Schools shown in the above slideshow include Blue Ridge School in Jackson County; Prospect Elementary in Union County, Valle Crucis Elementary School in Watauga County; New Salem Elementary in Union County and Woodland Elementary in Onslow County

SCHOOLS

At AQWA, school projects are some of the most rewarding jobs we have the privilege of working on. Seeing a finished product that will provide the school and its students with a sustainable, easy to operate, and aesthetically pleasing wastewater system is such a blessing. Below is a list of some of the schools we have been able to help. Some of these jobs were upgrades to existing systems that involved activated sludge plant replacements, sand filter replacements, and existing septic system expansions. Many of the schools were brand new and due to a lack of public sewer in the area, they needed an onsite solution they could depend on.

We work with engineers to tackle the tough treatment challenges that schools pose due to the variable flows and high strength wastewater they produce. We use AdvanTex treatment systems which are recirculating media filters that are very resilient for sites like schools with seasonal flows and are capable of producing very highly treated effluent that can meet even the most stringent treatment limits with minimal ongoing operations and maintenance cost.

Get in touch (info@aqwa.net or 252-243-7693) if you’d like to discuss some of the ways we have approached these challenges and what we have learned in the process.

valle Crucis Elementary School

Watauga County
A 6,000 gpd onsite septic system serves this new school which opened in 2025/2026. The system features a septic tank, flow equalization tank, and an AX MAX AdvanTex treatment unit. The wastewater from the school is pretreated to meet North Carolinas TS-I treatment standard before being dosed to the drainfield. Situated in a flood plain near the Watauga River, all tanks and AX MAX treatment unit were carefully designed with anti-buoyancy measures to ensure that if floodwaters rise the key infrastructure won’t rise with it.

Woodland Elementary School

Onslow County
Sized at 10,000 gallons per day, this school opened in 2025 and serves up to 800 students in the growing community of Onslow County. A Septic tank, flow equalization tank, AX MAX AdvanTex treament unit, and Ultraviolet Disinfection units ensure this system meets the permit limits and protects the drainfield and environment.

Prospect Elementary School

Union County
 Prospect Elementary School was being served by a single pass sand filter which had reached the end of its usable life. An AXMAX treatment unit was installed providing a system with a much smaller footprint and greatly improved aesthetics. The system was permitted for 5,376 gpd. A picture of this project during construction is viewable at the bottom of this page.

BETHEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Waynesville NC
This system includes Xerxes Fiberglass Tanks as well as three AdvanTex AX100's. Effluent is dispersed through a pressure manifold system. The system was installed in 2008.

RALPH CHANDLER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Simpsonville SC
This system includes several Xerxes fiberglass tanks as well as four AX100's. Effluent is dispersed through a surface drip irrigation system in a nearby forested area. The system was installed in 2008

SUMMIT CHARTER

Jackson County, NC
This system uses several concrete tanks and two AX100's before sending effluent to be dispersed through a pressure manifold system. The system was installed in 2009. 

COMMUNITY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Chatham County, NC
This system uses several concrete tanks followed by six AX20's. Effluent also runs through a AQWA tire chip Denite system prior to being distributed to a drip irrigation system in the nearby wooded area. The system was installed in 2010.

TALISMAN ACADEMY

Hendersonville, NC
This system includes several Xerxes fiberglass tanks as well as two AX100's. Effluent is dispersed through a pressure manifold network. The system was installed in 2007.

GLADE CREEK ELEMENTARY

Alleghany County, NC
This system utilizes concrete tanks, and two AX100 units. Effluent is dispersed through a pressure manifold system. The system was installed in 2011

PINEY CREEK ELEMENTARY

Alleghany County, NC
This system utilizes some of the schools existing concrete tanks as well as several new ones. It has 2 AX100's as well as an AQWA tire chip Denite system. Effluent is dispersed through a pressure manifold. The system was installed in 2013.

 LINVILLE eDOM eLEMENTARY

Rockingham County, VA
The new AdvanTex treatment system installed at the rural community elementary school in Linville replaced a failed conventional septic system and allowed the school to maintain treatment standards to discharge effluent into a small stream nearby. Components include three AX100 Textile Filters providing first stage treatment, followed by three AX20 Textile Filters that function as a second treatment stage. Effluent is pumped through a pressure dosed ultraviolet disinfection assembly and discharged into a perennial stream. The system was installed in 2024.