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Removal of Organic Wastewater Contaminants in Septic Systems Using Advanced Treatment Technologies
Author(s) -
Wilcox Jeffrey D.,
Bahr Jean M.,
Hedman Curtis J.,
Hemming Jocelyn D. C.,
Barman Miel A. E.,
Bradbury Kenneth R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2007.0365
Subject(s) - effluent , septic tank , wastewater , sewage treatment , environmental science , contamination , filtration (mathematics) , environmental chemistry , waste management , environmental engineering , chemistry , ecology , biology , engineering , statistics , mathematics
The detection of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs) in ground water and surface‐water bodies has raised concerns about the possible ecological impacts of these compounds on nontarget organisms. On‐site wastewater treatment systems represent a potentially significant route of entry for organic contaminants to the environment. In this study, effluent samples were collected and analyzed from conventional septic systems and from systems using advanced treatment technologies. Six of 13 target compounds were detected in effluent from at least one septic system. Caffeine, paraxanthine, and acetaminophen were the most frequently detected compounds, and estrogenic activity was detected in 14 of 15 systems. The OWC concentrations were significantly lower in effluent after sand filtration ( p < 0.01) or aerobic treatment ( p < 0.05) as compared with effluent that had not undergone advanced treatment. In general, concentrations in conventional systems were comparable to those measured in previous studies of municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent, and concentrations in systems after advanced treatment were comparable to previously measured concentrations in WWTP effluent. These data indicate that septic systems using advanced treatment can reduce OWCs in treated effluent to similar concentrations as municipal WWTPs.