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Chapter 20: Problem 8

How may sewage from individual homes be handled in the absence of municipal collection systems? What are some problems with these on-site systems?

Short Answer

Expert verified
In the absence of municipal collection systems, individual homes may need to resort to septic systems, composting toilets, or lagoons for sewage management. However, these on-site systems face several problems such as maintenance needs, potential for environmental damage, potential inefficiencies at larger scales, and high costs.

Step by step solution

01

Identifying On-site System Options

Without access to municipal collection systems, households have to manage their wastewater on-site. Here are a few common methods:1. Septic Systems: These treat the sewage by allowing the solids to decompose and settle in a tank. This could also include a drain field to deal with the liquid waste.2. Composting Toilets: This involves the manual composting of waste to turn into nutrient-rich soil.3. Lagoons or Ponds: Some rural areas might use lagoons or ponds that serve as holding areas for waste, which is then treated and filtered naturally.
02

Problems with On-site Systems

On-site systems can have numerous issues including:1. Maintenance: Septic systems and composting toilets require regular maintenance and attention.2. Environmental Impact: If not handled properly, these systems can lead to contamination of nearby groundwater or soil, harming local ecosystems.3. Inefficiency: These systems might not scale well for larger communities or for households generating a lot of waste.4. Cost: On-site systems can have significant setup and maintenance costs that a centralized municipal system would distribute across many users.

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