In Shishmaref, Alaska, residents still haul their own water and manage household sewage by using five-gallon "honey buckets" to collect wastewater. Although the community is moving toward a piped water and sewer system, full design and construction are still years away.

To address this immediate public health need, this pilot project reduces community members' exposure to sewage during waste collection and disposal. Currently, residents carry honey buckets to more than 80 collection bins located throughout the village, where waste is later transported to the sewage lagoon outside of town. Harsh winter conditions often cause waste in these bins to freeze and become buried under snow, making collection difficult and increasing the likelihood of leaks. During the summer, dried sewage residue can become airborne, settling on rooftops where rainwater is collected and on drying racks used for subsistence foods.

The project replaces the 80+ neighborhood collection bins with four centralized collection units that can be emptied by a pump truck and safely transported to the sewage lagoon. Each unit macerates incoming waste and keeps it thawed, allowing for reliable year-round collection.

By reducing the number of collection points, preventing sewage from leaking or becoming airborne, and improving the safe handling of wastewater, this system significantly reduces residents' exposure to human waste while improving environmental health and overall quality of life until permanent water and sewer infrastructure is in place.