ASABE Technical Library - Abstract
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WASTEWATER CLUSTERS: THE COST BUSTERS
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Paper number 701P0104, . (doi: 10.13031/2013.15818)Authors: R. P. Rose
Keywords: cluster systems, decentralized approach, demonstration project, on-site wastewater management, septic tanks, wastewater
In 1999 the Mayor of the Village of Willard, New Mexico recognized the potential for
contamination of the Villages sole drinking water well from inadequate on-site wastewater
systems. From there began the journey that led to the first use of wastewater cluster systems for
a New Mexico municipality. This paper chronicles the process and highlights efforts in
developing community support and implementing management strategies for on-site wastewater
systems, as well as the cost savings realized by an alternative to traditional collection and
treatment systems.
This project represents a coalition of funding sources; a collaboration of State, Federal, and
Local agencies; and the cooperation of community members to protect the drinking water of the
Village. In the end, the community realized a 40% savings on the construction of their
wastewater system and is leading the way in New Mexico on managing on-site wastewater
systems. The lessons learned during this project are already being applied to other small New
Mexico communities. In a dry desert landscape where 80% of the 102 municipalities have less
that 10,000 people; municipalities much like Willard encompass most of the state.