Progress 10/29/15 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The audience is septic system professionals, local units of government, the research community and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?UMN had to make a large change due to COVID 19 and first cancel many classes and then move to an online platform to training over 1,000 septic professionals in Minnesota in over 50 training events and delivered training in numerous other states with over 1,000 attendees. Staff planned and organized the educational program for 2020 annual Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association conference. In addition, staff assisted in organizing and delivering the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association virtual annual conference in 2020. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health, the UMN presented education materials to increase the knowledge regarding chemicals of emerging concern for those served and managing septic systems both in the classroom and through virtual events. During the reporting period 12 classes offered for homeowners (300 in attendance) and 6 for septic system professionals (500 in attendance). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The UMN is evaluating water tables and groundwater mounding at 25 existing systems with automated water level recorders year- round. This data is being used to evaluating what level of vertical separation to a periodically saturated condition is maintained at each of these sites; and does the groundwater below these systems mound up either during high wastewater discharge times or wet climatic periods. Chemicals of emerging concern (CEC) sampling is occurring at three highway safety rest areas and a land application site to Report Date 03/02/2021 Page 1 of 3 United States Department of Agriculture Progress Report Accession No. 1008460 Project No. MIN-28-033 Multistate No. NE1545 determine design parameters affecting treatment. Samples were collected prior to soil treatment, in the soil itself beneath the systems and in monitoring wells and evaluated for CECs. The water samples were also analyzed for general wastewater contaminants. The work will continue for 2 more years. The soil treatment areas from two highway rest area are being sampled and analyzed to determine the soil microbial populations (metagenomics) using next generation (DNA) sequencing. The goal is to compare STA microbiology, natural soil microbiology before use, after the systems has been in operation for one year with septic tank effluent, and then at year two after pretreatment is added. The UMN conducted two small research projects to evaluate the impact of excess soda and coffee being deposed of at commercial properties and the impact of RV chemicals on wastewater characteristics. The UMN evaluated the wastewater characteristics of two state parks and the performance of two advanced treatment system at one of the of the parks with one serving a shower house with high nitrogen levels while the other treats waste from RVs. The UMN tested the effluent at home with a resident undergoing in-home kidney dialysis to determine the potential impacts of this medical related waste stream.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Heger, S. and S. Larson 2019. Assessment of a Minnesota Residential Septic System Affected by Home Hemodialysis. https://septic.umn.edu/sites/septic.umn.edu/files/report_final_kidney.pdf
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Larson, S. and S. Heger. 2020. Wastewater Characteristics Analysis of Coffee and Soda Products. Water Resource Center available online at: https://septic.umn.edu/sites/septic.umn.edu/files/coffee_soda_report_final.pdf

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is citizens served by a septic system as well as local, state and national regulators and septic professionals. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Over 2,000 professionals to either gain a new license or maintain their existing one. Specifically related to septic system design 112 septic professionals were trained. The UMN trained 523 homeowners on proper maintenance and operation in 8training events. Results are also disseminated through our website (septic.umn.edu) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue research and education program.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project Objective 2 Working with MnDOT OSTP is evaluating water tables and groundwater mounding at 25 existing systems with automated water level recorders between early April through mid-November. This data is being used to evaluating what level of vertical separation to a periodically saturated condition is maintained at each of these sites, and does the groundwater below these systems mound up either during high wastewater discharge times or wet climatic periods. Chemicals of emerging concern (CEC) sampling is occurring at four safety rest areas and a land application site to determine design parameters affecting treatment. Samples were collected prior to soil treatment, in the soil itself beneath the systems and in monitoring wells and evaluated for CECs. The water samples were also analyzed for general wastewater contaminants. A year one report was prepared. The work will continue for 3 more years. The soil treatment areas (STA) from one rest areas were sampled and analyzed to determine the soil microbial populations (metagenomics) using next-generation (DNA) sequencing. The goal is to compare STA microbiology, natural soil microbiology after the system has been in operation for one year, and then at year two after pretreatment is added. High chloride levels in surface waters and groundwater are an emerging concern in Minnesota, as they can negatively impact aquatic and plant life.Work continues evaluating on a watershed scale the sources and potential reduction from different sources. Project Objective 4 UMN trained over 2,000 septic professionals in Minnesota in over 50 training events and delivered training in numerous other states with over 1,000 attendees. The staff planned and organized the educational program for the 2020 annual Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association conference. In addition, staff assisted in organizing and delivering the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association annual conference in 2019. Through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health, the UMN is developing and presenting educational materials to increase the knowledge regarding chemical of emerging concern (CEC) for those served and managing septic systems. A vast majority of these homes on a septic system use a private well for their drinking water. There is the potential for CEC from septic systems to be affecting drinking water wells. This project focuses on educating septic system owners, septic system professionals and those managing wells with a source water protection plan. During the reporting period, a factsheet was developed and 9 classes offered for homeowners (495 in attendance) and 6 for septic system professionals (523 in attendance).

