Human waste disposal methods have minimum expected requirements that play a major role in determining which disposal method to use. The method to be used must prevent contamination of the surface or underground water from human waste. Since flies and other animals might be attracted by human waste, there is a requirement to make the excreta inaccessible. Excreta handling should be kept to a minimum where it cannot be avoidable completely. Odor and other unsightly conditions must be avoided from the septic systems. Homeowners must adopt a cheap and simple construction and operational method for waste disposal and ensure that the method will be viable for a duration of not less than five years to make it cost-effective. Currently, some neighborhoods are using municipal sewer systems while others are using septic systems to dispose of human waste ( Mansvelt, 2010) . In most scenarios, cities, towns, and suburbs rely on sewer systems serviced by the municipalities. However, since some neighborhoods are outside the areas that are serviced by these sewer systems, they use the septic system as an alternative to handle their waste. Septic systems offer several advantages which include ease of construction since their construction and maintenance can be done using materials that are locally available. They do not necessarily require electrical energy to facilitate their flow as they rely on gravity. Besides, they can withstand and hold even the biggest storms when they are professionally designed, constructed, and maintained compared to sewer systems. Sewers also help avoid the problems of flies and odors when they are properly used, and they also offer long service life. Furthermore, as people continue to be more environmentally conscious, they consider the septic system as a method that provides green and environmentally friendly human waste management options. Last, the most obvious advantage of septic systems is the freedom it offers for people to own houses and live wherever they desire where municipal sewer systems are unavailable or where costs of connections are considered high ( Kahn, 2007) . Despite the advantages that septic systems offer, they have some constraints that disadvantage homeowners. Septic systems that are properly taken care of effect the surrounding ecosystem negatively. In such scenarios, air and water pollution become a nuisance to the surroundings due to bad odors and contamination of surface and underground water consecutively and thus threatening public health. Flies and mosquitoes are likely to be attracted to such environments where they breed and spread diseases. Treatment of septic systems is only partial and does not kill all pathogens ( Kahn, 2007) . Since the septic system involves the periodical removal of sludge, they become tedious. The initial construction and maintenance can be more expensive compared to monthly fees on sewer systems that are constructed and maintained by the municipal. There are possible impacts resulting from the construction and usage of septic systems as human waste management methods. In most states, there are requirements by local health departments on how septic systems should be constructed and operated ( Kruger & Seville, 2012). The authorities under public health protection and state laws provide the guidelines on the designs of the septic systems to enable sewerage treatment and thus ensure the protection of public health from pathogens-causing diseases.
References
Kahn, L. (2007). The Septic System Owner's Manual . Bolinas, California: Shelter Publications.
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Kruger, A., & Seville, A. (2012). Green Building: Principles and Practices in Residential Construction . Cengage Learning
Mansvelt, J. (2010). Green consumerism: An A-to-Z guide . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
