Education

2/07 – 8/15University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

Ph.D. in Water Resource Science

Emphasis: Treatment of High Strength Wastewater from Milk House Wastewater

7/98 – 4/01University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

M. S. in Water Resource Science

Emphasis: Recirculating Sand Filters for Onsite Wastewater Treatment

9/94 - 6/98University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

B. S. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Emphasis: Environment

Certifications: MPCA Advanced Designer, Advanced Inspector and Service Provider
Employment History

1999– PresentUniversity of Minnesota. Research Engineer and Adjunct Assistant Professor.

Water Resource Center and Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering.

  • Principle Investigator on LCCMR grant evaluating impacts of chloride from water conditioning and the recommended best management practices to reduce this impact.
  • Principle Investigator on NIFA Community Septic System Owner’s Guide project.
  • Principle Investigator on MN Department of Transportation evaluation of 52 rest stop and truck garage septic systems.
  • Project Investigator on LCCMR grant on septic tanks for evaluation of nutrient recuperation, bioenergy generation and environmental protection by the implementation of a bio-electrochemical system.
  • Oversee graduate student work.
  • Developing septic system and milkhouse wastewater estimators for BWSR under a LCCMR grant.
  • Lead author on current OSTP professional manual update.
  • Publish/report on Alternative Wastewater Treatment for ISTS including sand and recirculating sand filters, peat filters and constructed wetlands for LCMR Project:On-Site Sewage Treatment Alternatives: Performance, Outreach & Demonstration
  • Provide technical assistance to county employees, designers, installers, inspectors and maintainers of onsite systems.
  • Present at many local, state and national conferences regarding onsite sewage treatment.
  • Instruct at approximately 20 Onsite Sewage Treatment professional workshops per year
  • Troubleshooting potential and existing onsite systems offering expert options to designers and county officials.
  • Coordinate educational activities and serve on the board of both the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association and the National Onsite Wastewater Association.
  • Serve as the chair the Minnesota State Advisory Committee on septic systems.
  • Serve on the NSF International Wastewater Committee.
  • Serve on the MPCA Technical Evaluation Panel.

1996 - 1999Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Water Quality Division, St. Paul, MN. Individual Sewage Treatment Unit, St. Paul, MN.Technical Assistant.

  • Developed education material on Onsite technology.
  • Provided technical and licensing assistance to contractor.
  • Provided assistance to local units of government and homeowners
  • Processed license applications.
  • Assisted in training program in coordination with the U of MN.

Grants

  • LCCMR Project - Understanding Impacts of Salt Usage on Minnesota Lakes, Rivers, and Groundwater, 2016 - 2019
  • LCCMR Project - Septic Tank Evaluation: Greenhouse Gas Collection and Nutrient Removal, 2014 - 2017
  • MnDOT Rest Stop Septic System Evaluation Grant, 2013-2019
  • MPCA Online Training Evaluation and Advanced Inspector Educational Assistance Grant, 2014-2015
  • USDA NIFA Community Septic System Owner’s Guide Grant, 2013-2016
  • Waterloo Phosphorus Removal Study, 2013-2015
  • LCCMR BWSR Septic System and Milkhouse Wastewater Estimator Development, 2012-2014
  • Chisago County Adult Care Facility Evaluation, 2013
  • Laboratory Development of High Strength Wastewater, 2012-2013
  • USEPA and Texas A&M Installation Training Manual Development Grant, 2007 – 2009
  • Colorado School of Mines Residential Water Use Survey Grant, 2007-2008
  • Large Septic Tank Evaluation Grant, 2006-2008
  • On-Site Sewage Treatment Alternatives: Performance, Outreach & Demonstration 1995-2002
  • 319 Milkhouse Waste Treatment Project: Milkhouse Wastewater Treatment Research and Demonstration, 2001-2007
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Grant to Update Professional Training Manual, 2005-2008
  • Infiltrator Field Evaluation Gift, 2005-2006

Professional Honors and Awards

  • 2003, 2006, 2010 Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association Outstanding Service Award
  • 2006 and 2007 Meritorious Service Award from the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association for role as chairperson of the education and training committee.

