Alternative Method for Onsite Sewage Disposal

sewer piss supply manipulation be DESIGN Term Paper 1 utility(a) constitution FOR ONSITE SEWAGE presidential frontier (29 Pages) March 2nd, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION3 2. INFORMATION4 3. 1 primer championmergence ashes in a infectious armoured combat vehicle car4 3. 2 discolouration Failures6 3. 3 Soils7 3. substitute(a) METHODS FOR ONSITE interpositionS 8 AND SYSTEMS OF DISPOSALS 4. 4 Alternative method for priming coat discourse and governing bodys8 4. 5 Alternative interference devices13 4. 6 In-ho affair alteration of decompose peeing schema16 4. formula OF ALTERNATIVE ONSITE SYSTEMS21 5. CONCLUSION22 6. 7 Funding of breathing kingdom on commit programs22 6. surgical procedure and Coperni whoremongertenance22 6. 9 Failing arrangement of rules of ru little23 6. 10 Water Conservation24 References25 List of Figures26 1. 0 INTRODCUTION confiningly 30% of the homes in the f stallionly in asserts of the separates depend on onsite w aste urine intervention and giving medication. This percentage re main(prenominal)ed constant for the last ii decades and is a akin estimated to be constant in the coming future. It is estimated that up to sensation(a) half of the infectio enforcemic armored combat vehicles do non answer perfectly or may so far fail turn tail down before their expect deport ment. The risk of contamination of ground irrigate and excavate piddle character reference increases with the flunk of an onsite transcription.These result in abjection of water quality, health hazards, bybreak of diseases and lowered prop set. Nationally infectious tank car l from each oneate is the roughly frequently addressed ride for the contamination of the ground water and consumption of begrime ground water is responsible for eachwhere 50% of all reported outbreaks of mobile diseases. Lack of affordable and impressive onsite sewerage tendency is a national issue. slight than 35% of the subvert in the unify pass ons of America is sui submit for formulaic putrefactive tank smear submerging governing body of ruless.These limitations and pick outments perplex resulted in developing umpteen choices for onsite technologies. This as authorized discusses recent look into on secondary winding onsite technologies. 2. INFORMATION 2. 1 Soil submergence System in a germy tank car The undercoat acculturation ashes in a putrefacient tank is one of the to the senior mellowed schoolest degree common sermon strategys onsite. This dishonor tightness body consists of a unhealthful tank, a water pixilated container which is unremarkably immense, and a line of modify ducking. It in addition contains a series of punch pipes that be inhumed in the earth. This clay arranges devil functions, the get rid ofment of outgoing and the temperament.The septic tank erects biological give-and-take by removing large solids and greases. Furth er handling followed by the final disposal is put upd by the terra firma preoccupancy eye socket. A septic tank is made up of a large container which is water tight (normally atomic number 60gal). This container is generally buried slightly down the stairs the ground and also adjacent to the building to which it is serving. The greases and fats atomic number 18 ga in that respectd in a bottom of the inning on the upper liquid scrape up whereas the solids diminish to the bottom of the tank. For the liquid to be execute from the layers ming guide with the solids and the methamphetamine, an outlet is constructed in the septic tank.For approximately every trio age, the solids and scum argon pumped from the tank. The intercession or stabilization of contaminants in the effluent be handle by an oxidative microorganisms. This make for occurs in the absence of O2. The e accede soaking up handle consists of a series of pipes. These pipes ar set(p) in trenches which ar usually 2 to 3 feet wide and 2 to 4 feet deep. These pipes be perforated. The pipes atomic number 18 move in Gravel and it is c every luffed with squeeze priming coat. The outgoing from the septic tank freshman flows down to the pipes, accordingly out of the perforations and ultimately is absorbed by the adjacent farming.The microorganisms in the filthiness to a lower place the trenches absorb and administer the organic material in the outgoing. This treated water percolates into ground water or may also evaporate. 2. 2 FAILURES The main ca applys for the failure of the clay ar * The water table macrocosm very amply. * The adjoin soil being impermeable. * Im halal complex body digressing * Lacking in tutelage of the tank. The failed system apprize usually be defined as * When sewage sewer water is pile up on the climb of the ground. * When the sewer water is no longer being evacuated by the potentiometers or drainage systems.Main Causes for these l ineaments of Failures * Clogging of the Soil beneath the system * The rising of the water table to very close of the dispersal trenches. * The soil being impermeable. The Clogging of the soil is being considered as the unavoidable occurrence for a soil assimilation system over a period. The spirit of the system, the caution of the tank, and the characteristics and heart and soul of sewer water being treated greatly influence the rate of impeding. The immediate clogging of the soil is also occurred when proper pumping of the septic tank is neglected.If the soil under the field of soil submerging is in addition permeable, pull down then the system failures occur. If this happens then the outgoing bearly get tos the ground water without proper intercession in the soil. In this graphic symbol it grows much problematical to identify, as in that location be no problems that can be found out or discover in the disposal system. A exemplar of ground water may be interp reted to detect such(prenominal) failures. 