Before choosing suitable treatment technologies two steps have to be followed: the ''source characterization'' and the ''site evaluation''.
====== Source Characterization ======
Before you can design a wastewater system, you must first accurately determine the characteristics of the wastewater. If you do not, you may undersize it, in which case it will surely fail, or if you oversize it, you will waste money. In order to get an overview of important characterization criteria, have a look at the [[Practitioner's Tool / Planning and Promotions / Source_Characterization|Source Characterization]] section.
To get started, you will need to download the "Source Characterization Tool" by clicking the link below. Follow the 8 steps below along with the tool to help you characterize your source. Within the tool, click the “Info” buttons for more information on a specific topic, or click the “Step” buttons to work your way through the tool. Here are the steps within the tool:
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" style="width: 100%"
|-
| style="width: 50%" |
*Step 1: [[Practitioner's Tool / Planning and Promotions / Step_1:_Project_Description_and_Treatment | Project Description and Treatment]]<br/>
*Step 2: [[Practitioner's Tool / Planning and Promotions / Step_2:_Determining_the_Design_Flow|Determining the Design Flow]]
*Step 8: [[Practitioner's Tool / Planning and Promotions / Step_8:_Other_Factors_to_Consider|Other Factors to Consider]]
| style="width: 50%" |
'''[http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2470 Source Characterization Tool (.xlsm, File 01)]'''
|} ====== Site Evaluation ======
Site evaluation is critical to planning your onsite wastewater treatments systems project. Without an adequate site evaluation the implemented systems are more likely to fail. Get an idea of the most important site attributes in the [[Site_Evaluation|Site Evaluation]] section.
A Site Evaluation Tool guides you through the process of evaluating the setting of your project. Download the tool linked below and follow the steps below for the information you will need as you use the tool.
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" style="width: 100%"
|-
| style="width: 50%" |
*Step 1: [[Step_1:_Site_Plan|Create a Site Plan]]
*Step 2: [[Step_2:_Soil_Depth|Soil Depth]]
*Step 6: [[Step_6:_Land_Use_of_Surrounding_Lots|Land Use of Surrounding Lots]]
| style="width: 50%" |
'''[http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2470 Site Evaluation Tool (.xlsm, File 02)]'''
|}
<br/>
