Demonstration Systems

Between 1997 and 2003, the University of Rhode Island's Cooperative Extension Onsite Wastewater Training Center, as part of the Block Island/Green Hill Pond Project, installed 25 demonstration advanced wastewater treatment systems at local Rhode Island home sites. The objectives of these demonstration systems included: to replace failed systems, to demonstrate to property owners how alternative systems may be installed on their own properties, how they work, and how they are maintained. In addition to this, the installation process also served as a means to train local contractors on how to install these technologies, and long-term evaluation and sampling data led to approval of systems for use in Rhode Island.

This project was a collaborative effort between The University of Rhode Island (URI), Rhode Island Independent Contractors Association (RICA), Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), and Costal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with several participating engineering firms.

Many of these systems offer pioneering technology for advanced nitrogen and bacterial removal as well as custom design for challenging site conditions.

Virtual Tour of Demonstration Systems

Steps for Developing an Onsite Wastewater Demonstration Project