Septic Tank Systems Research Articles

The Life Cycle Environmental Performance of On-Site or Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems for Domestic Homes

There is little knowledge regarding the environmental sustainability of domestic on-site or decentralised wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS). This study evaluated six unique life cycle environmental impacts for different DWTTS configurations of five conventional septic tank systems, four packaged treatment units, and a willow evapotranspiration system. Similar freshwater eutrophication (FE), dissipated water (DW), and mineral and metal (MM), burdens were noted between the packaged and conventional system configurations, with the packaged systems demonstrating significantly higher impacts of between 18% and 56% for climate change (CC), marine eutrophication (ME), and fossils (F). At a system level, higher impacts were observed in systems requiring (i) three vs. two engineered treatment stages, (ii) a larger soil percolation trench area, and (iii) pumping of effluent. The evapotranspiration system presented the smallest total environmental impacts (3.0–10.8 lower), with net benefits for FE, ME, and MM identified due to the biomass (wood) production offsetting these burdens. Further analysis highlighted the sensitivity of results to biomass yield, operational demands (desludging or pumping energy demands), and embodied materials, with less significant impacts for replacing mechanical components, i.e., pumps. The findings highlighted the variation in environmental performance of different DWTTS configurations and indicated opportunities for design improvements to reduce their life cycle impacts.

Analysis of Factors Affecting the Contamination of Entamoeba sp. cyst and Soil-Transmitted Helminths egg on Dug Well Water

Dug well water is often polluted by fecal waste containment such as septic tank and pit latrine system due to its distance. The common pathogenic parasites found in fecal waste containment are E. histolytica and Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). The port de entry of both parasites is ingestion of contaminated food or water by fecal materials. This study was aimed to analyze factors affecting the existence of Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg on dug well water in Bungatan Village, Situbondo. This observational analytic study used cross-sectional approach, carried out 30 respondents in Bungatan Village, Situbondo. Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg were examined using sedimentation method, the distance of fecal waste containment to dug well measured by measuring tape. The characteristic of fecal waste containment and dug well was observed using questionnaires. The results showed 100% fecal containment used pit latrine system, 100% had an incomplete well standard, 66,7% had unstandardized distance with fecal waste containment. Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg were not found on all water samples. The soil condition near the dug well (acidity, temperature, moisture, and sunlight intensity) and physical condition (temperature) of dug well water were inappropriate to the development of Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg. The dug well's component and its distance to fecal containment did not affect Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg existence in all dug well water. The physical soil condition near the dug well and the temperature of dug well water were inappropriate to the development of both parasites.
 Keywords: Entamoeba sp., Soil Transmitted Helminths, Dug Well, Fecal Waste Containment

COMPARACIÓN DE DOS SISTEMAS DE TRATAMIENTO ANAERÓBICOS DE AGUAS RESIDUALES DE CARACTERÍSTICAS HOMOGÉNEAS PARA ESCUELAS SIN SISTEMA DE TRATAMIENTO

En las escuelas de la República de Panamá que se encuentran en áreas rurales y sitios que no cuentan con sistemas de alcantarillado municipal en la actualidad muchos de los pliegos de cargos y contratista de proyectos hacen referencia al sistema de Tanque Séptico como el sistema de tratamiento primario más versátil en cuanto al manejo de plantas de tratamiento aguas residuales (PTAR) y económico en cuanto a construcción y mantenimiento. En este artículo se realiza una modelación comparativa entre el sistema de tanque séptico y un reactor UASB para la PTAR de escuelas, destacando la efectividad del tratamiento anaeróbico (Lozada, 2012), (Salazar-Larrota, Luis, et al, 2009) (Lorenzo y Obaya, 2006), además de su viabilidad económica en cuanto a costos de construcción y mantenimiento lo cual hace considerar implementar PTAR con sistema de reactor UASB en ambientes tropicales (Conil, 2001).

