As alternative on-site wastewater systems evolved in Arizona, Mr. Widger worked closely with representatives of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to develop a treatment system that would satisfy stringent new regulatory requirements.  These requirements included more sophisticated controls and safeguards than had previously been mandated.  Over two hundred of these systems were approved and installed; most have been in operation for 15-20 years and continue to operate today.

Widger Engineering participated in the preliminary evaluation of septic system requirements and options for a 61-acre development in Maricopa County.  This included the analysis of drainage and setback restrictions, soil evaluations and the preparation of typical alternative wastewater treatment system designs.  The challenges overcome on this site included caliche soils, rock, significant drainage channels and large retention basins.  The project culminated in the design and permitting of wastewater treatment systems for 52 lots.

We recently completed a wastewater system design on the south side of Camelback Mountain that provides 100% water re-use through the direct application of treated effluent to vegetation on the property.  This project led to the design and permitting of a similar system in Gila County that uses treated effluent to water an orchard.

The expansion of a large church in North Phoenix presented a significant challenge in handling the dispersal of the large weekend effluent volume.  This issue was resolved through the installation of a large sewage holding tank and metering pump that spread the treatment load out over the entire week.  This allowed the use of a smaller septic tank and continued utilization of the existing leach lines.

Our list of operational wastewater treatment system experience includes large and small conventional septic systems, leach trenches, leach beds, seepage pits, textile filters, aerobic systems, peat moss filters, sand filters, engineered pads, sand-lined trenches, subsurface drip irrigation dispersal systems, above-ground sprinkler systems, Wisconsin mounds,  and evapo-transpiration beds.  We work with a large number of equipment suppliers and installers.

In addition to the hundreds of projects completed in Arizona, Mr. Widger has participated in on-site wastewater projects in California, Nevada and New Mexico.