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Distel, J., Heger, S., and S. Larson. 2019. Analysis of contaminants of emerging concern with On-site wastewater treatment systems  year 1. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Loveland, CO.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Heger, S., Doro, J., Rutter, M. Gustafson, D. and S. Larson. 2019. Investigating wastewater reuse at MnDOT truck stations. Minnesota Department of Transportation - MN/RC 2019-22.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Overbo, A., Heger, S., Kyser, S., Asleson, B., and J. Gulliver. 2019. Chloride contributions from water softeners and other domestic, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources to Minnesota waters. University of Minnesota.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Overbo, A., and S. Heger. 2019. Costs and benefits of household water softening: a review. University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is homeownersserved with a septic system as well as local, state and national regulators and septic professionals. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? UMN trained over 2,000 septic professionals in Minnesota in over 50 training events and delivered training in numerous other states with over 1,000 attendees. Staff planned and organized the educational program for 2017 annual Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association conference. In addition, staff assisted in organizing and delivering the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association annual conference in 2017. The H2OandM.com (developed through past NIFA grant) was used to develop customized septic system owner's guides to deal with the complexity of the 52 MnDOT systems and sites. Through work with MnDOT, researchers identified the rest areas best suited to educate the public about proper septic operation and maintenance. The OSTP team developed an education and outreach signage plan that discourages non-organic waste disposal into MNDot septic systems and educates the public about proper septic system treatment and use. Through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health, the UMN is developing and presenting educational materials to increase the knowledge regarding chemicals of emerging concern (CEC) for those served and managing septic systems. A vast majority of these homes on a septic system use a private well for their drinking water. There is the potential for CEC from septic systems to be affecting drinking water wells. This project focuses on educating septic system owners, septic system professionals and those managing wells with a source water protection plan. During the reporting period, a factsheet was developed and 8 classes offered for homeowners (235 in attendance) and 6 for septic system professionals (420 in attendance). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The UMN, in Minnesota, trained over 2,000 professionals related to this research and235 homeowners were trained on proper maintenance and operation in 6 training events. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue research and education program.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Working with MnDOT OSTP is evaluating water tables and groundwater mounding at 20 existing systems with automated water level recorders between early April through mid-November. This data is being used to evaluating what level of vertical separation to a periodically saturated condition is maintained at each of these sites; and does the groundwater below these systems mound up either during high wastewater discharge times or wet climatic periods. Chemicals of emerging concern (CEC) sampling is occurring at four safety rest areas and a land application site to determine design parameters affecting treatment. Samples were collected prior to soil treatment, in the soil itself beneath the systems and in monitoring wells and evaluated for CECs. The water samples were also analyzed for general wastewater contaminants. The soil treatment areas (STA) from one rest areas was sampled and analyzed to determine the oil microbial populations (metagenomics) using next generation (DNA) sequencing. The goal is to compare STA microbiology, natural soil microbiology after the system has been in operation for one year, and then at year two after pretreatment is added. A study was conducted to characterize water softeners in five MnDOT rest area and assess their impacts on septic system chloride levels. The objectives of this study were to compare facilities and evaluate the impacts of softener type, softener settings, softener age, and water quality on chloride levels in the septic system. Chloride levels in the rest area septic systems were found to be high, ranging from 488-1730 mg/L. Reuse of wash down water from salt truck washing is being evaluated for wastewater reuse at MnDOT facilities. This project evaluated when reuse makes sense from a regulatory, environmental, economic and management perspective at truck washing/storage facilities and safety rest areas. Sampling of various streams were collected in the winter of 2018. Recommendations where provided on the most appropriate applications for reuse and the challenges with implementation. The possibility of reusing wastewater for anti-icing and pre-wetting after removal of sediment and oil was evaluated along with options for wastewater treatment. Moving forward a pilot treatment system is under design. High chloride levels in surface waters and groundwater are an emerging concern in Minnesota, as they can negatively impact aquatic and plant life. Previous research has shown that road salt is a major source of chloride, particularly in urban areas, but chloride discharge from water softener use, another major