Integrated Risk Framework for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems |
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Authors: | Steven Carroll Ashantha Goonetilleke Evan Thomas Megan Hargreaves Ray Frost Les Dawes |
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Institution: | (1) School of Urban Development, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia;(2) Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast, QLO, 4211, Australia;(3) School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia;(4) School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia |
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Abstract: | Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are becoming increasingly important for the treatment and dispersal of effluent
in new urbanised developments that are not serviced by centralised wastewater collection and treatment systems. However, the
current standards and guidelines adopted by many local authorities for assessing suitable site and soil conditions for OWTS
are increasingly coming under scrutiny due to the public health and environmental impacts caused by poorly performing systems,
in particular septic tank-soil adsorption systems. In order to achieve sustainable onsite wastewater treatment with minimal
impacts on the environment and public health, more appropriate means of assessment are required. This paper highlights an
integrated risk based approach for assessing the inherent hazards associated with OWTS in order to manage and mitigate the
environmental and public health risks inherent with onsite wastewater treatment. In developing a sound and cohesive integrated
risk framework for OWTS, several key issues must be recognised. These include the inclusion of relevant stakeholders throughout
framework development, the integration of scientific knowledge, data and analysis with risk assessment and management ideals,
and identification of the appropriate performance goals for successful management and mitigation of associated risks. These
issues were addressed in the development of the risk framework to provide a generic approach to assessing risk from OWTS.
The utilisation of the developed risk framework for achieving more appropriate assessment and management techniques for OWTS
is presented in a case study for the Gold Coast region, Queensland State, Australia. |
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Keywords: | Integrated risk assessment Onsite wastewater treatment Water pollution Effluent irrigation Septic tanks |
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