Professional Organizations

  • Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
  • Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association
  • National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association

Publications

Peer Reviewed

  1. Heger, S.F., D.R. Schmidt and K.A. Janni. 2010. Aerobic and Media Filter Treatment Systems for Milk House Wastewater on Small Dairy Operations. Applied Engineering in Agr., 26(2): 319‐327.
  2. Janni, K. A., S. H. Christopherson (Heger) and D. R. Schmidt. 2009. Milkhouse Wastewater Flows and Characteristics for Small Dairy Operations. Applied Engineering in Agr., 25(3): 417‐423.
  3. Christopherson (Heger), S., Wheeler, D., Wittwer, J and T. Haeg. 2008. Field Evaluation of Rock versus Chamber Trench Systems. J. Hydrol. Eng., 13(6): 671-680.

Other Publications

1.Heger, S. F., D. Wheeler, D. Gustafson and M. Szmorlo. 2016. Septic System Evaluation at MnDOT Rest Stops, Truck Stations and Weigh Scales. Center for Transportation Studies. Report no. CTS 15-11B. Minneapolis, MN.

2.Heger, Sara. F. 2015. Evaluation of Four Milk House Wastewater Treatment Systems in Minnesota. University of Minnesota, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 3728228.

3.Heger, Sara. 2015. Community Septic Systems Owner’s Guide. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Virginia Beach, VA.

  1. Wheeler, D. and S. Heger. 2015. Risk Assessment of Rest Stops in Minnesota. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference Proceedings, Virginia Beach, VA.
  2. Szmurlo, M., S. Heger, D. Wheeler, and D. Gustafson. 2014. Online Training Opportunities for Septic Professionals in Minnesota. In proceeding of NOWRA 23rd Annual Conference. Alexandria, VA.
  3. Waak, M. and S. Heger. 2014. Adult Care Facility Septic System Evaluation. In proceeding of NOWRA 23rd Annual Conference. Alexandria, VA.
  4. Heger, S. 2014. Milk house Improvement Estimator Users Guide. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.
  5. Heger, S. 2013. Septic System Improvement Estimator Users Guide. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.
  6. Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. 2011. Manual for Septic System Professionals in Minnesota. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.
  7. CIDWT, S. HegerChristopherson, N. Deal, D. Kalen, B. Lesikar, D. Lindbo, G. Loomis and R. Melton. 2009. Installation of Wastewater Treatment Systems. Midwest Plan Service. Iowa State University of Science and Technology.
  8. Christopherson (Heger), S. and D. Gustafson. 2006. Preliminary Evaluation of Cluster Septic Tank Performance. In Proceedings of the 2006 National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference, Denver, CO.
  9. Christopherson (Heger), S. and J. Anderson. 2004. Twenty Years of Successful Onsite Wastewater Management – The Otter Tail, Minnesota Water Management District. In Proceedings of the 2004 National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
  10. Christopherson (Heger), Sara, D. Schmidt, and K. Janni. 2004. Evaluation of Aerobic Treatment Units in Treating High Strength Waste from Dairy Milk Houses. Pp. 172 – 177. In proceedings of theTenth National Symposium on Individual and Small Community Sewage Systems, (Sacramento, California USA), ed. Kyle R. Mankin.
  11. Christopherson (Heger), S., David Schmidt and Kevin Janni. 2003. Evaluation and Demonstration of Treatment Options for Dairy Parlor and Milk House Wastewater. Annual ASAE Proceedings, Las Vegas, NE. Amer. Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan. 49085-9659 USA.
  12. Gustafson, David, J. L. Anderson and Sara HegerChristopherson. 2001. Innovative Fact Sheet Series: Drip Distribution, Aerobic Treatment Units, Constructed Wetlands, Recirculating Media Filters, Single Pass Sand Filters and Peat Filters. University of Minnesota. St. Paul, MN.
  13. Henneck, J., R. Axler, B. McCarthy, S. Monson Geerts, S. HegerChristopherson, J. Anderson and J. Crosby. 2001. Onsite-treatment of septic tank effluent in Minnesota using SSF constructed wetlands: Performance, costs and maintenance. In proceedings of Ninth National Symposium on Individual and Small Community Sewage Systems, Fort Worth, TX. Amer. Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan. 49085-9659 USA.
  14. Christopherson (Heger), Sara, D. M. Gustafson, and J. Anderson. 2001. Evaluation of Recirculating Sand Filters in a Northern Climate. In proceedings of the Ninth National Symposium on Individual and Small Community Sewage Systems, Fort Worth, TX. Amer. Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan. 49085-9659 USA.
  15. Christopherson (Heger), Sara. 2001. Evaluation of Recirculating Sand Filter Performance in a Northern Climate M.S. Thesis. Water Resource Science Program. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.