The National Septage and Portable Sanitation Disposal Crisis

This white paper provides a nationwide analysis of septage and portable sanitation disposal challenges.

There is a national disposal crisis that demands our attention and collective action. In an unprecedented effort, NAWT, NOWRA, PSAI, GOWA and the Oklahoma DEQ have joined forces to conduct a comprehensive nationwide analysis of septage and portable sanitation disposal, beginning in March 2024. The findings are detailed in the following document.

Key highlights include:

• The infrastructure for managing onsite wastewater treatment systems and portable restroom waste has not kept pace with industry growth.
• Some treatment facilities restrict the daily volume of waste accepted from septage haulers — or refuse it entirely.
• Portable restroom haulers face significant challenges in locating treatment plants that accept their waste.
• Waste pumpers and haulers are traveling increasingly long distances to dispose of waste properly.
• Limited acceptance and increased disposal costs dissuade necessary service impacting system performance and negatively affecting cost of business, property values, public health, and the environment.
• While the problem is solvable, it requires immediate and coordinated action from waste haulers, portable restroom companies, supporting organizations, and the public.

While onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) and portable restrooms are increasingly used for community development, construction, events, and disaster response, in many areas the infrastructure to manage their waste has not kept pace. This growing imbalance and the associated cost increase of disposal threatens public health, the environment, and the local economy due to improper operation and maintenance of these systems. These consequences stem from the lack of available disposal options, placing undue burdens on property owners, event sponsors, and independent maintenance providers, pumpers and haulers.

Please download and review this document to better understand the disposal crisis currently affecting many regions of the country — the good, the bad and the ugly of these challenges, and a path forward.