1. Introduction
Bangladesh, a densely populated middle-income nation in the Asia-Pacific region, faces a pressing sanitation crisis due to widespread poverty [
1,
2,
3,
4,
5]. Despite efforts, the country fell short of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, with 40% of the population still lacking access to adequate sanitation as of 2015 [
6,
7,
8,
9]. To address this issue, septic tank systems have been implemented for the effective treatment of human waste [
10,
11,
12]. Septic tanks serve as affordable anaerobic reactors for wastewater treatment. A standard septic tank system comprises two main components: the septic tank and a network of field lines that are placed within an absorption field [
13,
14]. It's worth noting that temperature serves as a crucial environmental factor that significantly impacts the functioning of septic tank-soil absorption systems [
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20]. The surge in urbanization and heightened water usage in Bangladesh has given rise to a proliferation of waterborne sanitation systems, yet the management of residual waste often remains inadequately addressed in infrastructure projects [
21,
22]. The uncontrolled discharge of wastewater and fecal sludge poses significant environmental and public health challenges in urban and suburban areas [
23,
24,
25,
26,
27]. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of maintaining effective septic tank wastewater treatment systems to prevent the potential spread of the virus through inadequate sanitation practices [
28,
29]. Many of Bangladesh's cities and towns are situated near swamps and lakes, which local residents often use for informal aquaculture. Regrettably, these water bodies are frequently contaminated with fecal matter, compromising water quality and negatively impacting the livelihoods of vulnerable communities [
30,
31,
32,
33]. Moreover, pollution from domestic sources further deteriorates water quality in surface water bodies and groundwater aquifers, posing threats to both natural ecosystems and public health [
22,
23].
In any given community, both liquid and solid waste materials, along with air emissions, are produced [
25,
34,
35,
36]. Liquid waste, commonly referred to as wastewater, constitutes the water supply used within the community for various purposes. Any water quality adversely affected by human activities is classified as wastewater [
37,
38,
39]. In terms of its sources, wastewater can be described as a combination of liquid or water-borne waste originating from households, institutions, commercial and industrial establishments, and may also include groundwater, surface water, and stormwater [
40,
41,
42,
43,
44,
45,
46,
47]. Solid waste recycling practices contribute to a reduction in the amount of non-biodegradable waste entering septic tanks, prolonging their effectiveness, and promoting more sustainable wastewater treatment [
48]. In some innovative septic tank wastewater treatment systems, solid waste is efficiently processed through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, offering both a sustainable source of energy and an eco-friendly solution for waste management [
35,
49,
50,
51,
52]. Essentially, wastewater comprises 99.9% water and 0.1% solids [
18,
53,
54,
55]. Efficient management of wastewater, or the lack thereof, exerts a direct impact on the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems, thereby disrupting the essential systems that support life [
38,
56,
57,
58,
59]. This disruption affects a wide range of sectors, including urban development, food production, and industry. Therefore, it is imperative to incorporate wastewater management as a fundamental component of an integrated, holistic, ecosystem-based management system that spans all three dimensions of sustainable development (social, economic, and environmental) [
60,
61,
62,
63,
64,
65,
66]. This approach should extend beyond geographical boundaries and encompass both freshwater and marine environments. In regions with well-designed rainwater harvesting systems, the collected rainwater can be utilized to supplement septic tank wastewater treatment processes, reducing the overall strain on freshwater resources and enhancing the sustainability of the system [
67].
A septic tank serves the purpose of acting as a receptacle for all wastewater originating from a residential dwelling and offers a basic level of primary treatment for that wastewater [
68,
69,
70,
71,
72]. This primary treatment encompasses sedimentation, flotation, and a minor anaerobic digestion process [
73,
74]. The wastewater initially enters the first chamber of the septic tank, allowing solid particles to settle while scum floats to the surface. The settled solids undergo anaerobic digestion, which reduces their volume. The liquid component flows through a partition wall into the second chamber, where further settling occurs. The excess liquid, now in a relatively clear state, drains from the outlet into the septic drain field, which may also be referred to as a leach field, drain field, or seepage field, depending on the locality [
75,
76,
77].
