Projects per year
Personal profile
Professional Information
Sara Heger is a researcher and instructor at the University of Minnesota in the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program in the Water Resources Center and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department. For over 20 years, she has been conducting research and providing education and technical assistance to homeowners, small communities, onsite professionals, and local units of government regarding decentralized onsite wastewater treatment. Heger coordinates the research program at the U of M focusing on issues related to decentralized wastewater, chlorides, and milk house process water. She has presented in over 30 different states and provinces in North America regarding the science of wastewater treatment including design, installation, and management. Heger is the president of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, serves on the NSF International Committee on Wastewater Treatment Systems and chairs Minnesota’s SSTS Advisory Committee. She has a BS in Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering and a MS and PhD in Water Resource Science.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research Interest Keywords
- decentralized wastewater
- septic system
- reuse
- chloride
- milk house wastewater
- wastewater treatments
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Evaluating Site and Conditions at Safety Rest Area for Risk Management
Heger, S. F. (PI) & Wheeler, D. B. (Co-Principal Investigator)
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
8/28/25 → 7/31/28
Project: Research project
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On-site Wastewater Treatment System Fine Textured Soil Evaluation, System Design, Education, and Maintenance Education Program
Wheeler, D. B. (PI), Heger, S. F. (Co-Principal Investigator), Feser, S. E. (Other Role), Gustafson, D. M. (Other Role) & Otterness, P. D. (Other Role)
STONE ENVIRONMENTAL, VERMONT DEPT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
3/1/25 → 11/30/27
Project: Research project
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Type 5 Operator Certification and Training Development
Heger, S. F. (PI)
MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY
8/3/22 → 6/30/24
Project: Research project
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Evaluating Treatment and Options for Wastewater Treatment at Rest Areas and Truck Stations
Heger, S. F. (PI) & Wheeler, D. B. (CoI)
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
7/12/22 → 6/30/25
Project: Research project
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Well water sampling at homeowner classes
Heger, S. F. (PI)
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
10/3/19 → 6/30/21
Project: Research project
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Emerging investigator series: are we undervaluing septage? Rethinking septage management for nutrient recovery and environmental protection
Orner, K. D., Rowles, L. S., Heger, S. & Howard, B., May 23 2025, In: Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology. 11, 7, p. 1621-1628 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Examining Chloride in an Agricultural Watershed Using a Chloride Balance Model
Overbo, A., Heger, S. & Gulliver, J. S., May 2025, In: Environmental and Engineering Geoscience. 31, 2, p. 101-117 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN IN MINNESOTA SUBSURFACE SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Heger, S. F., Boor, E. S., Distel, J., Wheeler, D. B., Larson, S. & Reider, N., 2024, In: Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 40, 1, p. 79-93 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Evaluation of chloride contributions from major point and nonpoint sources in a northern U.S. state
Overbo, A., Heger, S. & Gulliver, J., Apr 10 2021, In: Science of the Total Environment. 764, 144179.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
31 Scopus citations -
Aerobic and media filter treatment systems for milk house wastewater on small dairy operations
Heger, S. F., Schmidt, D. R. & Janni, K. A., 2010, In: Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 26, 2, p. 319-327 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations
Press/Media
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Teaching homeowners septic ‘secrets’ to protect water
5/10/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment or Interview
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No toilet paper? Don’t flush anything else
3/24/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment or Interview
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Minnesota pollution regulators target salt-thirsty water softeners
2/24/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment or Interview