Press Releases

ISSUED BY: BioConcepts, Inc.

RE: November 12, 1999

SUBJECT: Demonstration of TVA’s patented Reciprocating Constructed Wetland on swine farm announced.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced last week the construction of a full-scale on-farm demonstration of TVA’s patented Reciprocating Constructed Wetland (RCW) technology to treat high-strength swine wastewater from an anaerobic lagoon. The demonstration of the RCW technology is being conducted at an eight-floor finishing farm in Aliceville, AL and co-sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Staff members of USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will provide critical review of this project as well as technical input into the on-farm waste management/demonstration project. The on-farm, full-scale demonstration will provide an excellent opportunity to document and validate the utility of reciprocating wetland systems for treating residual lagoon solids and high-strength animal wastewater.

The project will be comprised of a two-stage, four-cell RCW, which can treat from 50,000 to 100,000 gallons/acre/day of concentrated lagoon wastewater, with significant reductions in odor, pathogens, BOD5, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Up to 10% of this flow will be composed of lagoon solids. Effluent from the treatment process will be stored in an earthen reservoir and used for irrigating hay and small grain crops as well as for flushing under pit storage facilities.

It is estimated that the 0.65 acre treatment system will reduce the current (land) irrigation requirements from 43 acres to less than 13 acres. Further updates on the project will be issued as this demonstration project is constructed and test results are made available.

BioConcepts, Inc. is a technology provider representing TVA’s patented RCW technology on an exclusive basis for the State of North Carolina. Currently the RCW is under review by APWMC for a possible small-scale on-farm evaluation next year. Complete "turnkey" wastewater treatment systems featuring RCW technology are available for low capital and O & M cost. This technology utilizes natural, biologically sustainable processes for the treatment of domestic/municipal, animal, and industrial wastewaters. Please visit our web site for more information, www.bioconceptsinc.com.