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Modeling the Fate and Transport of Household Chemicals in Septic Systems
Author(s) -
Lee Sijin,
McAvoy Drew C.,
Szydlik James,
Schnoor Jerald L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1998.tb01072.x
Subject(s) - laundry , tartrate , septic tank , environmental science , biodegradation , environmental engineering , chemistry , waste management , engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry
A mathematical model was developed for the purpose of predicting the fate and transport of down‐the‐drain household chemicals in septic systems. The model was tested with field data collected from a typical septic system located near Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Model simulations were in good agreement with field data for the laundry detergent builders tartrate monosuccinate (TMS) and tartrate dissuccinate (TDS). The model was also independently verified with phosphate data collected from the study site. A sensitivity analysis showed little change in model predictions when the distribution coefficient and biodegradation rate constants were varied by 10%. Results from this study support that this model is satisfactory as a screening level tool for predicting the fate and transport of household chemicals in septic systems.