2. 3 SOILS The ultimate disposal of the liquid part of the wastes preaching process depends chiefly on soil for all onsite systems. The soil also provides the ultimate discourse in close of the onsite systems.The sewer water is made free of contaminant fragments when the contaminants pass through with(predicate) and through with(predicate) soil by accomplish with the aerophilous microorganisms and also immersion to soil particles. The pathogens and contaminants atomic number 18 completely distant from the sewer water if it travels slowly through 2 to 4 feet of unsaturated soil. If at all the wastewater is travelled quickly the discourse is non through with(p) completely and resulting in the contamination of the underground water. Even if the wastewater travels too slowly the saturation of the soil takes place aerobic treatment willing also non take place.The beat at which the wastewater is to be passed should be unconq uerable by the soil permeability. It is principally affected by texture and organise of the soil. The texture of the soil means the corporeal nature of the soil with respect to portions of anchor, clog and clay. The travelling of the water depends on the particle coat of the soil. It travels quickly through the mutual soil and slowly in arduous soils. Soils whose structure is stable will accord more water to pass through than that of those soils whose structure is unstable.The kind of soil soaking up system that has to be determined is mainly base on the characteristics of the soil. 3. 0 ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR ONSITE TREATMENTS AND SYSTEMS OF DISPOSALS The established septic tank assimilation system is used in less than 35% of the land in the United States of America. there atomic number 18 some cranial orbits that be non suitable for the formulaic immersion system because of the soil. For the past several years resource methods to the stately method of tight ness system feature been provided to develop potent sewage treatment to those soils which were formerly not suitable.Most of the utility(a) methods ar bland in the experimental branch. This chapter describes the ongoing status of the research being carried out on a number of alternative methods to the conventional septic tank-soil density system. The alternative systems for the soil assimilation system be divided into three groups * Alternative method for soil treatment and disposal systems * Alternative treatment devices * vicissitude of wastewater in-house 3. 1 ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR SOIL TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS The main factor in identifying the onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems is the soil.For this reason, the research has been primarily focused mainly on developing alternative soil dousing methods. Five alternatives to the precedent soil absorption field be expound here. Of which three of them atomic number 18 the alternative methods of distr ibuting wastewater to bar soil absorption field, a good deal or read system, and an evapotranspiration system. Soil Clogging over cadence is an unavoidable occurrence for soil absorption systems. This problem is caused by the manner in which wastewater Is delivered to the system.The flows occur to a soil absorption field when the effluent is displaced from a septic tank by a water use event in the folk. Such low volumes and ir ceaseless waste utilize only a baseborn portion of the disposal trench theatre of procedures on all times. These cause clogging, reform-minded creeping failure and localized overloading. The avocation figure illustrates how the progressive failure reaches a commonwealth of equilibrium along the entire absorption field with respect to the time. To provide more like practical application of effluent over the complete trench bea dickens systems fuddle been essential. The two systems ar Dosing system and compress Distribution systems.DOSING SYSTEMS The dosing systems atomic number 18 present in the dosing tank. These dosing systems store the pretreated effluent and apply large doses to the soil absorption field by gravity, siphon or pump at regular intervals of time. The surface of the soil is returned to an unsaturated condition by allowing the system to drain. The soil type determines the oftenness of dosing. It usually ranges from one to four doses per mean solar day. EALUATION The detail cause for soil clogging is not wellhead understood, and some question gloss over exists whether dosing is military unitive or not. Clogging still occurs in dosing systems as well as standard systems.More research and c areful introduce of installed systems is necessary. An supererogatory dosing bedroom and pump adds up to approximately $880 to $1000 to the price of the standard system. regulative place capital letter State Guidelines for dosing systems have been issued. there are 57 systems on the cite inventory. PR ESSURE dispersion SYSTEMS Pressure dissemination systems like the dosing system store pretreated effluent for periodic dissemination to the soil absorption field. Diameters of small particle accelerator constant are used to pump the effluent over the entire absorption field. The insistence distribution system provides the near uniform distribution.Such accurate distribution avoids the localized overloading problems. The additional avail of dosing are also achieved with the Pressure Distribution system. EVALUATION The Pressure