Research on On-Site Disposal Methods in Sweden — Past and Present

Summary

In 1977 SNV - the National Swedish Environment Protection Board decided to initiate a 5-year project with a budget of approximately US$ 250,000 each year for research on soil processes, transport and reduction in soil of pollutants in connection with controlled and uncontrolled infiltration of polluted water.

The ultimate aim of this research is:

• to get sufficient information to base new guidelines for the protection of the ground water resources in Sweden.

• to get a better understanding of the processes in the soil in connection with infiltration, in order to issue new manuals for subsurface on-site systems.

• to get better information on the effects on ground water quality caused by infiltration of urban storm water into subsurface infiltration systems.

• to get better information on leachate from municipal household solid waste deposits, including:

  • possibilities to reduce the formation of leachate,

  • possibilities to control the chemical composition of leachate,

  • possilibilites of pretreatment of leachate before infiltration.

The paper gives a background of Swedish guidelines and research on on-site infiltration systems and a presentation of the research in connection with the Swedish infiltration project. Most of the papers produced so far are written Swedish. In order to widen the information on this project and facilitate contracts, postal addresses are given in connection with the projects.

The paper also urges a systematic publication program to spread the scientific results and to apply the results to specific practical problems. This information should be addressed not only to other scientist, but to decisionmakers, creators of public opinion, consultants and contractors.