Abstract:
Roughly ¼ of U.S. residents (80 million people) lack access to sanitary sewers and are required to treat their wastewater through a permitted onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS). The vast majority use conventional septic systems with subsurface infiltration, which work well under most conditions. However, certain geologic conditions (e.g., impermeable soil, high water table) can preclude use of septic systems, requiring investment in expensive advanced OWTS. The confluence of lack of sewer, unsuitable geology, and poverty can lead households to have no feasible option for treating wastewater. In many such communities households discharge raw sewage onto the ground through what are commonly called “straight pipes.” Here, we present the first effort to synthesize available evidence documenting the scope of straight pipe use in the U.S., including estimates of close to 50% straight pipe use in some counties. Despite reports that straight pipes are widespread and troubling preliminary evidence of adverse health effects, there has been no national effort to estimate the use or impacts of straight pipes. There are various disincentives that discourage the reporting of straight pipes by both residents and government actors. We propose ways to improve quantification of straight pipes and increase knowledge of their adverse effects. We identify the characteristics of areas with large proportions of straight pipes and describe the role of new and pending government programs in encouraging reporting and providing solutions.
Roughly ¼ of U.S. residents (80 million people) lack access to sanitary sewers and are required to treat their wastewater through a permitted onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS). The vast majority use conventional septic systems with subsurface infiltration, which work well under most conditions. However, certain geologic conditions (e.g., impermeable soil, high water table) can preclude use of septic systems, requiring investment in expensive advanced OWTS. The confluence of lack of sewer, unsuitable geology, and poverty can lead households to have no feasible option for treating wastewater. In many such communities households discharge raw sewage onto the ground through what are commonly called “straight pipes.” Here, we present the first effort to synthesize available evidence documenting the scope of straight pipe use in the U.S., including estimates of close to 50% straight pipe use in some counties. Despite reports that straight pipes are widespread and troubling preliminary evidence of adverse health effects, there has been no national effort to estimate the use or impacts of straight pipes. There are various disincentives that discourage the reporting of straight pipes by both residents and government actors. We propose ways to improve quantification of straight pipes and increase knowledge of their adverse effects. We identify the characteristics of areas with large proportions of straight pipes and describe the role of new and pending government programs in encouraging reporting and providing solutions.
In this work:
Jillian Maxcy-BrownUpmanu Lall |
Joe BrownKevin D. White |
Leigh Anne Krometis |
Mark a. elliott |
tags: |
bibtex: |
Fecal Pathogen Exposure Pathways, Failing Septic Systems, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Clean Water Act, Decentralized Wastewater Treatment, Nonpoint Source Pollution
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@article{seyedpour2020toward,
title={Toward Sustainable Tackling of Biofouling Implications and Improved Performance of TFC FO Membranes Modified by Ag-MOFs Nanorods}, author={Seyedpour, S Fatemeh and Dadashi Firouzjaei, Mostafa and Rahimpour, Ahmad and Zolghadr, Ehsan and Arabi Shamsabadi, Ahmad and Das, Parnab and Akbari Afkhami, Farhad and Sadrzadeh, Mohtada and Tiraferri, Alberto and Elliott, Mark A}, journal={ACS Applied Materials \& Interfaces}, year={2020}, publisher={ACS Publications} } |