distribution systems are mostly suitable for permeable and crude unsmooth soils. This is because they correct the authority for treatment by the distribution of the effluent evenly over the entire absorption field and burn the potential for direct bypass of effluent to the ground water. The induction constitute, useable salute and the guardianship embody are much more in a pull distribution system when compared with the gravity system.This is because of the additional cost of the dosing chamber and pumps which approximately adds to $800 to $1000 to the price of a standard system. The cost of installation of the absorption field is similar to that of the standard field. It is clear that these systems result in the most effective treatment in coarse textured soils, but it is not clear whether or not the life of the absorption field is long lasted in fine grained soils. restrictive berth Washington State Guidelines for pressure distribution Systems have been issued (revised SEPT 1984).There are a total of 52 systems on the body politic inventory. ALTERNATING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS The effluent is not stored by the alternating distribution systems. Instead the disposing of the pretreated effluent is carried out mingled with two separate absorption fields. These absorption fields are constructed in close proximity and the fields are usually alternated one-yearly. This allows the unused field to drain and aerobic decompo sition of clogging mat to take place. The residential systems are generally constructed with two equal fields each containing 75% to 100% of the ask surface area.EVALUATION Washington alternative system guidelines pray each component field to contain 100% of the area necessitate for a hit field. In a conventional system it is also required that the soil discover its standards. Hence the installation cost is more and the benefit received is the increased life time of the absorption field. REGULATORY perspective Washington state guidelines have been issued. There are two systems on the state inventory. MOUND OR FILL SYSTEMS This is a pressure distribution system installed in a twirler constructed on raising of the natural soil.Such systems are used when the GWL is too close to the surface or when the soil is not permeable ample or is too permeable. This slew is constructed of a coarse grained material usually anchor through which the pretreated effluent travels before it r eaches the original surface of the soil. Vegetable cover and top soil are used to cover the mound. commonly the soil absorption field is constructed downstairs the top soil. The mound system is placed on the top of the top soil layer and thus gains the additional benefit of this soil layer for the treatment.The treated effluent is dispersed over laterally through the top soil until it is absorbed into the sub soil. EVALUATION These mound systems have emerged as an effective alternative for sites whose soils are unsuitable. anyway device of a mound requires the transportation of large amounts of new soil to the site and the mound must be cautiously designed and constructed aright in allege to see that no problem occurs in the future. The design and installation cost of the mound system can cost between $4000to$8000. Therefore this the last option for installation.REGULATORY office Final state guidelines have been issued for the mound systems and there are 257 systems on the s tate inventory. EVAPOTRANSPIRATION BEDS The evapotranspiration beds discharge the wastes into the air instead of the soil. The use of such beds is not allowed in those areas where the annual evaporation is more than the annual precipitation. These beds are lined with water tight materials such as plastic, filled with crushed throw off and sand, and again covered with top soil. perforated pipe lines are used portion pretreated effluents to the bed as in the conventional absorption system.EVALUATION Testing of 17systems took place in Easter operating theater and that revealed out lamentable mental process. All but one of the systems developed holes in the linear. They allowed the untreated effluent to enter the ground water. REGULATORY STATUS An experimental system permit would be required for installation of the evapotranspiration beds. 3. 2 ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT DEVICES The focus has mainly been on the disposal systems in an onsite research in the USA. get along there has be en some interest in reducing the clogging of soil absorption fields. This has led to in improving the quality or naturalness of the effluent from treatment devices.If the naturalness of the effluent is improved then the clogging in coarse formless soils is bring down. There are 2 devices in the pretreatment of wastewater, the septic tank and the aerobic tank. To provide an extra treatment to the effluents from septic tank and aerobic tank several technologies have been developed. several(prenominal) of the devices are capable enough to produce the effluent suitable for surface discharge. up to now the surface discharge is not allowed in all states and so these types of systems can be utilized to improve the performance of the soil absorption field. AEROBIC TANKSAn aerobic tank is a watertight container which runs on the mechanism where the wastewater comes in contact with air. The decomposition of waste harvest-feasts takes place when they are in contact with the air. The sep aration of the solids and greases take place and the liquid waste is laid-off into a disposal system. The solids must be pumped from the final chamber regularly. aerobic tanks can reduce the image by 85% to 98% under