Investigation of an onsite wastewater treatment system in sandy soil: site characterization and fate of anionic and nonionic surfactants.

This study reports on the fate of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), alcohol ethoxylate (AE), and alcohol ether sulfate (AES) surfactants in a home septic system near Jacksonville (FL, USA) that has been used since 1976. The drainfield at this site resides in fine sand (< 6% silt and clay) with an unsaturated zone that ranges from 0 to 1.3 m.