Development of Alternative Onsite Treatment Systems [On-site treatment systems for domestic wastewater: A field comparison of alternative technologies] (1995-1997)

Abstract

Approximately 500,000 Minnesota residences depend on individual or small community on-site wastewater treatment systems and 55-70% of them are either not in compliance with State Rules or are failing hydraulically to the surface. This is a direct human health threat from diseases, causes groundwater, stream and lake water quality degradation, and is a major impediment to the environmental and economic sustainability of the State’s water resources. The MTI projects over the period 1995-1999 keyed the development of an extremely successful state-wide partnership between the University (NRRI, UMD and UM-St. Paul), government resource & regulatory agencies (county, region, state and federal), and the private sector (engineering and consulting firms, contractors, vendors) to establish year-round, long-term performance, design criteria, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of alternative technologies for removing pathogens & nutrients from domestic wastewater. The program incorporates existing and newly created technology transfer and outreach/extension programs to efficiently transfer our findings to the private sector, to private citizens, to public planners and to policy makers to expedite potential changes in state or local rules. New business opportunities for new or existing companies have already occurred as a result of this project (>50 industry partners) and the total Match from 1995- 1999 was estimated to be $1,335,280 compared to MTI funding of $189,581 over the same period. Besides the business opportunities related to this project, effective alternative wastewater treatment systems will contribute to resolving some of our rural wastewater problems (e.g. affordable sewage systems for resorts and other commercial establishments throughout rural Minnesota) including the environmentally and politically sensitive northshore of Lake Superior, in addition to numerous other smaller, but sensitive lakes, and in geologically sensitive areas.