Odour assessment of school toilets in Gauteng, South Africa – before and after bioremediation

Sanitation in school toilets is often considered peripheral to the academic project, yet has a significant impact on productivity and the school experience. A micro-study, pilot project to quantify the perception of odours in toilets at two schools in Gauteng Province, South Africa, using olfactory tests, reveals the presence of select odour-forming compounds. The compounds of butyric acid, indole, p-cresol and dimethyl trisulfide, reconstituted faecal odour and stale urine odour were presented to staff at the two schools in the form of ‘Sniffin’ Sticks’. All the odours were identified in the toilets at levels of unbearable in School A which has a septic tank system, and tolerable in School B which uses a flush system, during the pre-test. A post-test was conducted after an effective bioremediation treatment product was applied. We found that 100% of the participants noted a marked improvement in the odours in the toilets after the treatments were combined with efficient cleaning regimes.

Odour assessment of school toilets in Gauteng, South Africa – before and after bioremediation

Sanitation in school toilets is often considered peripheral to the academic project, yet has a significant impact on productivity and the school experience. A micro-study, pilot project to quantify the perception of odours in toilets at two schools in Gauteng Province, South Africa, using olfactory tests, reveals the presence of select odour-forming compounds. The compounds of butyric acid, indole, p-cresol and dimethyl trisulfide, reconstituted faecal odour and stale urine odour were presented to staff at the two schools in the form of ‘Sniffin’ Sticks’. All the odours were identified in the toilets at levels of unbearable in School A which has a septic tank system, and tolerable in School B which uses a flush system, during the pre-test. A post-test was conducted after an effective bioremediation treatment product was applied. We found that 100% of the participants noted a marked improvement in the odours in the toilets after the treatments were combined with efficient cleaning regimes.

Sanitation Sustainability Index: A Pilot Approach to Develop a Community-Based Indicator for Evaluating Sustainability of Sanitation Systems

Evaluating the sustainability of sanitation systems is essential in achieving the sixth sustainable development goal. However, there are only limited number of available evaluation indexes, which are utilized to macroscopically determine a community’s sanitation coverage. Consequently, an index is required, which can evaluate different sanitation options for a specific community. In this paper, the sanitation sustainability index (SSI) is suggested as an indicator for evaluating the sustainability of sanitation systems. The SSI has sub-indexes that consider the technical, social, and economic aspects of the sanitation system, and all the variables are dimensionless and heavily dependent on the current state of the community where the sanitation system is going to be implemented. The applicability of the SSI was demonstrated by evaluating the implementation of two onsite sanitation systems, including one septic tank system and one resource-oriented sanitation (ROS) system in South Korea. A sensitivity analysis defined the variables that have significant impact, and the statistical distribution of the SSI for both systems was forecasted. The results showed that for South Korea, which has a profound history of utilizing human waste as fertilizer, utilizing the resource-oriented sanitation system is more sustainable, although it has a lower social sub-index score compared to the septic tank system.

Nouveau design solar septic tank: Reinvented toilet technology for sanitation 4.0.

The up-flow solar septic tank (UTST) and multi-soil layering (MSL) system has been developed and proposed as “Nouveau Design Solar Septic Tank”. The objective of this study was to verify functionality of the integrated UTST and MSL system for treatment of toilet wastewater (or black water) under actual conditions over a year at the Asian Institute of Technology campus, Pathumthani province, central Thailand. During the operation period which involved fluctuating flow rates, ambient temperatures and black water characteristics, the UTST unit yielded satisfactory performance with the average treatment efficiencies of 9210% for total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD), 7910% for soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), 939% for total 5-days biochemical oxygen demand (TBOD) and 9012% for soluble 5-days biochemical oxygen demand (SBOD), respectively, while the MSL unit could remove 95 3%, and 88 15% of total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total phosphorus (TP), respectively. The effluent TCOD, TBOD, TKN, nitrite (NO2-N), nitrate (NO3-N), ammonia (NH3) and TP concentrations of the integrated UTST and MSL system were 3927,827,55 mg/L, 22,3924,89,25 and 11 mg/L, respectively, meeting the ISO requirements. The removal efficiencies of TCOD, SCOD, TBOD and SBOD exhibited positive correlation with the ratios of TBOD/TKN, TBOD/SBOD and TBOD/TP. With high treatment efficiencies and effluent quality meeting the ISO requirements, the nouveau design solar septic tank has been demonstrated as an innovative technology toward the sanitation 4.0 concept and the Sustainable Development Goal no. 6 (SDG6).