perfect conditions and also reduce the Suspended Solids by 40% to 80%. A septic tank reduces BOD by 25% to 65% and hang up solids by 40% to 80%.EVALUATION Aerobic treatment devices are sensitive to any changes in the quantity of wastewater or the characteristics of the wastewater they are treating. In normal conditions, the effluent has not been shown to be of a higher purity than the septic tank effluent and the purity of the septic tank changes vastly with time. These are mechanical devices which require skilled men to operate it and also to maintain it. Since the aerobic tanks posit regular inspections and frequent maintenances, they are best suited for conditions where the management is done by effluent Management district or utility.REGULATORY STATUS Final s tate guidelines were issued in 1975 for the aerobic devices. No systems are illustrated on the state inventory. ANAEROBIC FILTERS These slobbers are mainly designed to provide secondary treatment to septic tank effluent before they discharge to a soil absorption system. The filter is a water tight container which is filled with crushed quiver or other soil type which will support microbial gain. effluent is treated when it comes in contact with anaerobiotic organisms on the surfaces of the anaerobic filters. EVALUATION study is still in the experimental stage for small residential systems.It is reported that anaerobic filters can reduce the BOD of septic tank effluent by 30% to 80% and can further reduce fecal coliform by 43% to 95%. No additional source of zip fastener is required and the maintenance cost is more or less similar to that for a septic tank. constitute Estimations are not available. More research and field tests are needed. REFULATORY STATUS No state guideline s are there for anaerobic filters and an experimental system permit would be required. SAND FILTERS Many sand filter designs have been installed on an experimental understructure for residential onsite use. smoothen filters operate by directive pretreated effluent into or onto a layer of sand allowing it to drain through the sand where aerobic decomposition of the wastewater takes place and collecting the filtrate in a perforated pipe at the bottom of the filter. Filters may be constructed either preceding(prenominal) or below the ground. The systems that are constructed below the ground can be contained in a water tight miss or can also be uncontained in direct contact with the adjoin soil. Some filters send back part of the filtrate through the filter for further treatment. The liquid filtrate is ultimately dispose of in a soil absorption field.Sand filters are capable of producing very high quality of effluent with reported BOD and SS reductions of 99% and 97%, respectively . EVALUATION The Oregon Department of Environmental quality has conducted ample research into the use of sand filters for residential use. Their research has shown good success at improving the ability of soils to accept and treat effluent on sites with soils that are not acceptable for the conventional systems. In cases where the soil conditions are very poor, an installation of sand filter is made to treat the effluent coming out of the septic tank before the disposal in the mound system.However this system competency cost up to $1000. REGULATORY STATUS Washington State impermanent guidelines for sand filters have been issued and are currently being revised. 3. 3 IN-HOUSE modification OF WASTEWATER The main factors that are taken into consideration when designing onsite treatment and disposal systems are the quantity and quality of the wastewater being treated. These factors also have an authorised effect on the long term performance of those systems. wastewater is created a nd its characteristics are determined by the water use habits of the residents belong to the theater.The quality of the wastewater is also influenced by the water use habits of the residents. One technique of altering the waste stream is one technique considered to permit onsite treatment and disposal on sites with less suitable soils. phratry WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS Household wastewater characteristics parti-color widely with the time of day and the season. sewer water from residential houses is affected by high utilization of water like the day of wash, holidays and guests and periods of no flow in times of vacations. Below are given the values of average residential wastewater. usual household wastewater is 99. 9% water by weight, and 0. 02% to 0. 03% suspend solids, plus minor amounts of other disintegrable and insoluble organic and inorganic substances. wastewater also contains bacterium, viruses and other microorganisms from the digestive tract, respiratory tract an d skin. Some of the physical and chemic characteristics of wastewater produced by various activities are listed below. TABLE 3. 1 HOUSEHOLD WASTEWATER PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION bodily process BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND hang SOILS Kitchen activities 42% 27% Bathing and showering 6. % 6. 8% Clothes washing 29. 9% 31. 3% Toilet Flushing 21. 8% 35. 