Perc-Rite Systems Drip Irrigation
Automated Property Irrigation
PERC-RITE® IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
Easy to install, the Perc-Rite® System combines computer controlled property irrigation with treated wastewater dispersal. The management system provides for accurate, automated control. Incorporating a control panel, float switches and time-release, Perc-Rite is easy to operate, evenly distributes treated wastewater and automatically irrigates properties of all shapes and sizes. A domestic water source can also be controlled by the Perc-Rite unit to automatically supplement irrigation at times of low effluent production.
WHY DRIP DISPERSAL?
Drip Dispersal is a land application system for the controlled dispersal of neutralized wastewater safely back into the environment. Drip dispersal utilizes time dosed, low volume amounts of water, equally over the entire absorption area. Drip dispersal irrigation provides the optimum conditions for groundwater recharge to the receiving environment. It is ideal for any property irrigation requirements, such as for single family homes, subdivisions, school yards, apartment complexes, parks, commercial and industrial sites. Drip irrigation systems are aesthetically pleasing as they are installed below the surface with an out-of-site, out-of-mind result. Drip fields lend themselves perfectly to recreation areas needing year round balanced irrigation. Time-dosed drip irrigation provides rest times between doses and protects the soil from over-saturation by maintaining an aerobic environment at the tubing interface. Drip is ideal for shallow installations which maximizes the standoff to any site restrictions (i.e. rock, seasonal water tables, etc.) Drip can be used in both warm and cold climates, 365 days of the year. Drip reduces water storage requirements and provides a reduced footprint and lower costs compared to conventional spray irrigation. Drip is the reliable, proven and permanent solution for property irrigation and neutralized wastewater dispersal.
BIOLINE TUBING
By using special Netafim Bioline dripper tube, an even and controlled water distribution is achieved over the entire dispersal area. Combining the state of the art computer controls with the Netafim Bioline tubing provides an unmatched level of flow control. The Perc-Rite® Central Control Unit (CU) measures the effluent flow to the fraction of the gallon. It is this measurement, monitored by the computer that insures that each absorption area receives the exact amount of water. Once the water is measured and leaves the unit, the Netafim Bioline tubing disperses it. The effluent is released below the soil surface through chemical-resisting, pressure compensating "drip" poly-tubing. The Bioline drip tubing provides for an exact amount of water to be discharged from each of the emitters. The emitters are spaced at two-foot intervals along its length. The Bioline drip tubing maintains a constant dripper flow over pressure ranges of 7 psi to 60 psi. Because the effluent is discharged at a relatively low rate, large quantities of effluent can be distributed over long periods without saturating surrounding soil. This reduces the chance of run-off or surface water ponding.
Irrigation Control
PERC-RITE® DRIP SYSTEM CONTROL
The control panel has a Nema 4X rated enclosure with hinged inner door, removable aluminum backplate for component mounting, IEC rated pump contactor, adjustable pump run timer, high level peak enable circuit, Hand-Off-Auto toggle switches for all operations, pump run light, indicator lights, separate control and pump breakers, control fuse, and finger-safe terminal blocks with a neatly bundled wiring harness. The Control unit is U.L. Approved and Labeled. The microprocessor has manual override capability to completely operate the system while bypassing the microprocessor.
The state of the art control panel is activated by level sensing devices (standard mechanical differential float switches) located in a dosing tank downstream from the pretreatment process or processes. When activated by the rising level of effluent in the dosing tank, the controller will enable the disposal cycle. The system controller, on a timed basis, will pump the effluent through the filter module and then to final drip dispersal.
MONITORING and ALARMS
The Perc-Rite® Effluent Disposal System integrates on-site monitoring with the operation of the system to produce an unmatched level of system control, operator friendliness, and environmental safety. This system also offers the unparalleled option to monitor the system from a remote personal computer. The Telemetry Equipment monitors the following functions:
- High water alarm (audio)
- Power out alarm (audio)
- Pump start control
- Timed back flush of filters
- Automatic flushing of drip system
- Flow variance
In the event of a power outage or a high water condition, an audio alarm will sound. Immediately, the service center can be notified via optional telephone link through a digital communications receiver. Should a flow variance (plus or minus 20%) occur, a signal will be transmitted to the service center indicating this trouble. A minimum of 24 hours storage capacity is designed into the system should a power failure occur. This 24 hours of storage will insure adequate time for a service technician to be dispatched or for the power to be restored.
