Onsite Wastewater

A Public Health Perspective on Onsite Wastewater Systems [PDF - 135 KB] – discusses public health issues such as exposure to wastewater pathogens and how system construction is influenced by rapid growth in many areas. This is one in a series of monthly Environmental Health Services Branch columns in the Journal of Environmental Health.

Biologic and Infectious Waste – This section from Emergency and Terrorism Preparedness for Environmental Health Practitioners contains general information on waste issues as well as new and emerging issues in biologic and infectious waste.

Child Cares, Septic Systems, and Public Health [DOC - 816 KB] – project designed to minimize raw sewage exposure to children enrolled in home child cares. This is one in a series of reports prepared by a graduate of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

Development of a Systematic Operations and Maintenance Program for On-Site Septic Systems in a Rural County, Washington State [DOC - 309 KB] – illustrating the need for an expanded Operations and Maintenance program and proposing a means for implementing a wastewater management plan in Grays Harbor County. This is one in a series of reports prepared by a graduate of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

Failure of Onsite Wastewater Systems: Definitions, Practices, and Public Health Protection [DOC -308 KB] – gathering information on inspections of failing systems, followup practices, failure rates, and remediation practices and planning measures to minimize the impact of failing systems. This is one in a series of reports prepared by a graduate of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

Hazard Alert: Biological Hazards in Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Plants – hazards workers may encounter during construction and maintenance of sewage and wastewater plants

Healthy Housing Reference Manual – revision provides information on the impact of housing on health and safety and includes a chapter on onsite wastewater treatment.

New Deliverables for Virginia’s Onsite Sewage and Water Supply Programs: A Roadmap for Changing Services [DOC - 733 KB] – used a business model to assure that residential and commercial buildings not served by public sewer have adequate facilities for water and sewer and to focus agency resources on direct service delivery. This is one in a series of reports prepared by a graduate of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

Our Facility: Solving Enforcement Problems for Small Wastewater Systems [DOC - 543 KB] – using the “Our Facility” concept to identify and overcome obstacles that may hinder progress of enforcement projects. This is one in a series of reports prepared by a graduate of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

South Bass Island Assessment [PDF - 1 MB] – environmental health assessment in 2004 identified potential sources of water contamination on Lake Erie's South Bass Island

Water Security – This section from Emergency and Terrorism Preparedness for Environmental Health Practitioners provides information on the protection of water supplies as well as on responding to contamination threats and incidents.

Links to information from outside CDC

CDC Looks at Links Between Wastewater and Disease [PDF - 592 KB] (Small Flows Quarterly) – article announcing the formation of the Environmental Health Services Branch

Local Board of Health Guide to On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems [PDF - 933 KB] (National Association of Local Boards of Health) – print and companion video/DVD guide designed to help local boards of health understand their roles in an effective on-site wastewater treatment program

National Small Flows Clearinghouse (National Environmental Services Center) – organization providing objective information about onsite wastewater collection and treatment program

Principles and Design of Onsite Waste Disposal With Septic Systems (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) – principles of on-site treatment, design, and siting, as well as soil basics and water conservation

Septic Systems (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) – links to information about septic systems

Treatment of Household Wastewater (National Ag Safety Database) – ideas to treat and handle wastewater when using a septic tank or similar on-site wastewater system

Wastewater Management (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) – links to information about wastewater management

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