Richard T. Wright, Dorothy Boorse, Population and Resources
Before sewer systems and water treatment plants, there were many people who were still able to live hygienically. Even today, there are a number of people whose homes are not attached to city sewer systems, and whose waste products do not make their way to a water treatment plant. These people generally have septic tanks buried in their yards, and a drain field extends from the tank, also buried in the yard. This allows the waste products to be safely and hygienically removed from the home, and these products eventually go back to the earth. This takes time, and there can be problems with the system. Tanks can crack, become too full, or the drain system can fail to drain properly. If the slope in the pipes from the sinks and other facilities to the septic system are not correct, there could also be issues with sewage backup. Of course, that type of backup could also occur with modern sewer...
Some also prefer to have a septic tank because they have grown up with one and are not comfortable with other options. Of course, there are also other choices for waste disposal and containment. In many developing countries -- and in the United States and other developed countries not that long ago -- outhouses are the waste disposal option of choice. These were still relatively hygienic, because the waste produced in them was not in the house. Even without plumbing and the ability to flush waste down the drain, there was no waste products inside the home. The outhouse is generally located far enough away from the home so as not to be a health hazard, and…