EVENT RECORDING
The data about flows can also be downloaded into a spreadsheet to aid in recording. This feature is available for use with the personal computer based units. The operator will be able to download the day's flows, as well as, historical flows from as far back as three months. This aids large systems in complying with TNRCC rules that require an accurate record of daily flows. This aids smaller flow systems in building historical data on flow per day and flow per occupant. Flow recording will also aid in trouble shooting the causes of unusually large or small flows.
AUTOMATED PROTECTION
In addition to simply monitoring these functions the unit can also control itself based on the data received. For example, if a line is broken in a zone and is flowing freely, the unit will record the flow variance. If the flow variance is significant enough, not only will the condition be recorded, but the zone will be automatically taken off line to prevent further environmental contamination. The overall system will continue to run to allow for wastewater disposal in the unaffected zones while awaiting repair of the affected zone. The monitoring also records the zone, time, and date for each variance. This is an invaluable aid in maintenance trouble shooting.
Areas for Irrigation
IRRIGATION LOCATIONS
There are few visible indications that the installation site is being used for dispersal purposes. The primary indication will be a faint green striping of the vegetation directly above the subsurface dripper lines. This will permit waste water disposal in land areas that are used for such purposes as parks, athletic fields, groves, and highway right of ways. The system is especially suited for landscaped or wooded areas surrounding residential subdivisions, commercial buildings, schools, trailer parks and apartment complexes.
Since the Perc-Rite® system uses Netafim dripper line for wastewater disposal, the system can be installed in areas that would be unthinkable for another system. The field distribution lines are installed very near the surface and in small plow trenches, therefore, causing minimal soil disturbance. Also, effluent discharge volume from each emitter hole is small allowing installation of the system to have very little site impact even in established lawns and gardens. Perc-Rite® may be installed in an area smaller than a conventional drainfield. Drip dispersal has been approved in many jurisdictions for new construction. The system is recommended for its ability to preserve landscaping and perform in difficult sites and difficult soils.
SELF CLEANING FILTERS
The system filters effluent through self cleaning filters prior to slow rate dispersal into the soil. It uses proven 25 year old drip irrigation technology in an innovative new way. System installation maximizes preservation of turf, trees, shrubs and is easily adaptable to irregular shaped areas. Shallow and ultra shallow tubing installation provide for maximum standoff to restrictive soils and water tables. A domestic water source can also be controlled by the Perc-Rite® unit which will supplement irrigation in time of low effluent production. This is especially useful at schools where playing fields have been used as disposal areas. In the summer months when activity is low, the domestic water can be used to keep the vegetation alive. The Perc-Rite disposal system can be used with many different pretreatment options. The Perc-Rite can also be used to control dosing to a sand or gravel filter to aid in secondary treatment. The Perc-Rite can also incorporate moisture sensors in the disposal fields to prevent over saturation. An absorption bed designed around a Perc-Rite System has many distinct advantages over other forms of disposal. Problems from local overloading are decreased when effluent is distributed over the entire absorption area rather than concentrated in a few discrete areas. Dosing and resting cycles help maintain aerobic conditions in the soil, improving treatment. Shallow dripper line placement increases the vertical separation from the system to any restrictive horizon or seasonally high water table.
Automatic Field Flushing
FIELD FLUSHING
Automatic drip field flushing is another feature unique to the Perc-Rite® system. This flushing allows the tubing to be scoured free of any slimy buildup that might hinder performance. By cleaning the tubing, pipe, and manifolds, emitter clogging is eliminated. Thus the dripper lines will continue to deliver precise and accurate doses to the absorption area. The dripper lines are automatically flushed after a preset number of dosing cycles. This function is activated by the controller which opens the field flush valve, thus allowing the flushed effluent to be returned to the pretreatment tank. The duration of this cycle is approximately three minutes. The flushing action creates a high effluent velocity, which produces a cleaning action over the inside walls of the dripper tubing, P.V.C. manifolds, and emitters.
