Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A Sustainability Analysis By: Neile Reider Man is the only creature that seems to have the time and energy to pump all his sewage out to sea, and then go swimming in it. - Miles Kington

The Golden Nugget Suistainability means to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Are decentralized systems truely suistainable?

Conventional Wisdom says... Centralized Wastewater is an expensive, urban solution Decentralized Wastewater is a cheap, “green” solution Population served: 1.8 millionPopulation served: 400

In Context... Minnesota View 105 Communities in last ten years improved wastewater stance 1,043 Communities still need wastewater service

In Context... World View 2,600,000,000 people have no access to sanitation facilities or said another way 34% of the worlds population (billion)

Methodology Central Systems  Electrical Cost data  Budgetary cost data for large municipal systems Small systems  Model systems  Survey Literature Review  Environmental Costs  Social Costs  Public Health Costs

Data Needs Need cost data from small systems  Can model, but... Need cost data from non-MetCouncil Sources  There are eight major sewer sheds

Analysis Net present value Sensitivity analysis Risk analysis Social Costs Environmental Costs Public Health Costs Are these the same for both systems?

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