On-Site Sewage Research Grants

The Texas On-Site Wastewater Treatment Research Council (TOWTRC) went through the Sunset Review process in 2010 and 2011. Based on the recommendation of the Sunset Advisory Commission, under House Bill 2694, the 82nd Legislature elected to abolish TOWTRC and to transfer all its administrative responsibilities, including the authority to award grants for on-site sewage research to the TCEQ. As a result of this legislation, TOWTRC will be officially abolished and cease to exist on Aug. 31, 2011.

Effective Sept. 1, 2011, the TCEQ will assume all administrative responsibilities including all rights and obligations under existing grant agreements and contracts held by TOWTRC. House Bill 2694 also requires that the TCEQ seek the advice of relevant experts when choosing research topics, awarding grants, and holding educational conferences associated with activities under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 367.

House Bill No. 1, General Appropriations Act, did not appropriate funding for the 2012-2013 biennium to conduct these functions. Therefore, the TCEQ is not able to award new grants in the next biennium. If future funding becomes available, the TCEQ will provide notice via our website.

Please check back for further information.

Research reports funded by TOWTRC are included below. Presently, there are projects still pending. When they are completed, the reports will be added.

• Evaluation of Wastewater Treatment Capabilities of Caliche-Type Soils, by Susan M. Parten, P.E. and Dr. Howard M. Liljestrand
• Comparative Study of Costs of OSSF Systems: Old Rules versus New Rules, by Guadalupe Wastewater Company
• Synoptic Literature Review of Shallow Groundwater Related to On-site Sewage Facilities, by John S. Jacob, Joe C. Yelderman, Jr., Lee Nordt, Lisa M. Zygo, Katherine S. Kier, J. Lane and Richard Weaver
• A Study of Residential Aerobic Wastewater Treatment System Chlorinators on Lake Livingston, by Trinity River Authority
• Characteristics of Soil Media Where Subsurface Drip Systems are Being Used to Distribute Residential Wastewater, by Texas Agriculture Extension Service, Texas A&M University System
• Greywater Use Rules Workshop, August 25, 2000, Final Report, by PSINet Consulting Solutions
• Evaluation of Existing Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems in the Texas Coastal Plains, by Andrew N Ernest, Ph.D., P.E., Duane Gardner, Ph.D., Krishna Pavananadan, and Alondra Barnes
• Using Waste Wood Chips to Treat Domestic Septage: Report on Research/Demonstration System Testing Results, by Community Environmental Services, Inc.
• Study of Caliche Soil as a Filter Medium for Treatment and Disposal of Wastewater, by Larry P. Wilding, Ph.D., CPAg., CPSS
• Travis County Low Pressure Dosed Design Method, by Robert L. Morriss, P.E.
• A Literature Review on the Evaluation of Design Parameters for Modern Grease Traps and High Strength Wastes, by Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D. and Rupel Johnson
• Resources to Replace On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems in Texas, by Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI)
• Caliche Soils as a Filter Medium for Treatment and Disposal of Wastewater – Final Report, by Larry P. Wilding, Ph.D., CPAg., CPSS, Charles M. Woodruff, Ph.D. and Phillip R. Owens, CPSS
• Re-Evaluating Surface Application Rates for Texas OSSF Systems, by Clifford B. Fedler and John Borrelli
• Study to Determine the Magnitude of, and Reasons for, Chronically Malfunctioning On-Site Sewage Facility Systems in Texas, by Reed, Stowe & Yanke, LLC
• Effects of Combining Absorbic and Evaporative Disposal Methods on Drainfield Sizing in Arid and Semiarid Areas, by Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE, Andrew Jackson, Ph.D., Wesley Ingram, Chang Yong Lee, David B. Thompson, Ph.D., P.E., Tony Mollhagen, Ph.D., R.H. Ramsey, Ph.D., P.E., DEE and Lloyd Urban, Ph.D., P.E.
• Pilot Study for Shallow Groundwater Maps for On-Site Evaluation, by John S. Jacob, Ricardo Lopez and Joel Nelson
• Study to Conduct Further Research Regarding the Magnitude of, and Reasons for, Chronically Malfunctioning On-Site Sewage Facility Systems in South Texas, by Reed, Stowe & Yanke, LLC
• Texas Restaurant Wastewater Analysis, by John R. Blount, P.E.
• Removal and Fate of Specific Microbial Pathogens Within On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, by Suresh D. Pillai, Ph.D. and Bruce Lesikar, Ph.D.
• Numerical Simulation of Unsaturated Flow Near a Septic System Drainfield, by Nilesh Waghdare, M.S., Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE and Andrew Jackson, Ph.D., P.E.
• Denitrification for Land Applied Treated Wastewater, by C.B. Fedler, C.J. Green, B. Mueller and P.R. Pearson
• Graywater Literature Search, by San Antonio Water System, Texas Cooperative Extension and Center for Water Research
• OSSF Training Center Performance Evaluation Study, by R.W. Beck, Inc.
• High Strength Educational Program for Designated Representatives (DRs), by Bruce J. Lesikar
• Evaluation of Drainfield Absorption and Evapotranspiration Capacity, by Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE and Andrew Jackson, Ph.D., P.E.
• Review of Systems for Restaurant Wastewater Pretreatment, by Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE
• Hydrological Attributes and Treatment Capabilities of “Caliche and Related Soils” Pertinent to On-Site Sewage Facilties, by Larry P. Wilding, Ph.D., CPAg, CPSS
• Design and Operation of Land Application from a Water, Nitrogen and Salt Balance Approach, by Clifford B. Fedler, Runbin Duan, John Borrelli and Cary Green
• Efficacy of Bacterial Reduction by Onsite Wastewater Treatments, by Stacy L.M. Pfluger, Rene Massengale and Joe C. Yelderman Jr.
• Improving Ammonia and Phosphorus removal in Subsurface Flow Wetlands, by Margaret G. Forbes, Joe C. Ye-lderman, Jr., Tina Potterton, Adam Clapp and Robert D. Doyle
• Manual for Designing Surface Application of OSSF Wastewater Effluent, by Clifford B. Fedler, John Borrelli and Runbin Duan