Non-collective sanitation techniques and management - Treatment processes

Before it was considered an alternative to the collective sanitation system, non-collective sanitation, sometimes still referred to as "autonomous sanitation" or even "individual sanitation", was the general rule.

At the beginning of the 20th century, urban wastewater treatment plants were rare. What's more, domestic wastewater collection was limited to the centers of very large cities. Excreta collection and storage systems ("watertight" pits) were the rule. In the vast majority of cases, these pits were far from watertight. Sometimes, a hole was drilled at the bottom of the pit to allow the liquid part of the excreta to escape, thus reducing the frequency of emptying, which was always costly.

Because of its low population density and housing structure, France will always have a high proportion of its population connected to on-site sewage systems, whether single-family or grouped.

Ensuring the quality of sanitation practices is therefore essential.

In this article, we'll take a look at the state of the art in terms of the various techniques available, including some that can only be used with the approval of the local authorities.

Next, we'll take a look at the missions of a Service public d'assainissement non collectif (SPANC). We'll describe the various control procedures that need to be put in place for the design, construction and maintenance of ANC systems, and for the management of septage.

This article follows on from the article - L'Assainissement Non Collectif C3842v2 - which includes the articles :

• C3842v2 - Techniques and management

• C3843 - The different treatment processes

• C3844 - A SPANC's mandatory remit: Inspections