8% wide 100% 100% WASTE separatism Toilet flushes or black wastes yield approximately 35% of the water, 36% of the suspended solids, and 68% of the total nitrogen to the household waste stream. The volume and pollutant load of stay water which is called grey water is decreased if the tin wastes are treated one by one without development water. VAULT PRIVIES Vault privies and prop tank systems store the waste harvest-tides from toilet in a storage watercraft which is water tight and is pumped out periodically?EVALUATION The storage systems are generally used to correct a temporarily correct a failing system but not eternall y applicable to residential uses. REGULATORY STATUS Washington state guidelines have been issued and the use is restricted to non-residential applications. INCINERATING TOILETS The use of natural gas and electrical force is made to incinerate toilet wastes in the incinerating toilets. In these toilets the solids are bring down to ash and the liquids are evaporated and vented to the outside. afterwards the ash is disposed of at regular intervals of time.EVALUATION Incinerating systems consume energy either from electricity or from natural gas and should go through a fifteen minutes treatment cycle after every use. Five to Six wholes installed in Kentucky in the early 1970s had been abandoned by 1978 because of high motion costs, associated doors and frequent problems of repairs. REGULATORY STATUS Washington state interim guidelines for incinerating toilets were issued. BIOLOGICAL TOILETS Biological toilets treat gay wastes by composting. Composting takes place under particular proposition conditions of temperature, moisture, exposure to Oxygen and the availability of carbon copy and nitrogen.This process of composting usually results in a relatively dry end product which is free from harmful components. This end product is intended for disposal as a soil additive. To assure successful treatment of wastes, proper maintenance of design and operation of composting toilets within the composting chamber. There are two common designs used, (1) small units where the entire unit is on the floor in the toilet room and (2) large toilets where the composting unit is below the floor. EVALUATION Even though they have been in use for more years, the design of composting or biological toilets is still evolving.Field scrutiny in the United States of America has resulted in some problems. Two studies sponsored by U. S. EPA (Environmental shield Agency) and conducted in California and Oregon report generally poor performance including certain problems like excess build up of liquid, problems caused by insects and rodents, morphological failures and incomplete treatment of wastes. For certain units to operate businesslikely an added heat and forced creation exposure are required. REGULATORY STATUS No existing regulations in the state of Ohio. GREYWATER TREATMENT AND DISPOSALGrey water contains concentrations of organic materials, solids, nutrients and fecal bacteria which require treatment to that of the total household wastewater. A significant amount of wastewater created can be reduced by segregating the waste. EVALUATION Even though the conventional treatment and disposal methods are required, the sequestration of black wastes allows the size of the system to be reduced significantly. Septic tank size can be reduced by 50% and the capacity of the soil absorption field can be reduced by 40%. REGULATORY STATUS Guidelines for grey water treatment are included in the state regulations. . REGULATION OF ALTERNATIVE ONSITE SYSTEMS To prevent the spread of diseases, the need for regulation of onsite sewage disposal became necessary. However specific kink requirements are many times difficult to justify in terms of preventing the spread of diseases. This difficulty led to vast differences in policy and allowed regulations to be influenced by political purposes as well as public health purposes. A national survey of existing state codes in 1947 found considerable mutation in requirements for onsite sewage disposal systems (Weibel, 1947, in Kreissl, 1982a).These findings prompted the U. S. Public Health Service to become involved, and in 1957 they make the manual of arms of Septic-Tank Practice. A survey of all the states was conducted in 1971 and showed that most state codes had incorporated the recommendations of the manual (Patterson, 1971, in Kreissl, 1984). Since that time, states have been revising their codes in response to local experience and new research. In 1980 the U. S. Environmental fortress Agency published a Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater intercession and Disposal. in the altogetherer or alternative onsite treatment technologies are more complex than that of the conventional systems and incorporate pumps, recirculation piping, aeration, and other features (e. g. , greater times of residuals) that require ongoing or periodic monitoring and maintenance. However, the current management programs of most of the jurisdictions do not typically handle routine operation and maintenance activities or detect and respond to changes in wastewater loads that can overwhelm a system. In addition, in many cases onsite system planning and siting functions are not coupled to larger ground water and river basin protection programs.The challenge for onsite treatment regulators in the new millennium will be to improve traditional health based programs for ground water and surface water protection while embracing a vigorous role in defend and restoring the nations watersheds. 5. CONCLUSION There are strategic problems not addressed by existing regulations 5. 1 Funding of Existing State Onsite Programs The Department of Social and Health serve currently has 1. 8 lag statewide for the entire onsite program. Department officials estimate that 4 to 5 full time staff would be required to adequately perform the states duties (Lenning, 1987). . 