In-Home Conservation and Wastewater Management

A mathematical model has been developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of household water conservation practices as a component in municipal wastewater treatment to meet federal secondary treatment requirements. The analysis uses a net present equivalent method and considers factors such as: time-value of money, inflation, population growth rate, public acceptance of household water conservation practices, residential contribution to the treatment plant influent, and both construction and operations and maintenance costs for municipal wastewater treatment plants. A sensitivity analysis is also included. Results show that while household water conservation practices do provide a cost-effective component of municipal wastewater treatment under a wide range of reasonable conditions, the municipal construction grants program may provide a disincentive.