source, has not been quantified and therefore was evaluated. A mass budget was performed for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with chloride monitoring data to estimate chloride discharged from household and commercial water softeners relative to other household, commercial, and industrial sources. At the statewide level, household and commercial water softening were estimated to contribute 65% of WWTP chloride discharge. Industries were also major sources, contributing 22% of the estimated chloride load of statewide WWTPs. Human excreta, household product use, background chloride concentrations, chlorination, and other commercial processes contributed relatively small amounts of chloride, less than 5% of the chloride load. The results of the chloride budget show that water softeners are major sources of chloride and indicate that increasing efficiency of water softener salt use could be a viable strategy to manage chloride levels in wastewater and receiving waters.

Publications

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The audience for this project is septic professionals and along with federal, state and local unit of government regulating septic systems. Private citizens with septic systems are also an audience. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the reporting time period, one student obtained their masters degree and another is working towards a PhD. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminatedthrough conference proceedings and OSTP's website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next year, the program will continue the following projects: Phase II MnDOT, MnDOT Reuse, reducing chlorides due to water softening and our new project educating on septic systems and chemicals of emerging concern. In addition, the program will continue offering over 40 workshops across Minnesota and the region.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Below is a summary of the major related activities. MnDOT Phase II During previous research with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, additional research areas arose which will be evaluated in this project. The key aspects are: Evaluating water tables and groundwater mounding at 20 existing systems with a combination of automated water level recorders and analog hand monitoring during the growing season from roughly early April through mid-November. This project evaluated the how well varying toilet papers and related products break down in a septic tank. Twelve paper product samples were subjected to anaerobic digestion to identify their anaerobic biodegradability for methane yield using a standardized test. MnDOT Reuse This project will evaluate the potential and effectiveness of wastewater reuse at MnDOT facilities. This project will evaluate when reuse makes sense from a regulatory, environmental, economic and management perspective at truck washing/storage facilities and safety rest areas. Sampling of various streams will be done to identify challenges related to various uses. Recommendations will be provided on the most appropriate applications for reuse and the challenges with implementation. The possibility of reusing wastewater for anti-icing and pre-wetting after removal of sediment and oil will be evaluated along with options for domestic wastewater treatment Optimizing Septic Tank Performance A project was completed to develop and alternative septic tank configuration developed focusing on nutrient recuperation to mitigate the environmental footprint of septic systems. The research and development activities designed, operated, and optimized lab-scale microbial electrochemical septic tank for targeted objectives of on-site wastewater treatment improvement. Ottertail Use and Pumping Evaluation The Otter Tail Water Management District (OTWMD) in Minnesota provided a unique study opportunity for the analysis of household practices and maintenance needs of septic systems. This study looked for correlations between household practices and the functioning of individual wastewater treatment systems in order to identify factors contributing to successful septic system performance. Reducing Chlorides from Water Softeners in Surface and Ground Water This project isevaluating options to reduce chloride loads from water softening. Water-softening salt is often discharged from wastewater treatment plants to surface waters and also from private septic systems directly into adjacent soils. The outcome of this project is to enhance strategies that improve water quality by providing methods to reduce the chloride load from water softening and developing tools that predict salt movement through the soil. The methods and tools developed during this project will inform state, municipal and private entities using de-icing salt, municipal wastewater treatment system operators, and thousands of rural communities and property owners with subsurface sewage treatment systems in Minnesota. OWTS Training and Outreach Education During the reporting period the UMN trained over 2,000 septic professionals (onsite wastewater system maintainers, service providers, installers, designers, and inspectors) in Minnesota in over 50 training events and also delivered training in numerous other states at the request of states, counties and professional organizations. UMN staff planned and organized the educational program for 2016 annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association. In addition, staff assist in the organization and delivery of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) annual conference in 2016. Three online courses were developed with NOWRA to provide additional opportunities for education. Also, working with MnDOT two additional educational activities are occurring: Public