#Household wastewater treatment systems series

greywater, rainwater) that can be directly reused, whilst reducing the volume of wastewater (i.e. Source: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (2005)īy separating these waste streams at the source, it is possible to retain high volumes of relatively safe water (i.e. Example of a household greywater reuse system. greywater, rainwater), thereby allowing greywater and rainwater to be used for a wider range of purposes. blackwater, faeces, urine) by preventing it from coming into contact with less contaminated water (i.e. Separating these streams of wastewater reduces the amount of wastewater contaminated by pathogens (i.e. nutrients, pathogens) and reuse potential, including rainwater, greywater (all household wastewater except toilet flushing water), urine, blackwater, and faeces. There are several different types of wastewater produced at the household level that have very different levels of contaminants (i.e.

In developing countries, optimising wastewater reuse can therefore be a significant window for development.Ī critical aspect for wastewater reuse is that the quality of wastewater must be appropriate for its reuse. The reuse of wastewater presents an opportunity to not only save water and financial resources by reducing water consumption, but to simultaneously increase food production or create livelihood.

One effective way of reducing water consumption is to reuse the wastewater produced at the household level. Benefits of reducing domestic water consumption include lower water bills or less time spent collecting water, reduced pressure on local water resources, and increased availability of potable water available for appropriate purposes such as drinking, cooking, and hygiene. Thus, household water consumption has a large potential to be reduced. Particularly in developed countries, domestic water use is often many times larger than the WHO minimum recommended per capita consumption. Microbes on or near the soil treat the effluent.Domestic water consumption makes up 8% of total global water use (UNWATER 2012). Inside the chambers, the wastewater comes into contact with the soil. Pipes carry wastewater from the septic tank to the chambers. The area around and above the chambers is filled with soil.

#Household wastewater treatment systems series

This type of system consists of a series of connected chambers. They are also well suited to areas with high groundwater tables, where the volume of influent to the septic system is variable (e.g., at a vacation home or seasonal inn), in an area where gravel is scarce, or in areas where other technologies such as plastic chambers are readily available. The primary advantage of the chamber system is increased ease of delivery and construction. The chamber system serves as an alternative design to the gravel/stone system.

The gravelless systems can be manufactured with recycled materials and offer a significant savings in carbon footprint.Īn example of a gravelless system is the chamber system. They take many forms, including open-bottom chambers, fabric-wrapped pipe, and synthetic materials such as expanded polystyrene media. Gravelless drainfields have been widely used for over 30 years in many states and have become a conventional technology replacing gravel systems. The solids stay in the tank while the wastewater is discharged to the drainfield for further treatment and dispersal. Heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank while greases and lighter solids float to the top. More detailed information on specific technologies can be found in Fact Sheets.Ī septic tank is a buried, watertight tank designated and constructed to receive and partially treat raw domestic sanitary wastewater. See below for illustrations and descriptions of various types of conventional and alternative septic systems. The list is not all-inclusive there are many other types of septic systems. Below are ten of the most common types of septic systems used, followed by illustrations and descriptions of each system. These factors include household size, soil type, site slope, lot size, proximity to sensitive water bodies, weather conditions, or even local regulations. The design and size of a septic system can vary widely, from within your neighborhood to across the country, due to a combination of factors.