Wastewater Treatment in the 21st Century: Technology, Operation, Management, and Regulatory Issues.* Until now, septic-tank drainfield systems have been the primary means of on-site wastewater management. * It is hard to collect effluent samples below a subsurface drainfield. Thus, it is not possible to monitor the performance of such a system. * The performance of septic septic /sep·tic/ (sep´tik) pertaining to sepsis. sep·tic adj. 1. Of, relating to, having the nature of, or affected by sepsis. 2. drainfield systems is taken for granted Adj. 1. taken for granted - evident without proof or argument; "an axiomatic truth"; "we hold these truths to be self-evident" axiomatic, self-evident obvious - easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind; "obvious errors" as long as conservative siting and design standards Design standards Specifications of materials, physical measurements, processes, performance of products, and characteristics of services rendered. Design standards may be established by individual manufacturers, trade associations, and national or are followed. * Acceptance of a site based on soil and site characteristics does not, however, ensure long-term environmental protection. * Nonseptic on-site wastewater systems offer cost-effective environmental and public health protection. * These small wastewater systems also offer advantages such as recycling of effluent, a limiting effect on the movement of pollutants pollutants see environmental pollution. , and protection from short-term operational problems. * Today, five categories of prepackaged pre·pack·age tr.v. pre·pack·aged, pre·pack·ag·ing, pre·pack·ag·es To wrap or package (a product) before marketing. Adj. 1. wastewater treatment systems are available: 1. aerobic treatment units, 2. media filters, 3. natural systems for recycling of effluent (wetlands, greenhouse systems), 4. waterless toilets and graywater gray·wa·ter n. Wastewater from household baths and washing machines that is recycled especially for use in gardening or for flushing toilets. systems, and 5. disinfection disinfection, n the process of destroying pathogenic organisms or rendering them inert. disinfection, full oral cavity, n a procedure used to reduce active periodontal disease, usually completed within a certain short time frame. systems for secondary or higher-quality effluent. * Thus, it is not necessary to collect a large quantity of raw wastewater at one point for treatment. * Minimizing the collection network can minimize the total cost of a community wastewater project. * Current regulations for small, on-site wastewater systems, however, force each site to become its own wastewater utility. * By contrast, centralized wastewater treatment plants Wastewater treatment plant also called wastewater treatment works
* Homeowners and businesses pay fees and transfer all responsibility to the utility. * Public acceptance of small on-site systems will reach its potential only when such systems offer the same wastewater services as centralized systems. * People should be able to obtain on-site wastewater services in the same way they get solid-waste, telephone, cable, and power services. * For a utility to offer on-site wastewater solutions to the public, the regulatory framework will have to shift 180 degrees. * Currently, regulations for on-site systems focus on pre-installation issues such as soil and site characteristics. * A performance-based regulatory framework would emphasize post-installation issues such as system operations, monitoring of the environment, and education and training. * Thus, the process that could establish a utility for on-site wastewater systems must start with changes in state legislation. |
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