To maintain the efficiency of the septic tank, periodic preventive maintenance is necessary as solids accumulate within the tank over time [
78,
79,
80,
81,
82,
83,
84,
85]. This maintenance involves regular pumping to eliminate these accumulated solids [
83,
85,
86,
87,
88,
89]. In the United States, the responsibility for maintaining septic systems lies with homeowners, as stated by the US Environmental Protection Agency [
90]. Neglecting this obligation can lead to costly repairs when solids escape from the tank, leading to blockages in the clarified liquid effluent disposal system. The World Bank emphasizes that one of the most significant challenges in the water and sanitation sector over the next two decades will be the implementation of cost-effective sewage treatment systems that allow for the selective reuse of treated effluents for agricultural and industrial purposes [
91,
92,
93,
94,
95]. Maintaining high hygienic standards in sanitation systems is crucial to prevent the spread of diseases [
21,
22]. Subsurface sewage disposal systems pose the primary risk of groundwater contamination and are most concerning in densely developed suburban areas and locations with minimal soil covering bedrock [
96,
97,
98,
99]. Proper sewage and wastewater disposal is vital to safeguard public health, prevent nuisances, and protect the environment [
100,
101]. Recognizing the interconnectedness of wastewater management and water quality with various other issues, especially in the context of the water, energy, and food nexus, is gaining importance [
102,
103]. Wastewater management is a key factor in ensuring future water security in a world where water scarcity is on the rise [
3,
104,
105,
106,
107].
The study aims to achieve the following objectives: measure the temperature variations in different chambers of the septic tank across different seasons; assess the impact of temperature on the septic tank's removal efficiency during different seasons; and compare the obtained values with the standard values using graphical representations.
3. Results and Discussions
A number of different tests were carried out in order to determine the characteristics of the wastewater that was collected from the septic tank. The outcomes of these tests are summarized in
Table 3, which can be found here. These tests examined the wastewater for a variety of different parameters.
The samples were gathered in a variety of months spread out over the course of the year. When looking at the data in the table, it is clear that the test results become increasingly variable as the temperature rises. This is something that can be observed. When compared to the third chamber, the TSS in the second chamber displays significantly higher values. The nitrate levels of four out of five samples in the second chamber were found to be higher than those in chamber 3. The recognition of the substantial reduction in nitrate levels is acknowledged.
3.1. pH
The pH of water is determined by taking the negative value of the common logarithm of the concentration of H
+ ions [
117]. The pH of natural water is 7.0. The pH scale is commonly depicted as encompassing a range from 0 to 14. The pH level typically influences the overall acidity or alkalinity of a substance [
118,
119]. The acceptable range for pH in potable water typically falls between 6.5 and 8.5. The acceptable pH range for water suitable for irrigation purposes typically falls between 6 and 9. The variability in the pH level of effluent has the potential to impact the kinetics of biological reactions and the viability of diverse microorganisms. The variation of the pH values with temperature is shown in
Figure 4. The initial pH of the wastewater prior to filtration was measured to be 7.62. The pH values observed in the study exhibited a maximum range of 7.14, 7.13, and 7.11, while the minimum range of pH was observed to be 7.06, 7.05, and 7.04.
3.2. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
The graphical representation in
Figure 4 illustrates the variation of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) with temperature. It is noteworthy that the highest DO levels were predominantly observed in the 3rd chamber, indicating a notable presence of oxygen in this particular section. However, it is worth mentioning that there was an exception, where one sample exhibited higher DO levels in the 1st chamber. The highest recorded DO value reached an impressive 4.57 mg/L, while the lowest observed DO level was 0.45 mg/L in the 3rd chamber. These DO values play a crucial role in assessing water quality as they serve as excellent indicators. It's important to note that the solubility of oxygen in wastewater is generally lower than that in clean water, making DO analysis a vital component of water pollution control and wastewater management. The significance of monitoring DO levels lies in its direct impact on aquatic ecosystems [
120]. DO is a critical factor influencing various biochemical processes and metabolic activities of microorganisms, and its effects have been well-documented. The presence of adequate DO is essential for sustaining a diverse range of aquatic life forms, and the impact of water discharge into aquatic bodies is significantly determined by the oxygen balance within the system [
121]. It's worth noting that the standard DO range typically falls between 4.5 and 8 mg/L, providing a benchmark for evaluating the water's oxygen content and, consequently, its overall health and suitability for various forms of life.
