Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System Reliability Analysis

In the case of the decentralized wastewater sector, very little research has been done to establish the long-term performance of onsite or cluster systems, or the effect that various management approaches may have on that performance. These approaches could include, for example, high quality design and equipment requirements; preventive maintenance, repair, or replacement; residuals management needs; inspections; remote monitoring; education and training of installers, operators, inspectors and maintenance specialists; certification and licensing for all practitioners; and homeowner education. With greater understanding of reliability analysis and life-cycle costing, the potential exists for substantial improvement in the performance and cost-effectiveness of the decentralized wastewater sector.