Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

• How Sewer and Septic Systems Work
• Why are they replacing all of the toilets in my apartment?
• How Toilets Work
• How Organic Certification Works
• How Fuel Cells Work
• What's the most expensive toilet in the world?
• 8 Famous People Who Died in the Bathroom
• How does going to the bathroom in space work?

More Great Links

• National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association
• American Ground Water Trust
• Renton, Wash., Sewage Fuel Cell Demonstration Project

Sources

• Dymski, Gary. "Septic tank advice shouldn't go to waste." Newsday. February 13, 2003.
  http://www.newsday.com/features/home/nyp-hsdr-021303,0,5700301.column
• Llanos, Miguel. "Poop power? Sewage turned into electricity." MSNBC. July 19, 2004.
  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5335635
• Prax, Valerie. "Septage: What is it and where does yours go?" University of Minnesota. March 26, 2007. http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2005/septage07.html
• "A homeowner's guide to septic systems." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  http://www.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs/homeowner_guide_long.pdf
• "How a septic system works." Seattle and King County Public Health Department. December 14, 2003. http://www.metrokc.gov/Health/wastewater/owners/works.htm
• "Organic production and handling standards." USDA. April 2008. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004445&acct=nopgeninfo
• "Septage management." National Small Flows Clearinghouse. 1998. http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/WW/publications/eti/Septage_gen.pdf
• "Septic systems for waste water disposal." American Ground Water Trust. 2006.
  http://www.agwt.org/info/septicsystems.htm
• "'The Recycler,' a 'green' pump truck." New Jersey Septic Management Group. http://www.nj-septic.com/new/recycler.asp