9. Trouble Shooting

Last Update: Thursday, January 12, 2006
Change: None - Original Post.

As with most systems relying on electrical power, there is a potential for disruption of operation during a power failure. The OMNI fail-safe design automatically defaults to standard mode in the event of a power failure, with no interruption to the use of the system. However, in the event that a power failure does occur, the performance features that make the system unique will not function properly, allowing wastewater entering the system to be discharged untreated, subsequently defeating the very purpose of the enhanced treatment.

During a power failure, the wastewater cannot be pumped to the Filter Modules and therefore, will accumulate in the Recirculation Tank. You should begin water conservation measures as soon as the power goes out. All new systems using pumps are now equipped with timers. The timer limits the frequency with which the pump starts and thereby limits how much effluent goes into the sand filter in a 24-hour period. It ensures the Filter Module only gets as much effluent as it was designed to handle. A timer controlled system will take care of itself over time once the power comes back on. Once power is restored, continue to conserve water for and additional 4-6 hours, in order to let the pump system catch up.

If the High Water Alarm sounds when the power comes back on, this will indicate the effluent has backed up into the emergency storage area of the Recirculation Tank. The alarm can be silenced manually and will shut itself off once the pump system has pumped the excess wastewater from the tank.

Filter Modules can pond if the biomat layer has accumulated significantly over a period of time. The filter beds are inspected on every maintenance visit to check for biomat accumulation.

Depending on the accumulation of organic matter in the Filter Modules, they may be raked thoroughly, and the distribution lines may be brushed and flushed as part of the typical maintenance.

Sometimes raking is not enough and what will happen is the beds will not allow water to pass through at the rate it once did, and the beds will fill up with water and "pond".

If ponding occurs in your filter beds, you will notice heavy saturation in and around the filter module area. It is highly suggested that if water is coming out of the filter beds, to do the following steps:

1. Avoid contact with the effluent coming out of the Filter Modules;
2. Contact OMNI immediately for further instructions.