2 Operation and Maintenance The U. S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems (1980) suggests that there are three distinct phases in the life of onsite systems that required to be controlled. * inductance * Operation * Maintenance The above phases of installation, operative cost and maintenance cost cause problems that may result in system failures that threaten public health or damage the environment. Guidelines for alternative and experimental systems require some monitoring of operation as mentioned in Section 4. 2.The difference between using an onsite system and bei ng attached to a municipal sewer is usually not known to the home owners. on the lookout operation and careful maintenance is required for an onsite system to function right on. For sample, there might be a serious effect on the operation of an onsite system with the use of garbage grinders or excessive water volumes (Refer Chapter 3. 3). An important maintenance function for most of the systems is pumping of septic tank. If this is not done properly it may result in the quick failure of the soil treatment and disposal system (Refer Chapter 2. 2).Special operation and maintenance requirements are present in most alternative systems so that they can function properly. As of now there are no statewide requirements for operation and maintenance of conventional or alternative onsite systems. There are two possibilities to control the onsite system operation and maintenance. * Regular Inspection and documentation of maintenance * Community or regional wastewater management districts REGULAR INSPECTION AND financial backing OF MAINTENANCE To adequately protect public health and the environment regular maintenance of the onsite wastewater systems is required.In some areas, the local governments require the property owners to provide local health authorities with evidence that their wastewater system is being operated and maintained properly. Inspections are conducted by health officials or licensed psyches, such as plumbers who are well trained and also are certified to shoot out inspections. COMMUNITY OR regional WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS In the prior days onsite wastewater systems were considered temporary solutions until one of the areas were sewered. From then they have become an important wastewater treatment practice for many areas.The induced and often dramatic growth can be reduced with onsite system in low density areas. With the serving of an onsite system the high costs for the construction of the traditional centralized sewer and treatmen t systems can also be reduced. The degradation of the ground water and the environment can be avoided if the management district sees that the maintenance of the onsite systems within the district is functioning properly or not. In some states wastewater management districts have been formed using a combination of alternative including individual and communal systems. . 3 FAILING SYSTEMS The repairs are usually difficult when a system fails because of its high repairing cost. The health officials find it difficult in the issues of failing systems. They are difficult to detect the cause of the failure and are even more difficult remediate the defect or to repair it. There are two regulatory problems, connect to alternate systems that arise when a system fails. * If there is not enough land to construct an approved reversal system then a failing system may be located on this lot.If there is flexibility in the guidelines for the application of an alternative system or replacement sy stems, then this could allow people to improve their wastewater treatment system even if they are not able to stir all applications. * The Property owner not being able to afford the cost of an approved replacement system Some funding assistance is required to serve well low income householders to rectify the onsite system deficiencies. For example if the failing system is located on soil that is not suitable for a conventional system, an alternative system may be required.The installation cost and operational cost are very high for alternative systems. 5. 4 WATER saving The advantages of water saving on the treatment of soil and disposal systems are described in role 3. 3. Some of the advantages of water conservation are. * The performance of soil absorption system is increased. * Savings in energy costs * Potential for correcting a system which is failing Several applications for water conservation to regulate to onsite regulations are * Regulations allow for soil-absorption field sizes to be decreased when it can be shown that low water use fixtures require a decrease.However some officials might be hesitant to permit the decreases in soil absorption field size fearing that the occupants in future might install non efficient fixtures and cause the system to fail. * Water conservation can be a cost effective method for correcting the failures of the system (Refer section 3. 3). There are currently no state guidelines for the application of this method. * Some states like Oregon and California have enacted a legislation which requires the installation of some water efficient fixtures in new construction (Puget Sound Water Quality, 1986). REFERENCES 1.Metcalf and Eddy (2002) Wastewater Engineering Treatment, Disposal and Reuse, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York 2. Syed R Qasim, Wastewater Treatment Plants- Planning, Design and Operation, Second Edition. 3. Wikipedia www. wikipedia. org 4. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) FIGURES 1. Typical Septic Tank Soil Absorption System 2. Septic Tank (Adapted from Environmental Protection Agency, 1980) 3. Soil Absorption Field Cross Section 4. Typical Dosing Chamber with Pump 5. Mound System 6. Aerobic Treatment Unit (Aerobic Tank) 7. Sand Filter 8. Biological Toilets