Some research and development work has taken place, over many years, on individual on-site treatment and disposal systems as well as non-conventional systems. Most recent work, however, has only begun to become familiar to consultants and public officials in the wastewater management field. How truly sound is the septic disposal system? What about communal sewage treatment? What alternatives and problems are encountered there? This article addresses some of these questions. Also, problem conditions which must be considered in selecting sewerage alternatives, advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of on-site and community alternatives; and a procedure for screening and analyzing costs of alternatives for individual homes.