3.3. Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3-N)
In the analyzed wastewater samples, the nitrate concentration was found to be relatively low, well within the standard value of 10 mg/L. Notably, there was a consistent trend where nitrate values in the 3rd chamber were observed to be higher than those in the 2nd chamber for most of the samples. To provide a comprehensive view of the nitrate content with respect to temperature variations,
Figure 5 illustrates the relationship between nitrate levels and temperature. Intriguingly, it was observed that as the temperature increased, the values of NO
3-N exhibited an upward trend in the 2nd chamber. However, this pattern did not hold true for the 3rd chamber, where the values of NO
3-N did not show a consistent increase with rising temperatures. Additionally, it's noteworthy that NO
3-N values varied for the 3rd chamber at different temperature conditions.
The terminology "nitrate nitrogen" is used to specifically denote the nitrogen that is chemically bound within the nitrate ion. This specific nomenclature is employed to distinguish nitrate nitrogen from other forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia nitrogen or nitrite nitrogen. The analysis of nitrate nitrogen was conducted using the Hach DR2700 machine, with Nitraver 5 serving as the designated Nitrate reagent. This specialized testing equipment and reagent play a crucial role in accurately assessing nitrate nitrogen levels within the samples, providing valuable insights into the quality and composition of the wastewater under examination.
3.4. Total Suspended Solid (TSS)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is a critical water quality parameter that represents the dry weight of particles captured by a filter and is commonly used to evaluate the quality of wastewater [
122]. In typical residential septic tank effluent, one can expect to find approximately 80 mg/L of TSS, a substantial portion of which comprises slowly biodegradable particles. However, the experimental findings in this study revealed an interesting relationship between TSS and temperature. It was observed that TSS levels increased as the temperature rose, and notably, the 2nd chamber consistently contained higher TSS concentrations compared to the 3rd chamber. To provide a more comprehensive perspective on this relationship,
Figure 6 visually represents the variation of TSS in correlation with temperature. This graphical representation clearly indicates a direct connection between increasing temperature and higher TSS levels, with the 2nd chamber consistently exhibiting greater TSS values than the 3rd chamber.
It is worth noting that the study revealed some nuances in this pattern. In the 2nd chamber, TSS levels significantly increased with rising temperatures during the initial three sampling periods, only to experience a rapid decrease afterward. In contrast, the 3rd chamber exhibited more fluctuation in TSS concentrations as the temperature increased. These intriguing findings shed light on the intricate dynamics of TSS within the septic tank system and offer valuable insights into its behavior under varying temperature conditions.
3.5. Electric Conductivity (EC)
In the course of our study, we observed substantial variations in Electrical Conductivity (EC) values between the samples obtained from the 2nd chamber and the 3rd chamber of the septic tank. The EC values for the 2nd chamber were consistently higher, with measurements of 10200, 9800, 9400, 10050, and 9500 mS/cm. In stark contrast, the 3rd chamber exhibited significantly lower EC values, with measurements of 2300, 1200, 897, 1140, and 1150 mS/cm, respectively. This remarkable contrast in EC values between the two chambers is indicative of the septic tank's efficiency in the treatment process. The disparity in EC values underscores the dynamic nature of the septic tank's functionality. While the 2nd chamber seems to exhibit a higher electrical conductivity, it is vital to recognize that this may be attributed to the presence of various solutes and dissolved ions within the wastewater. As the wastewater undergoes treatment and moves through the septic tank's chambers, these solutes and ions are either transformed or removed, which could explain the noticeable drop in EC values in the 3rd chamber. These findings emphasize the capacity of the septic tank to effectively alter the composition of the wastewater as it progresses through its chambers. It also highlights the significance of EC as an indicator of the treatment efficiency, offering valuable insights into the changes that occur during the treatment process and how these changes affect the overall quality and composition of the effluent [
123]. Understanding these dynamics is pivotal in assessing the septic tank's performance and its role in ensuring the safe and responsible disposal of wastewater.
4. Conclusion
This study has yielded several significant findings in relation to the wastewater characteristics of the septic tank. These findings are summarized as follows:
The examination of pH levels revealed variations, with the maximum recorded pH values spanning 7.14, 7.13, and 7.11, while the minimum pH levels were registered at 7.06, 7.05, and 7.09 for both of the selected chambers.
In light of the results, it is evident that the 2nd chamber consistently exhibited higher Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal efficiency when compared to the 3rd chamber, particularly in response to temperature variations.
Lastly, the investigation highlighted a noteworthy trend in the organic removal efficiency of the septic tank, demonstrating a direct correlation with rising temperatures. Specifically, the organic removal efficiency showcased higher values during the summer season as opposed to the winter season. These findings collectively shed light on the dynamic nature of wastewater characteristics within septic tank systems, offering valuable insights into their behavior under varying environmental conditions.