Drip Irrigation Filtration
FILTRATION
The filtration package provided with the Perc-Rite® unit is unmatched industry wide. The Arkal Spin-Klin filters are matched with automatic backflushing to protect the Netafim tubing from clogging by particles from the dosing tank. The backflushing of the filters can be initiated in two ways. First, backflushing can be initiated by total flow discharged through the system. The number of gallons that will start a backflushing cycle can be customized to meet any site's needs. The second backflush triggering mechanism is a differential pressure switch. This switch acts as a fail-safe to ensure proper effluent filtration. The computer will measure differential pressure across the filter bank. When the pressure differential reaches a preset point the filters are automatically backflushed regardless of flow through the system. This feature guarantees proper effluent filtration and flow even during periods of changing effluent conditions.
When the back flushing schedule is triggered, the filter valve closes, thus blocking the flow of unfiltered effluent to the filter. After a short delay, the flushing valve opens, thereby discharging the filtered impurities into the collector manifold. The closing and opening procedure of the filter and back flush valves causes a change of flow within the filter. When the filter valve closes, the upstream pressure is blocked, while the downstream pressure reverses the flow of the filtered effluent back through the outlet of the filter. The inverted flow carries accumulated particles from the filter rings through the open back flushing valve. The water then exits through the collector manifold to the influent side of the pretreatment tank. The back flush procedure lasts approximately fifteen seconds. Then the back flushing valve closes, the filter valve opens, and the inverted flow is cut off. Only after the first filter has completed its flushing cycle, will the second filter begin its cycle of back flushing. Each subsequent filter is then flushed in the same manner.
Drip Irrigation System Components
PERC-RITE DRIP SYSTEM CONTROLLER
State of the art control panel, activated by level sensing devices (standard mechanical differential float switches) located in a dosing tank downstream from the pretreatment process or processes. When activated by the rising level of effluent in the dosing tank, the controller will enable the disposal cycle. The system controller on a time clock basis will pump the effluent through the filter module and then to final drip dispersal.
FILTER MODULE
Disc filters, automatic control valves, solenoid activated diaphragm valves, the flow meter are assembled in a heated enclosure and provided with a labeled wire harness for easy connection to the control panel.
PUMP SYSTEM
The pump, Cool Guide and float switches for level indication are provided for installation into the pump tank. The pump is a turbine 15 gpm pump and will be suitable for most residential installations.
DRIPPER TUBING
The dripper tubing is pressure compensating dripperline for wastewater. The tubing delivers a nominal 0.65 gallons per hour (+/- 5% flow rate from 7 to 60 psi). The tubing functions as a turbulent flow emitter between 0 and 7 psi, ensuring that the nominal design flow is not exceeded at system start-up. The tubing is polyethylene with a 120 psi pressure rating.
TOP FEED MANIFOLD SYSTEM
The Top Feed Manifolds are located at the highest point in the drip zone and provided with air release valves to prevent drain down of upper laterals in the zone to lower laterals in the zone, thus preventing saturation of the lower laterals after the pump shuts off. The system provides for the fastest possible pressurization of the zone and the most efficient method of providing drain down control. If the site is flat, Top Feed Manifolds may not be required.
SPECIAL FIELD MATERIALS
All special drip fittings and equipment are supplied including the tubing insert fittings, connectors, flex tube and non- schedule 40 PVC standard fittings.
STANDARD FIELD MATERIALS
All tanks, wire, standard pipe and fittings are provided by the contractor at the local site. The 1" supply and return pipes, the 1/2" pipe for installation between the top feed manifold system and the laterals and other misc. PVC pipes are purchased locally.
For a Perc-Rite® Quote or More Information, please Contact Us
Email perc-rite@cleanwatercanada.com
Call Toll Free 1-866-514-7555