Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2004UT44B

Alternative Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems for Utah Conditions

Institute: Utah
Year Established: 2004 Start Date: 2004-03-01 End Date: 2006-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $77,858 Total Non-Federal Funds: $164,641

Principal Investigators: Judith Sims

Project Summary: Increasing development of rural areas in Utah is resulting in demands for more options for treatment and disposal of wastewater, especially in areas not suitable for the use of the conventional septic tank drain field system. Many of these alternative options are more complex treatment and disposal systems that require increased expertise in site evaluation, design, installation, management, operation, and maintenance. Also small communities that are facing growth pressures that impact water supply resources may be interested in decentralized wastewater treatment technologies that provide for beneficial reuse of the wastewater. In this project, we will survey, review, and evaluate existing information on various wastewater technologies that would be protective of public health and the environment under Utah climatic, geological, and regulatory conditions, while at the same time addressing the pressures of population growth. Based on the information collected, we will develop guidance materials for state and local decision-makers on decentralized treatment technologies and appropriate management strategies for those technologies. Specific tasks include: 1) Survey and collect existing information on alternative decentralized on-site and wastewater reuse treatment technologies. 2) Evaluate information with regards to applicability of technologies to Utahs climatic, geological, and regulatory conditions consider life cycle costs, treatment efficiencies, management requirements, reliability and failure rates, and potential for beneficial reuse of wastewater. 3) Develop guidance materials for state and local decision-makers concerning wastewater treatment technologies and management programs that will be protective of public health and the environment.