Economic analysis and probability of benefit of implementing onsite septic tank and resource-oriented sanitation systems in Seoul, South Korea

Abstract Most sanitation provisions cater to toilet infrastructures alone. Little consideration is given to requirements before and after toilets, such as the availability of water supply along with safe and sustainable methods for the disposal, treatment, and recycling of sanitary wastes after the toilet. Implementing communal onsite sanitation practices can be more feasible for societies suffering from a lack of adequate sanitation systems. This study presents a lifetime cost analysis of two onsite sanitation systems, one septic tank, and one resource-oriented sanitation (ROS) system. Both systems are considered to be implemented in a suburban area of Seoul to offer public hygiene services. The lifetime cost and probability of benefit were evaluated based on the capital, operation, maintenance, and disposal costs for one year. Results show that although the septic tank sanitation system requires a lower initial capital cost, its annual operation and maintenance costs are higher than the ROS systems’. The economic analysis shows how ignoring pre-toilet and post-toilet infrastructure can mislead the decision-making process by resulting in a higher capital and maintenance cost for the ROS system. Accordingly, the sanitation system should be considered not only to be a toilet but also to contain the required pre-toilet and post-toilet steps.

Phosphorus Removal and Carbon Dioxide Capture in a Pilot Conventional Septic System Upgraded with a Sidestream Steel Slag Filter

The objective of this work was to demonstrate the removal of the phosphorus and carbon dioxide capture potential of a conventional septic system upgraded with a sidestream steel slag filter used in recirculation mode. A pilot scale sidestream experiment was conducted with two septic tank and drainfield systems, one with and one without a sidestream slag filter. The experimental system was fed with real domestic wastewater. Recirculation ratios of 25%, 50% and 75% were tested. Limestone soils and non-calcareous soils were used as drainfield media. The tested system achieved a satisfactory compromise between phosphorus removal and pH at the effluent of the septic tank, thus eliminating the need for a neutralization step. The phosphorus removal efficiency observed in the second compartment of the septic tank was 30% in the slag filter upgraded system, compared to −3% in the control system. The slag filter reached a phosphorus retention of 105 mg/kg. The drainfield of non-calcareous soils achieved very high phosphorus removal in both control and upgraded systems. In the drainfield of limestone soil, the slag filtration reduced the groundwater phosphorus contamination load by up to 75%. The removal of chemical oxygen demand of the drainfields was not affected by the pH rise induced by the slag filter. Phosphorus removal in the septic tank with a slag filter was attributed to either sorption on newly precipitated calcium carbonate, or the precipitation of phosphate minerals, or both. Recirculation ratio design criteria were proposed based on simulations. Simulations showed that the steel slag filter partly inhibited the biological production of carbon dioxide in the septic tank. The influent alkalinity strongly influenced the recirculation ratio needed to raise the pH in the septic tank. The recirculation mode allowed clogging mitigation compared to a mainstream configuration, because an important part of chemical precipitation occurred in the septic tank. The control septic tank produced carbon dioxide, whereas the slag filter-upgraded septic tank was a carbon dioxide sink.

Smart Sanitary Disposal System in Hard Rock Exposures Using Microbes

Septic system plays a major role in sanitary disposal activities. In developing country it is very essential for proper disposal of wastes for providing clean environment. In our country the government has adopted scheme, “CLEAN INDIA”,. For achieving this aim, the septic system is necessary to construct in each and every residential, commercial buildings and public areas. Septic tank systems are a type of simple onsite sewage facility.But groundwater pollution may occur and can create a problem. Usage of mobile septic tank can be helpful to avoid such problem. In this present investigation an idea has been arrived and the septic tank constructed by the way which have been tested for 10 days for decomposition using microbes. The term ‘septic’ refer to the anaerobic bacteria environment that develops in the tanks which decomposes or mineralizes the water discharged into the tank. The rate of accumulation of sludge is faster than rate of decomposition. So in our project we have used microbes for decomposition.In urban areas, construction of septic tanks are easier. But in rock exposures, the septic tanks cannot be constructed easily. In this paper, the problem is solved by giving an idea as solution by providing a “MOBILE SEPTIC TANK”. This will be helpful and eliminate such problems.