education display development and installation is occurring for 7 sites. H2OandM.com (developed through past NIFA grant) will be used to develop customized septic system owner's guides to provide users with fundamental information about the operation and management of various wastewater management systems. Measurable Impacts UMN provided design training at 2 design classes to over 170 septic professionals on the proper siting and design of OWTS. The UMN, in Minnesota, trained 2,100 professionals to either gain a new license or maintain their existing one. UMN - In both Minnesota and Iowa, new septic professionals have gained over 200 new certifications and/or licenses during the reporting time period. UMN - Of the 10,199 SSTS installed in 2016, 5,917 were replacement systems. Replacement systems represent existing sewage "disposal systems" that are replaced due to either failing to protect groundwater (FTPGW), or if the system is an imminent threat to public health and safety (ITPHS) as identified through inspections resulting from various local triggers such as: point-of-sale (POS), land use permits, building permits, conditional use permits, variances, and complaints. The volume of wastewater generated for these systems brought into compliance is estimated at about 405 million gallons per year. Trends observed since 2002 suggest improvements in onsite wastewater treatment. Since 2002, counties have issued 176,860 SSTS construction permits (over 90,000 of these systems were replacement systems). This means that approximately one-third (33%) of Minnesota's 541,865 septic systems are less than 15 years old. The number of estimated compliant systems has increased over the past nine years, from 334,500 systems in 2007 to 436,273 systems in 2016.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Zamalloa, C. and Heger., S. 2017. Biodegradability analysis of toilet paper under anaerobic conditions. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Dover, Delaware.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Nelson, T. and S. Heger. 2017. Impacts of water use practices in the home on septic tank pumping. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Dover, Delaware.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Nelson, Taylor. 2016. Water Use at Minnesota Rest Areas. Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy, http://hdl.handle.net/11299/185075.

Progress 10/29/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:There are several audiences for this project. Septic professionals including designers, engineers, installers, inspectors, maintainers and service providers working for both the private and public sector Elected officials with responsivities related to septic system, and Small community members and homeowners who own septic systems Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Several staff had the opportunity to attend the 2016 annual National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference in 2015. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of this project are released on the programs website at http://septic.umn.edu. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next year, the program will continue the following projects: Phase II MnDOT, septic tank optimization, Ottertail use and pumping evaluationand reducing chlorides due to water softening. In addition, the program will continue offering over 40 workshops across Minnesota and the region.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Under Items 1 and 2: MnDOT Phase I - UMN published a final report regarding the risk analysis done at MnDOT facilities. This unique study evaluated the 52 existing subsurface sewage treatment systems at safety rest areas (SRA) travel information centers (TIC), truck stations (TS) and weigh scales (WS) at MnDOT facilities across Minnesota. The goal of the assessments was to evaluate risk and provide a risk analysis ranking system. The full assessment included a preliminary review of the site, a facility assessment, effluent sampling, septic tank inspections, evaluation of advanced treatment units when present and an assessment of the soil treatment system. The information from the assessment was used to develop a risk ranking of all systems. This project and process is one that could be modified to evaluate facilities in other states or owned by other entities. MnDOT Phase II During the Phase I evaluation of the MnDOT septic system facilities numerous additional research areas arose which will be evaluated in this project. The first objective will be continuation and expansion of field-based verification of groundwater mounding to estimate the influence of larger wastewater treatment systems on groundwater systems. The second objective will continue and expand the water use study. For each of the 52 facilities an operation and maintenance manual will be created. A MnDOT septic system design manual for new projects to follow will be developed based on MnDOT and the state of Minnesota requirements. Toilet paper options for use at safety rest areas (SRA) will be evaluated. This project will also develop an educational display for each of the districts on water and wastewater treatment at SRAs. The impacts of water conditioning on six of the septic systems and the environment will be evaluated. At five other sites flammable waste traps will be tested and evaluated. Optimizing Septic Tank Performance The UM continues work to on a project to optimize septic tank performance focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and capturing nutrients. This project aims to develop next generation septic systems focusing on nutrient recuperation, bioenergy generation and environmental protection by the implementation of a bio-electrochemical system. This project proposes