Innovation

Advanced Septic System Nitrogen Sensor Challenge

Background

Conventional septic systems are often not designed to remove nitrogen to levels that are protective of local water quality, which can lead to problems like excess nitrogen loading to waterways. This issue is especially important to coastal communities, where excess nitrogen can cause eutrophication, hypoxia, and toxic algal blooms leading to beach closures and other issues that negatively affect coastal communities. EPA estimates that over 2.6 million existing systems could be good candidates for upgrade to advanced septic systems that treat the nitrogen due to their location in nitrogen-sensitive watersheds. Adding nitrogen sensors to these advanced septic systems will help manufacturers, homeowners, local and state governments know that these systems are performing as intended and protecting valuable coastal resources.

The Challenge - Phase I

In January 2017, EPA partnered with The Nature Conservancy, USGS and others to launch Phase I of the Advanced Septic System Nitrogen Sensor Challenge. Phase I challenged entrants to design a nitrogen sensor for use in advanced nitrogen-removing onsite wastewater treatment systems, also known as advanced septic systems, to monitor their long-term performance. Phase I was open through mid-March 2017, and written proposals were judged by an external panel of experts. EPA hosted a Sensor Showcase Day on June 29, 2017 and awarded prizes.

Phase I of the Advanced Septic System Nitrogen Sensor Challenge EXIT

Prototype Testing - Phase II

EPA launched prototype testing in December 2017. Prototype testing was open to any sensor technology developer with a nitrogen sensor for advanced septic systems. EPA selected Battelle Memorial Institute to support the Prototype Testing Program by developing a Test/Quality Assurance Plan (T/QAP) and Verification Plan and overseeing the testing of the sensors. The T/QAP is based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Standard - ISO 14034. Funding for the testing program is from EPA's Office of Research and Development and EPA's Office of Water and the Office of Wastewater Management.

Sensor testing was conducted at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center, a National Sanitation Foundation certified test facility in Barnstable, Massachusetts, from 2018 through 2019. The last Challenge test occurred between August 21-27, 2019, for which EPA offered up to $50,000 in prize money to the best performing sensor during the August test.

Dr. Qingzhi Zhu of Stony Brook University and the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology in Stony Brook, N.Y.

On May 5, 2020, EPA announced that Dr. Qingzhi Zhu, with Stony Brook University and the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology in Stony Brook, N.Y., earned the Challenge’s prize of $50,000, the opportunity for commercialization support, and eligibility for the six-month ISO ETV 14034 field verification test, which is scheduled to start in the Fall of 2020. If the sensor package successfully completes the ISO ETV 14034 field test and meets the minimum performance goals listed in the table below then a verification report and statement will be posted on the VerifiGlobal web site in the Summer of 2021.

Advanced Septic System Nitrogen Sensor ISO 14034 ETV 6 Month Field Test Performance Goals

Attribute	Attribute Description	Performance Goals
Attribute	Attribute Description	Minimum	Almost Ideal	Ideal
Parameter¹	What is being measured	NO₃^-, NH₄⁺	NO₃^-, NH₄⁺, TOC	Total nitrogen (TN)²
Installation Price	Price to the homeowner to install	$1,500	$1,250	$1,000
Data Management	Ability to record and transmit data (i.e., telemetry) for real-time access by practitioners, regulators, and interested stakeholders	Record and automatically transmit data to designated server or cloud	Record and automatically transmit data to designated server or cloud	Record and automatically transmit data to designated server or cloud; include remote capability of programming variable sampling frequencies.
Applicability & Accessibility	Applicability of sensor(s) to various innovative/alternative system designs and ease of access to OWTS for installation and maintenance	Located in-situ to provide performance information on the OWTS; must be accessible for maintenance	Located in-situ to provide performance information on the OWTS; must be accessible for maintenance	Located in-situ to provide performance information on the OWTS; must be accessible for maintenance
Frequency of Sensor System Maintenance	How often the sensor(s) need to be maintained	No more than quarterly	No more than semi-annually	No more than annually
Accuracy	Accuracy of sensor measurements to the true measurement	Within 20% of true value³	Within 20% of true value³	Within 20% of true value³
Precision	Repeatability of sensor measurements	≤30% RSD	≤20-30% RSD	≤20% RSD
Range⁴	Range of the detection	2-60 mg N/L	2-60 mg N/L 2-60 mg/L TOC	2-60 mg N/L
Frequency of Sensor Readings⁵	Capability of the sensor to provide parameter concentrations at time frequencies of:	Hourly⁵	Hourly⁵	Hourly⁵
Sensor Operating Temperature Range	Temperature range in which the sensor can operate	4° C to 35° C	4° C to 35° C	4° C to 35° C
Deployment	Period of deployment	Continuous	Continuous	Continuous
System Lifetime	Expected life of sensor	5 years	5 to 10 years	10 years

¹ Refer to Section B1.4 for information on the sources of nitrate (NO₃^-), ammonia (NH₄⁺), and total organic carbon (TOC).

²Total Nitrogen (TN) is defined as the sum of total kjeldahl nitrogen (ammonia, organic and reduced nitrogen) and nitrate-nitrite.

³ True value is defined as the certified laboratory result for the parameter using approved test methods.

⁴ The sensors must be capable of alerting about or otherwise notifying of an over range value.

⁵ Frequency of sensor readings during the preliminary and 6-month testing are detailed in Section B1.2. For deployment in an actual application, sensor frequency readings will depend on end user needs and may vary from hourly to daily or more frequently than hourly. Sensors should have the flexibility for varying frequency of readings.

2021 Market Stimulation Opportunity

Following the release of the verification report and statement in the Summer of 2021, an external technical panel and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will review the results. TNC and others are seeking funding for an order of 200 deployable septic sensor units, not to exceed a total cost of $300,000. The order would be presented in the Fall of 2021 to the best performing sensor that completes the 6-month field performance test and meets or exceeds the performance goals.