Protection of the Population and Resources

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 systems, and is not unique to septic tanks.

The septic tanks that are used in more rural (and some suburban) areas of the United States are very popular with a lot of residents, because it is not necessary to belong to a city sewer system and pay the fees that come along with that. 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 far enough away to reduce any odor that may come from it.

For those who use outhouses and related types of waste disposal, the use of "chemical toilets" can make things more hygienic. These chemicals provide better hygiene because they break up waste and dissolve it. That means less chance of it contaminating the area of earth where it is being buried. It also allows the outhouse to remain in the same place for a much longer period of time, because the hole that is dug for the waste disposal does not reach its capacity as quickly. This can reduce the amount of sewage that works its way into the soil, and make the use of the outhouse more hygienic and convenient for everyone. This works well for countries that do not have large water supplies, too, because outhouses and chemicals to dissolve waste do not need any water in order to be effective. Where there is already a water shortage, the water is needed for drinking and watering crops to produce food. Its best usage is not for the disposal of waste.