The inception of Waste Water Systems, Inc. (WWSI) was a classic textbook case of fulfilling a need. In October, 1988 a company known as Advanced Water Distribution Systems (ADWS), owned by Thomas A. Sinclair, was approached to design a sprinkler system to dispose of wastewater for an installation in Winder, Georgia. However, when he investigated the site Tom discovered environmental issues which made a sprinkler system impractical for the situation. In fact, there was no known solution, so Tom decided to rise to the challenge and design one.

Using a subsurface drip irrigation process more common to agricultural as the foundation, Tom began inventing a new technology. The engineering and production of the initial prototype took more than four months to complete. This prototype was submitted to Louisiana State University for testing in January 1989. The results were presented to the Environmental Health Section of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) for the State of Georgia. In March 1989 the first successful wastewater filtration and subsurface drip irrigation system was installed. Waste Water Systems was incorporated in the State of Georgia on December 7, 1989, and the company's facilities are located in Ellijay, Georgia.

After working with regulatory agencies for two years, on March 14, 1991 the system, now known by the registered trade name "Perc-Rite"®, received formal recognition as an acceptable alternative to conventional systems within the state of Georgia. With a solid foundation in place, WWSI began expanding its marketing efforts. Providing a solution to previously unmanageable situations and allowing development of land unsuitable for conventional septic systems, "Perc-Rite" continues to gain acceptance throughout North America and the International Market as the alternative method for wastewater management.

"Perc-Rite"® Waste Water Disposal System
Process Description (Overview)

Land Treatment by surface and/or subsurface slow rate disposal is a proven and field tested technology which successfully answers the challenge of proper environmental management. Sub surface slow rate disposal is achieved through an underground drip absorption system which allows for minimal drainage of effluent through the ground, with the subsurface strata serving as a huge slow rate bio-filter. This system achieves organic and nitrogen removal while at the same time substantially reducing fecal coliform and facilitating phosphorous fixes to the soil. The loading rate is designed according to soil characteristics with data such as soil restrictive layers, rainfall, evaporation and evapotranspiration rates, and nutrient balances taken into careful consideration.

Waste Water System's sub surface/surface slow rate disposal system consists of the following components.

Pretreatment. Wastewater is treated first by conventional methods such as lagoons, septic tanks or aerobic treatment. Pretreatment achieves physical settling of macro-solids and assists in degradation of various pollutants.

Perc-Rite Controls and Pumping Unit. Required to operate the dosing cycles, zone selection, filter backflushing, lateral flushing, flow control and other system monitoring features such as power outages, high water levels and flow variances.

Filtration. A fully automatic disc filter prevents solids from entering into the delivery system. A disc filter's set is backwashed on a preset frequency and/or by sensing pressure differential through the filters.

Pipe and Valves. A drip soil absorption field is divided into zones, each zone being controlled with an electric control valve, with only one zone being activated with each dose cycle. The delivery network includes air release valves that allow air to escape during the filling of the lines, and introducing air into the line at the end of each cycle.

Dripperline. A drip soil absorption field consists of polyethylene tubing laterals installed in parallel lines within each zone. Drip tubing incorporates a sophisticated emitter extruded inside the tube during manufacture. Each emitter incorporates an internal mechanism that discharges constant flow of .01 gallons per minute regardless of system pressure. The dripperline's distal end is connected to a collecting manifold allowing periodical line flushing. Drip tubing is generally installed subsurface at a depth of 6 to 20 inches but may also be surface mounted.

"Perc-Rite"®
Special Markets
Special Needs Increased Profits

Commercial, Industrial and Municipal Developers are all realizing higher yields, increased profits and greater customer satisfaction through Perc-Rite. Drip irrigation's unique characteristics and installation methods give developers financial, aesthetic and regulatory advantages over conventional wastewater treatment systems.

Commercial, Industrial, Schools, Churches

• Improve Sites Not Suitable for Spray Irrigation
• Economical Solution for Large Flow Sites
• Adaptable to Poor Site Conditions
• Facilitates System Design to Use Time Dosing with High Peak Flows

Manufacturing, Poultry Processing

• Adaptable to Poor Sites
• Minimal Pretreatment Needed
• Economical "ONSITE" System

Warehouses, Hotels, Motels, Parks, Commercial Clusters, Country Clubs, RV Resorts

• Build in Ideal Locations where Sewer Systems may Not be Available
• Turn Previously Excluded Land into Valuable Profit Centers
• Increase Density, Lot Yield
• More Cost Effective than Other Treatment Options

Municipal

• Retrofit or Expand Existing Facilities Without Additional Land Acquisition or Treatment Enhancement; Reduce Buffer Zones Needed on Subsurface Systems
• New Facilities; Use Sites Previously Restricted by Soil Conditions, Topographical Factors, Land Area Size or Proximity of Public or Private Areas
• Reduce Pretreatment and Disinfection Requirements
• Lower Operating Costs
• Reduce Holding Capacities, Construction Costs