumbing conduit  52 —schematically indicated in  FIG. 6 —which can direct water  104  (on a positive or negative pressure basis) through the polishing basin  16  from one part of the interior, through the opening in the baffle wall  50 , into the second part of the polishing basin  16  interior, and out through the outlet  48 . One or more of the polishing basins  16  can include one or more substrates  54  that water  104  is exposed to as it passes through the polishing basin  16  interior. Substrates  54  can be selected to address specific contaminants relevant to the local environment. 
         [0027]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, water  104  from large-scale CBs  14  can be directed to polishing basins  16  by virtue of vacuum pumping system  18 . Vacuum pumping system  18  can create a vacuum throughout the polishing basins  16  to draw water  104  through those containers.  FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an exemplary vacuum pumping system  18 . Vacuum pumping system  18  can include a vacuum tank  56  having an inlet  58  that can communicate with the outlet of the last polishing basin  16 . An outlet pipe  60  can allow water to flow from the vacuum tank  56 . A vacuum pump  62  can be located in outlet pipe  60 . Vacuum pump  62  can be controlled by a switch  64  that can be located in vacuum tank  56 . Outlet pipe  60  can lead to both a water outlet valve  68  and an inlet  74  to a separator tank  72 . Separator tank  72  can also include an outlet  76  that leads from separator tank  72  back to vacuum tank  56 . Separator tank  72  can also be provided with a bleed valve  78  that may be operated by a switch  80  in separator tank  72 . Water outlet valve  68  can also be controlled by a switch  70 . 
         [0028]    Each of the switches  64 ,  70 , and  80  referenced above can be an anode/cathode switch, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, each switch is opened or closed by contact of the anode or cathode of the switch with water  104  in system  10  as described below. 
         [0029]    Vacuum pumping system  18  can also include an ultraviolet light emitting device  83  for killing certain bacteria and other micro-organisms in the water  104 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , ultraviolet light emitting device  83  is located at separator tank outlet  76 . However, ultraviolet light emitting device  83  can be located anywhere in vacuum pumping system  18 , or even at another location along water treatment system  10 , such as at a CB  14  or at a polishing basin  16 . Ultraviolet light emitting device  83  can include a pipe conduit  84 , such as a clear plastic pipe, that contains an ultraviolet light  86 . Ultraviolet light emitting device  83  can operate by emitting ultraviolet light  86 , at one or more various short-wave lengths, for a sufficient time to effectively kill specific bacteria, such as  Escherichia coli , thereby allowing system  10  to effectively eliminate specific harmful bacteria from system water  104 . The amount of ultraviolet light  86  emitted into system water  104  can be varied depending on the flow rate of system water  104  and/or the amount of bacteria or micro-organisms in system water  104 , or it may be emitted at a constant rate. In addition or alternative to ultraviolet light emitting device  83 , system  10  can also include a heating component  88  for killing certain bacteria and other various micro-organisms. In an alternative embodiment, only a heating component  88  is used for killing bacteria and micro-organisms. Heating component  88  can be located in conjunction with ultraviolet light emitting device  83  or be located separately at another location in system  10 . Heating component  88  can incorporate any type of heating element that is suitable for heating and killing bacteria and other micro-organisms in water  104 . 
         [0030]    Vacuum pumping system  18 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , can operate in the following manner. Water  104  can be drawn into vacuum tank  56  by operation of vacuum pump  62  and gravity. In an alternative embodiment, pumping system  18  can push the water through rather than draw it through. At this time, water outlet valve  68  can be closed to prevent water  104  from exiting vacuum pumping system  18 . This can allow water  104  to build up in vacuum tank  56  and separator tank  72 . As water  104  flows into separator tank, it can contact bleed valve switch  80  anode, which can open bleed valve  78  to allow air in vacuum pumping system  18  to escape to atmosphere. Water  104  in separator tank  72  can flow through the connecting conduit back to vacuum tank  56 , but at a rate slower than the rate of flow into separator tank  72 . The water level in separator tank  72  can thus rise and contact the cathode of bleed valve switch  80  to close bleed valve  78 . Air in the system can be released through stand pipe  82 , and a vacuum in the system is created. As water  104  continues to build in vacuum tank  56 , and it can reach the cathode of water outlet valve switch  70 , resulting in water outlet valve  68  being opened and allowing water  104  to flow out of vacuum tank  56  until the water level in tank  56  drops below the cathode of valve switch  70 , which can close water outlet valve  68  and allow water  104  to build up once again within vacuum tank  56 . 
         [0031]    When water  104  leaves vacuum pumping station  18 , it can be released from the site into a stream, river, or other body of water, including the aforementioned body of water. 
         [0032]    The outlets of any or all of the various containment basins  14  and polishing basins  16  can be provided with a mechanical containment separation device  90 , an example of which is shown in  FIG. 7 . Such a mechanical containment separation device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,974,672. 
         [0033]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. 
         [0034]    The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.