I have recently constructed a home with an over-sized sewage lagoon. We live off the sewage treatment grid. Has anyone attempted to tweek such a system to make suitable for native aquatic organisms? I would like to promote aquatic plants and eastern spotted newts. Latter already abundant in my pre-existing pond roughly 100 yards away. Efts are everywhere. We are considering use of a solar powered pump to promote aeration.
sewage lagoon for natives
Started by
Guest_centrarchid_*
, Feb 28 2010 11:11 PM
8 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_FirstChAoS_*
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Posted 28 February 2010 - 11:15 PM
A local sewage treatment plant tried using bullheads to churn the sediment and promote aerobic microbial breaking down of the material, it worked at first, but then winter set in and the system turned anoxic killing the bullheads.
#3
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 01 March 2010 - 11:27 AM
Never tried it or seen it done, but just speculating I would put lots of easily harvestable plants around the littoral zone that you can remove and compost to minimize eutrophication. Either rooted plants that can take frequent chopping back, or floating/weak-rooted species like Elodea, Najas, Ceratophyllum, Frogbit, etc.
#4
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Posted 01 March 2010 - 02:29 PM
The newts will be happy as long as the invert populations are there to sustain them and the ammonia doesn't get terribly high. They do fine in cattle ponds so they can obviously tolerate some waste.
#5
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Posted 01 March 2010 - 03:51 PM
I will attempt to monitor ammonia levels but management options will be limited. The snails newts are so fond of while likely not persist but larger zooplankton may do well. I am very concerned about molecular oxygen under ice.
#6
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Posted 01 March 2010 - 04:18 PM
What do you mean by septage lagoon?
Is it a settling lagoon? Open air?
If septage is not being quickly broken down, you may have clear supernate that will support life but deadly anoxic zones percolating under the sludge. Fish and newts could disturb the sludge layer and release bubbles of hydrogen sulfide and methane. Don't know how that will affect critters [I can guess...] but I wouldn't want to be having a lawn party down wind.
Never heard of septage lagoons. Open air septage wouldn't make you popular with your close neighbors in this population density.
I have a settling lagoon from my drinking water plant. It contains alum sludge with percipitated iron and manganese. Lot's of frogs and turtles visit but don't stay long.
Of course lots more insects to eat around septage...
Is it a settling lagoon? Open air?
If septage is not being quickly broken down, you may have clear supernate that will support life but deadly anoxic zones percolating under the sludge. Fish and newts could disturb the sludge layer and release bubbles of hydrogen sulfide and methane. Don't know how that will affect critters [I can guess...] but I wouldn't want to be having a lawn party down wind.
Never heard of septage lagoons. Open air septage wouldn't make you popular with your close neighbors in this population density.
I have a settling lagoon from my drinking water plant. It contains alum sludge with percipitated iron and manganese. Lot's of frogs and turtles visit but don't stay long.
Of course lots more insects to eat around septage...
#7
Guest_panfisherteen_*
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Posted 01 March 2010 - 06:15 PM
shouldnt mudminnows be able to survive an environment like this?
#8
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 01 March 2010 - 07:31 PM
mikez,
I can find no referenceto "septage" lagoon.
Terms may differ from locality to locality. I am in a decidely rural setting.
Septic tank upstream anaerobicly treats solids (no interest in modifying community therein). Sewage lagoon is open air with ideally aerobic treatment of dissolved organics, bacteria and mineralized nitrogenous compounds (i.e ammonia / nitrite). System will be eutrophic so much of organics in sediment may be derived from photosynthesis in lagoon itself. This is a residential single dwelling system. Yes, unpleasant aromas are possible which I hope to reduce by providing supplemental aeration.
panfisherman,
I am deciding to limit species to those already occuring in drainage which excludes central mudminnows which I think would have a high probability of surviving.
I can find no referenceto "septage" lagoon.
Terms may differ from locality to locality. I am in a decidely rural setting.
Septic tank upstream anaerobicly treats solids (no interest in modifying community therein). Sewage lagoon is open air with ideally aerobic treatment of dissolved organics, bacteria and mineralized nitrogenous compounds (i.e ammonia / nitrite). System will be eutrophic so much of organics in sediment may be derived from photosynthesis in lagoon itself. This is a residential single dwelling system. Yes, unpleasant aromas are possible which I hope to reduce by providing supplemental aeration.
panfisherman,
I am deciding to limit species to those already occuring in drainage which excludes central mudminnows which I think would have a high probability of surviving.
#9
Guest_mikez_*
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Posted 03 March 2010 - 09:10 PM
Sorry, my brain substituted a word used in the field. Same - same.
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