to plug a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) into current septic tank systems in order to improve the water quality of septic tanks effluents, to recuperate phosphorus that can be used as fertilizer, to increase the production and collection of biogas for the bioenergy application and to decrease the greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. The experimentation to date has been in the lab and will move to the field, and the results obtained will be applied to modify current design of the septic tank systems. The project will evaluate the capital and operational costs of the implementation of such a system and assess the potential benefits. The technology developed during this project could be useful to thousands of rural communities, especially those that do not have access to centralized wastewater treatment facilities. Ottertail Use and Pumping Evaluation The UM is also evaluating the maintenance records of a large sanitary district, evaluating how use in the homes impacts the need for maintenance using records of sludge and scum accumulation. The Otter Tail Water Management District in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is responsible for maintaining approximately 1,700 septic systems for residences in a 55-square mile area in northwestern Minnesota. This study looked for correlations between household practices and the function of individual wastewater treatment systems in order to identify factors contributing high septic system success rates. Homeowner surveys were coupled with septic tank inspection and monitoring records kept by the District in an attempt to identify correlations. The final report will be published in early 2017 and will provide useful insight into management and use impacts on tank pumping and longevity. Reducing Chlorides from Water Softeners in Surface and Groundwater A new grant project was initiated evaluating options to reduce chloride loads from water softening. Water-softening salt is often discharged from wastewater treatment plants to surface waters and also from private septic systems directly into adjacent soils. This project will quantify the current water softening salt loads in Minnesota, assess alternative softening materials and methods and quantify the transport of chloride from de-icing and softening through the soil. This project will enable us to minimize the long-term impacts of de-icing and softening salt on surface waters and groundwater across Minnesota. The outcome of this project is to enhance strategies that improve water quality by providing methods to reduce the chloride load from water softening and developing tools that predict salt movement through the soil. The methods and tools developed during this project will inform state, municipal and private entities using de-icing salt, municipal wastewater treatment system operators, and thousands of rural communities and property owners with subsurface sewage treatment systems in Minnesota. Project Objective 4 -Training and Outreach Education University of Minnesota - During the reporting period, the UM trained over 2,000 septic professionals (onsite wastewater system maintainers, service providers, installers, designers, and inspectors) in Minnesota in over 50 training events and also delivered training in SD, ND, IA, WI, IL, at the request of states, counties and professional organizations. UM developed and implemented new hands-on troubleshooting training focused on advanced technology, collection and cluster systems. UM staff planned and organized the educational program for a 2015 annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association. In addition, staff assisted in the organization and delivery of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association annual conference in 2015. The UM along with its partner completed work on the development of community septic system owner's guides (CSOG). This USDA grant funded project has developed a wastewater decision-making tool for consumers to help to transform rural wastewater management by developing a customizable CSOGs. The website H2OandM.com is a web-interface that allows an individual to produce an expert-driven and locally-customized manual (electronic or hard-copy) CSOG for any single family or cluster soil-based wastewater treatment system in America. This tool provides users with fundamental information about the operation and management of various wastewater management systems. A consultant, engineer, septic professional, facilitator, or educated community member can use this tool to produce a management plan for either a new or existing OWTS. The developer of any given CSOG is able to assemble a professionally designed guide by selecting situation-specific boilerplate language and graphics and inserting customized content to integrate system-specific permit and ordinance requirements. The tool is now available at H2OandM.com.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Heger, S. F., D. Wheeler, D. Gustafson and M. Szmorlo. 2016. Septic System Evaluation at MnDOT Rest Stops, Truck Stations and Weigh Scales. Center for Transportation Studies. Report no. CTS 15-11B. Minneapolis, MN.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Heger, Sara. F. 2015. Evaluation of Four Milk House Wastewater Treatment Systems in Minnesota. University of Minnesota, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 3728228.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Heger, Sara. 2015. Community Septic Systems Owners Guide. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Virginia Beach, VA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wheeler, D. and S. Heger. 2015. Risk Assessment of Rest Stops in Minnesota. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Virginia Beach, VA.