Effects of tourism-derived sewage on coral reefs: Isotopic assessments identify effective bioindicators.

Pulau Redang and Pulau Tioman have experienced huge tourism growth over the last two decades, but minimal sewage treatment may threaten the resilience of their coral reefs. This study uses stable isotope techniques to identify suitable bioindicators of sewage nutrients (δ15N) at these islands by measuring macroalgae (Lobophora spp.), gastropods (Drupella spp.), scleractinian coral (Acropora spp.), and leather coral (Sinularia spp.). At tourist hubs using seepage septic tank systems, enrichment of Acropora δ15N (Redang, +0.7‰) and Sinularia δ15N (Tioman, +0.4‰) compared to pristine background levels indicate enhanced sewage nutrient discharge. Carbon isotopes and survey data suggest that sedimentation did not confound these δ15N trends. Potential damaging effects of sewage discharge on the coral reef communities at both islands are highlighted by strong correlations between Acropora δ15N and regional variation in coral reef community structure, and exclusive occurrence of degraded reefs at regions of high sewage influence.

Disciplining shit

Japanese doctors built a Western-style public health system aimed at acute infectious diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid fever in the late nineteenth century. While fecal–oral route diseases have received much attention in our historiography, little has been written on the most important part of disease causation. This article examines how researchers disciplined shit to make it legible to government institutions and agencies. I use the Foucauldian notion of discipline to reveal how effluent was turned into an object of knowledge. Doctors measured the amounts of waste produced by individuals and families to build sanitary septic tank systems. Researchers tested the resilience of micro-organisms in fecal matter and septic tanks and experimented on various ways to kill them. Once safe, nightsoil was recycled to support the rural economy. People were made to produce stool samples for the doctor. These were checked for bacteria or helminth eggs. The masses were taught how to defecate hygienically, their previous bathroom practices were censored, and they were told how to properly dispose of their waste. The government legislated human waste collection and disposal standards. Cities built processing and sewer systems to properly treat effluent. In short, doctors made shit knowable and thus controllable across the twentieth century. This is a crucial part of the larger story of sanitizing Japan that has hitherto remained unexplored.

CARTAGO CASE STUDY: WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT IN RURAL AREAS OF COSTA RICA

Abstract This article provides information on the management of the grey and toilet water collected in rural areas of the province of Cartago, from the years 2014 to 2016. For this research, information was gathered from a survey applied to 614 households located in rural areas. Information was also obtained through field visits and a physical-chemical and microbiological analysis of surface and residual waters. It was found that 100% of greywater from houses in rural areas are thrown into their surrounding rivers and 87% of wastewaters are treated in septic tank systems. Pollution is observed in the surface water sources due to the increase of population density in rural areas and discharge without greywater treatment.

Calcined Eggshell as a P Reactive Media Filter\u2014Batch Tests and Column Sorption Experiment

The goal of the study was to assess the sorption properties of calcined eggshells (CEs) as a P reactive media filter. The CEs were calcined in a temperature of 900 °C. A double stage test was performed: batch studies (kinetic and equilibrium) and small-scale column experiment. The estimation of optimal mass ratio of CEs for perspective usage was the additional benefit of column experiment. The short kinetic tests showed that 5 min of contact time with solution of initial concentration of 6.020 mgP-PO4 L−1 is enough to reduce the P-PO4 in 100%. The equilibrium studies were conducted with P-PO4 solution of 6.020 to 977.7 mg L−1 with contact time of 30 min. The obtained data was compensated by non-linear regression using the Marquardt algorithm in the Statgraphics Centurion XVI. The eggshell calcined characterized by high sorption capacity (Smax = 72.87 mg g−1) obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model with a good fit (96.77%). To choose the appropriate ratio of a sand filter to eggshells amendment, four small columns were constructed and fed with P-PO4 solution (Cin ≈ 5 mg L−1). The percentage mass (m/m) of CEs in the columns was 0.0 (the reference one); 1.0; 2.5; and 5.0. The unit sorption obtained during 95 days of column experiment was 10.668, 4.277, and 2.286 mg P-PO4 g−1 for 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0%, respectively. For practical implementation, the most recommended addition seems to be 1% of CEs. It corresponds, e.g., to the mass of 49 kg CEs for septic tank system.

