| Popis: |
Despite widespread use of onsite sanitation, little is known about the efficacy of these technologies in reducing pathogen hazards. This work aimed to understand the performance of septic tanks in reducing hazards posed by human excreta. A literature review was conducted to examine how septic tanks vary globally and how these variations may influence tanks’ performance. This review demonstrated gaps in knowledge regarding pathogen reduction achieved by septic tanks. A case study was conducted in Tamil Nadu, India, to characterize the fecal sludge containment systems in use. The case study found that systems locally regarded as septic tanks did not meet design criteria typically associated with septic tanks. Additionally, the tanks did not discharge to a drainfield, but to an open drain, which presents the potential for unsafe returns of excreta to the environment. A more complete dataset will be necessary to construct a statistically robust model of pathogen flows. |
