Pr el im in a ry, Fusion, Operation and maintenance – Clarus Environmental Fusion Series Treatment Systems 450/600/800 User Manual

Page 12

The following steps are to be completed during each 6-month

inspection. All information collected during the inspection is to be

recorded on the Maintenance and Service Report (CL0059). Begin

the inspection by recording the date, arrival time, weather conditions,

purpose of the visit, water use, model number, serial number, the

presence or absence of a septic tank, and the system owner and

service provider information in the space provided on the report.

1. Are any odors present? There should be no odor

with the lids closed, if properly sealed. With lids

removed, a septic or sewer-like odor is indicative

of poor treatment and is common immediately after

startup due to hydrogen sulfide and other gases. A

well-operating system will have a musty, earthy smell

similar to wet peat moss.

2. Are any insects present? Typically, no insects

are present in the cold weather months. In warmer

months, sewage flies can be found inside risers, on

the underside of lids, and larvae can be found in the

scum layer of the sedimentation chamber.

3. Is there evidence of high water? Typically indicated

by a water level above the black wall markings and

above the “0” graduation on the partition wall stickers.

May also be indicated by debris on partition walls.

4. Is there excess foam formation? Foam may be

present during an inspection. Brown foam indicates

bacterial buildup following startup. White foam is due

to detergent use. Neither is a problem if occurring

intermittently. Detergent-based foam will often be

accompanied by low transparency readings.

5. Is there residue build-up on piping? Typically

indicated by gray or black residue (dried foam) on

aeration chamber piping.

6. Is there even and vigorous bubbling? Bubbles

surfacing in the aeration chamber should be even

across the entire chamber. If uneven, cleaning steps

should resolve this issue.

PART A: Clean Water Storage Chamber – Collect samples

from the clean water storage chamber to be used for the

following analyses

1. pH – Measures the hydrogen ion-concentration and is

determined with the use of the pH test strips included

in the Fusion

Maintenance Kit. Dip a test strip into the

water sample for 1 second, remove, and read by comparing

to the color chart provided on the container. A pH = 7.0

is neutral. The range suitable for biological activity is 6.5

to 7.5. Recurring results outside this range should be

investigated – check the water source for the home or

business, chemical use, etc.

2. NO

N – Determined with the use of the nitrite test strips

included in the Fusion

Maintenance Kit. Dip a test strip

into the water sample for 1 second, remove, allow to

react for 30 seconds and read by comparing to the color

chart provided on the container. Nitrite-nitrogen is an

intermediate step in the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate

and the reduction of nitrate. 0 to 3 mg/L is common and

1mg/L is average. The presence of nitrite is indicative of

biological activity. The absence of nitrite could be due

to a young system or a recirculation rate that is too high.

To correct low nitrite readings in established systems,

decrease the recirculation rate.

3. Transparency – Measures the ability of the water to

transmit light. Using the ladle, fill the transparency tube

with a water sample collected from the clean water storage

chamber. Looking down through the water column,

slowly drain the transparency tube using the valve on the

flexible hose until you can first distinguish between the

black and white colors on the secchi disk in the bottom

of the tube. When the secchi disk is visible, close the

valve and read the transparency (in centimeters) on the

side. Dirty water samples transmit less light and result

in a lower transparency. A transparency reading > 20

cm is preferred and 34 cm is average. Low transparency

may be due to a lack of biological activity as in a young

system, a recirculation rate that is too high, or a system

influent high in detergent concentration. To correct low

transparency readings not caused by detergent, decrease

the recirculation rate. Detergent based problems may

require consultation with owner.

4. Scum – Very small amounts of scum may accumulate

in the corners on the outlet end of the system. This is

normal. Scum, should not be present elsewhere in the

clean water storage chamber unless the recirculation rate

is too high or daily flow exceeds the design capacity. If

present, use ladle to transfer to sedimentation chamber.

5. Sludge – Test the sludge depth using the sampling device

included in the maintenance kit. The bottom section of

the sampler includes a check valve, which opens as the

unit is lowered into the liquid. When the sampler has

reached the bottom of the chamber and the liquid level

equilibrated at surface level, lift the sampler and this

action will set the check valve and retain the sample in

the tubing. Withdraw the sampler and note the depth of

settled solids within the sample. To release the material

in the unit, touch the stem extending from the bottom

section against a hard surface such as the partition wall

in the sedimentation chamber. This opens the check

valve to drain the sample. A range of 0” to 4” is preferred.

Typically solids are brown and well flocced. More than 4”

(0-102 mm) is typically due to high recirculation rates and

sludge will appear black in color. To correct sludge depths

greater than 4” (0-102 mm), decrease the recirculation

rate and increase the backwash rate.

Sludge Descriptions:

Black – septic or sewer-like odor due to hydrogen sulfide

and other gases
Brown – undigested sludge is light brown, becomes

darker with digestion, lightly settled
Clear – may see a clear water layer beneath solids if gas

carries solids upwards
Flocced - settled with texture similar to a tuft of wool
Grainy - gritty or sandy texture
Gray - partially digested sludge
Milky – light in color, cloudy, not transparent
Muddy – typically well settled, often present just after

startup, may be due to infiltration
Mustard - an off-color, remnants of digestion are often

yellowish in color

White - sometimes present after new construction often

due

to drywall mud

PART B: Anaerobic Chamber - collect samples from the

outlet baffle of the anaerobic chamber to be used for the

following analyses:

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

REQUIRED WATER QUALITY ANALYSES

FUSION

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE