Efficiency of Indonesian Degradation Products in Treating Septic Tank Faecal Sludge

Abstract

Challenges related to desludging septic tanks often stem from the ‘willingness to pay’ and the community’s awareness of sanitation regulations. Moreover, these issues can exacerbate another critical problem: the potential undetected leakage of septic tanks, posing a risk of environmental contamination in the surrounding areas. Indonesia boasts various degradation products that could offer potential solutions to mitigate these concerns. This study examined both liquid and powder-based degradation products, encompassing a range of prices from the most expensive to the cheapest available in the market. Results revealed that within 7 days, Control, Liq-A, Liq-B, Pow-A, and Pow-B degraded 36%, 87%, -5%, 30%, and 69% of MLSS (mg/L), respectively. Additionally, SV30 (mL/L) showed a reduction of 17%, 25%, -4%, 6%, and 7% for Control, Liq-A, Liq-B, Pow-A, and Pow-B. It’s noteworthy that their claim of degrading 100% of septic tank faecal sludge within or under 7 days may require a longer duration for complete degradation.