Emerging investigator series: are we undervaluing septage? Rethinking septage management for nutrient recovery and environmental protection

Abstract

An estimated 20-25% percent of households in the US rely on on-site sanitation via septic tanks to manage their wastewater. Septage management strategies such as land application, treatment at wastewater treatment plants, and treatment at independent septage treatment plants are common regulated and protective processes for managing septage. There can, however, be potentially negative environmental impacts such as groundwater contamination if septic systems are failing or improperly designed. In this perspective, we reimagine septage management at each step of the septage value chain, identify barriers to change, and propose solutions to overcome these existing barriers. Reimagined septage management can take both high-level and context-specific approaches, including upgrading or retrofitting older septic takes to be impermeable and promoting proper tank pumping intervals, short transport distances, resource recovery, and safe reuse. These solutions could improve economic, environmental, and social sustainability over the status quo. Barriers such as lack of comprehensive data, aspects of decentralized regulation and management, public perception, and impacts of climate change can be overcome via policy best practices, increased stakeholder engagement, improved data collection, integration of machine learning, and climate change adaptation.