With increasing regulation in many states, pumpers’ options for septage disposal are on the decline. It used to be if you had a farmer friend, you could just land-apply and be done with it. But outbreaks of E. coli and other bacterial infestations have brought greater public awareness to the dangers of surface application. Similar restrictions are occurring with permits for subsurface injection, irrigation and landfilling. For the average pumper, that leaves public or private treatment plant disposal among the dwindling disposal options. The bad news is that the law of supply and demand is driving tipping fees up, and