Characterisation of treated effluent from four commonly employed wastewater treatment facilities: A UK case study

Sewage treatment systems are a common feature across the landscape of the United Kingdom, serving an estimated 96% of the population and discharging approximately eleven billion litres of treated wastewater daily. While large treatment facilities are ubiquitous across the landscape, they are not the only method employed in domestic wastewater treatment. This study investigates whether differences in nutrient export (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) and organic matter composition (determined by optical indices, SUVA254, S350-400 and E2:E3) from treated effluent could be detected between four of the most common facilities employed in the treatment of wastewater across the UK. Set in the context of the River Wylye, a small headwater catchment, treatment facilities studied included; a septic tank system, small packet treatment works, and two large sewage treatment works, one of which employed phosphorus stripping for phosphorus removal. Inorganic N and P concentrations ranged between 7.51 and 42.4 mg N l−1 and 0.22 and 8.9 mg P l−1 respectively, with DOC concentrations ranging between 1.63 and 11.8 mg C l−1. Optical indices were comparable to those observed in catchments where organic matter is dominated by autochthonous production, suggesting the dominance of low molecular weight material when compared to values observed across temperate aquatic systems. Combining data from both the Environment Agency and Ordinance Survey we estimate that only 15% of domestic properties not connected to mains sewerage in the study catchment have an Environment Agency consent/exemption permit. This calculation suggests that the quantity of small point sources are significantly underestimated, undermining efforts under current legislation to improve stream ecosystem health.

Predicting hydraulic conductivity around septic tank systems using soil physico-chemical properties and determination of principal soil factors by multivariate analysis

The knowledge of soil hydraulic conductivity is essential for the study of waste water infiltration rate into the soil subsurface. This study assesses selected soil hydraulic properties of soil around septic tank systems. Twelve soil samples were collected from four different locations within Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The analyzed parameters were done based on standard procedures. The measured values of soil physico-chemical properties were used to predict Ksat using multiple linear regression analysis. The soil water content, porosity, Organic Carbon, Soil pH, bulk density, soil resistivity and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) ranged from 20.6 to 26.2%, 34.3 to 47.2%, 0.11 to 0.37%, 5.8 to 6.2, 1.40 to 1.74 g/cm3, 4.55 to 5.80 O cm and 1.34 to 10.52 mm/hr respectively. The relationship obtained from regression analysis on data (R2 = 86.8) is a new model with empirical linear equation Ksat=82.08-5.93BD-10.98RES-2.69wc-16.12O.C+9.38pH which allows a new relation to estimate Ksat from the selected parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified 3 major factors accounting for 92.7% of the total variation in the soil hydraulic variables. The result of Cluster Analysis (CA) shows groups based on correlation between hydraulic parameters and topographic settings.

Contamination of estuaries from failing septic tank systems: difficulties in scaling up from monitored individual systems to cumulative impact.

Aquaculture in many coastal estuaries is threatened by diffuse sources of runoff from different land use activities. The poor performance of septic tank systems (STS), as well as runoff from agriculture, may contribute to the movement of contaminants through ground and surface waters to estuaries resulting in oyster contamination, and following their consumption, impacts to human health. In monitoring individual STS in sensitive locations, it is possible to show that nutrients and faecal contaminants are transported through the subsurface in sandy soils off-site with little attenuation. At the catchment scale however, there are always difficulties in discerning direct linkages between failing STS and water contamination due to processes such as effluent dilution, adsorption, precipitation and vegetative uptake. There is often substantial complexity in detecting and tracing effluent pathways from diffuse sources to water bodies in field studies. While source tracking as well as monitoring using tracers may assist in identifying potential pathways from STS to surface waters and estuaries, there are difficulties in scaling up from monitored individual systems to identify their contribution to the cumulative impact which may be apparent at the catchment scale. The processes which may be obvious through monitoring and dominate at the individual scale may be masked and not readily discernible at the catchment scale due to impacts from other land use activities.

Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus emissions to Irish rivers and coastal waters: Estimates from a nutrient load apportionment framework

More than half of surface water bodies in Europe are at less than good ecological status according to Water Framework Directive assessments, and diffuse pollution from agriculture remains a major, but not the only, cause of this poor performance. Agri-environmental policy and land management practices have, in many areas, reduced nutrient emissions to water. However, additional measures may be required in Ireland to further decouple the relationship between agricultural productivity and emissions to water, which is of vital importance given on-going agricultural intensification.The Source Load Apportionment Model (SLAM) framework characterises sources of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) emissions to water at a range of scales from sub-catchment to national. The SLAM synthesises land use and physical characteristics to predict emissions from point (wastewater, industry discharges and septic tank systems) and diffuse sources (agriculture, forestry, etc.). The predicted annual nutrient emissions were assessed against monitoring data for 16 major river catchments covering 50% of the area of Ireland. At national scale, results indicate that total average annual emissions to surface water in Ireland are over 2700tyr−1 of P and 82,000tyr−1 of N. The proportional contributions from individual sources show that the main sources of P are from municipal wastewater treatment plants and agriculture, with wide variations across the country related to local anthropogenic pressures and the hydrogeological setting. Agriculture is the main source of N emissions to water across all regions of Ireland. These policy-relevant results synthesised large amounts of information in order to identify the dominant sources of nutrients at regional and local scales, contributing to the national nutrient risk assessment of Irish water bodies.

Decomposition approach of the nitrogen generation process: empirical study on the Shimabara Peninsula in Japan.

Groundwater nitrate pollution is one of the most prevalent water-related environmental problems worldwide. The objective of this study is to identify the determinants of nitrogen pollutant changes with a focus on the nitrogen generation process. The novelty of our research framework is to cost-effectively identify the factors involved in nitrogen pollutant generation using public data. This study focuses on three determinant factors: (1) nitrogen intensity changes, (2) structural changes, and (3) scale changes. This study empirically analyses three sectors, including crop production, farm animals, and the household, on the Shimabara Peninsula in Japan. Our results show that the nitrogen supply from crop production sectors has decreased because the production has been scaled down and shifted towards lower nitrogen intensive crops. In the farm animal sector, the nitrogen supply has also been successfully reduced due to scaling-down efforts. Households have decreased the nitrogen supply by diffusion of integrated septic tank and sewerage systems.

Source-specific sewage pollution detection in urban river waters using pharmaceuticals and personal care products as molecular indicators.

Source-specific elucidation of domestic sewage pollution caused by various effluent sources in an urban river water, as conducted for this study, demands knowledge of the relation between concentrations of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) as molecular indicators (caffeine, carbamazepine, triclosan) and water quality concentrations of total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorous (T-P). River water and wastewater samples from the Asahikawa River Basin in northern Japan were analyzed using derivatization-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Caffeine, used as an indicator of domestic sewage in the Asahikawa River Basin, was more ubiquitous than either carbamazepine or triclosan (92-100%). Its concentration was higher than any target compound used to assess the basin: <4.4-370ng/L for caffeine, <0.6-3.9ng/L for carbamazepine, and <1.1-13ng/L for triclosan. Higher caffeine concentrations detected in wastewater effluents and the strongly positive mutual linear correlation between caffeine and T-N or T-P (R 2>0.759) reflect the contribution of septic tank system effluents to the lower Asahikawa River Basin. Results of relative molecular indicators in combination with different molecular indicators (caffeine/carbamazepine and triclosan/carbamazepine) and cluster analysis better reflect the contribution of sewage than results obtained using concentrations of respective molecular indicators and cluster analysis. Relative molecular indicators used with water quality parameters (e.g., caffeine/T-N ratio) in this study provide results more clearly, relatively, and quantitatively than results obtained using molecular indicators alone. Moreover, the caffeine/T-N ratio reflects variations of caffeine flux from effluent sources. These results suggest strongly relative molecular indicators are also useful indicators, reflecting differences in spatial contributions of domestic sources for PPCPs in urban areas.