According to recommendations by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a septic tank should be at least 50 feet away from a well that is used for drinking water.
- The distance of 200 feet shall be maintained where fractured or jointed bedrock is within 7 ft. of the surface unless the results of a sub surface soil and geological investigation conducted by a professional geologist indicates that a lesser distance would not result in contamination of adjacent wells or aquifers. – [CO]
How far should a septic tank be from a water source?
The distance between the septic tank and borewell is 15 ft and the dimension of the septic tank is 11X6X7 ft.
How close to a lake can you put a septic system?
However, the average distance that local ordinances mandate is 50 feet from springs, lakes, or water streams and 100 feet from any public water supply. To be safe, Mitch Turner from Septic Masters LLC recommends 100 feet of clearance for lake properties. Be sure to check local regulations in your lake area.
How close to a river can a septic tank be?
Septic tank regulations Septic tanks are built underground and release wastewater slowly into the surrounding environment. For this reason, they must be a set distance away from a home. In addition, they must be built at least 50 metres away from water sources.
What should be the distance between septic tank and soak pit?
The ideal distance between them should be 30 m i.e. 100 ft. If you provide septic tank very near to the borewell, the aquifer i.e. ground water is likely to get contaminated by the waste water from the soak pit.
How close to a septic tank can I build a deck?
It is usually not a good idea to build a deck near or on top of a septic tank. Most zoning ordinances will require that you maintain at least a 5′ setback from an underground septic system.
How far is distribution box from septic tank?
The D-box is normally not very deep, often between 6″ and two feet to the top of the box. You may also see a pattern of parallel depressions, typically about 5 feet apart, that mark the individual drainfield leach lines. The D-box will at or near end of the drainfield area that is closest to the septic tank.
What can you put on top of a septic field?
Put plastic sheets, bark, gravel or other fill over the drainfield. Reshape or fill the ground surface over the drainfield and reserve area. However, just adding topsoil is generally OK if it isn’t more than a couple of inches. Make ponds on or near the septic system and the reserve area.
Can you have a septic tank without a leach field?
The waste from most septic tanks flows to a soakaway system or a drainage field. If your septic tank doesn’t have a drainage field or soakaway system, the waste water will instead flow through a sealed pipe and empty straight into a ditch or a local water course.
How far should a pool be from a leach field?
Installing an inground pool has greater restrictions and will probably need to be installed at least 15 to 25 feet away from the septic tank or leach lines, depending on your county’s code requirements.
How close can you build next to a drain field?
– A full foundation must be 10 feet from the septic tank and 20 feet from the leaching area. – A slab foundation such as a garage must be 10 feet from the septic tank and 10 feet from the leaching area. – Concrete columns for a deck must be 5 feet from the leaching area and not disturb the septic system.
Does heavy rain affect septic tank?
It is common to have a septic back up after or even during a heavy rain. Significant rainfall can quickly flood the ground around the soil absorption area (drainfield) leaving it saturated, making it impossible for water to flow out of your septic system.
Are septic tanks still legal?
Septic Tanks Explained… Septic tanks cannot discharge to surface water drains, rivers, canals, ditches, streams or any other type of waterway. you are required to upgrade or replace your septic tank treatment system to a full sewage treatment plant by 2020, or when you sell a property, if it’s prior to this date.
What should be the size of septic tank?
Length of septic tank (L) should be taken as 9feet 9 inches or 9.75 feet. Breadth of septic tank (B) should be taken as 6 feet 3 inches or 6.25 feet. The standard height (D) of septic tank should be taken as 5 feet 9 inches or 5.75 feet.
Can a soak pit get full?
Last year after nearly 1.5 years of usage, the soak pit installed by the builder become obsolete and permanently failed to diffuse sewage water to the underground. As a result, the waste water gets accumulated and overflowing into the septic tank and the septic tanks gets filled once in 3 – 4 days.
Can we have septic tank in front of house?
Avoid making a septic tank in front of the main entrance. Avoid constructing a bedroom as per Vastu directly above a septic tank, even if they are on the higher floors. There should also be no pooja room or kitchen above the septic tank. Ensure that the septic tank does not touch the boundary wall of the plot.
Septic Systems and Drinking Water
| 1. Bathrooms and Kitchens | Water from toilets, sinks, showers, and other appliances is called wastewater and can be harmful to human health. Wastewater contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and nutrients that could make you sick if it comes in contact with your drinking water well. Make sure the wastewater is properly treated by your septic system and that your drinking water well is located at the appropriate distance (set back) from your and your neighbor’s system. Avoid flushing other chemicals or medications down the drain or toilet since they could also contaminate your drinking water well. | |
| 2. Septic Tank | Wastewater generated in your home exits through a drainage pipe and into a septic tank. The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container that holds wastewater for separation and treatment. The solids settle to the bottom (sludge) and fats, oil and grease float to the top (scum). Microorganisms act to break down the sludge and destroy some of the contaminants in the wastewater. Your septic tank should be serviced and pumped on a regular basis to make sure it’s working properly. | Learn more about how your septic system works. |
| 3. Drainfield | The drainfield is a shallow, covered trench made in the soil in your yard. Partially treated wastewater from the septic tank flows out through the drainfield, filters down through the soil and enters the groundwater. If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid or clogged with solids, it will flood and cause sewage to surface in your yard or back up into your home. | |
| 4. Wastewater Treatment in Soil | Filtering wastewater through the soil removes most bacteria and viruses (also known as pathogens) and some nutrients. While soil can treat many contaminants, it cannot remove all of them (e.g., medicines, some cleaning products, other potentially harmful chemicals). If untreated wastewater surfaces in the yard, wastewater may contaminate your drinking water through an unsecured well cap or cracks in the well casing. It’s important to avoid flushing medication and chemicals into your wastewater since it could contaminate your drinking water. | |
| 5. Water Table | The water table is found where you first hit water if you dig a hole into the ground. | |
| 6. Groundwater | The water below the water table is called groundwater. Groundwater flowing underneath a drainfield captures any remaining contaminants released from the septic system. A drinking water well is at greater risk of becoming contaminated if it is in the path of groundwater flow beneath a septic system. | |
| 7. Drinking Water Well | A drinking water well is drilled or dug into the groundwater so water can be pumped to the surface. Deep wells located farther away from a septic system and not in the path of the groundwater flow from the septic system are least likely to be contaminated. Drinking water wells should be regularly tested to ensure your home’s water is safe to drink. | Learn about private water wells. |
| 8. Setback Distance | Most states or local governments require a specific horizontal distance (or setback) between a septic system and a drinking water well. If the soil where you live is sandy, or porous, you may want to place your well farther away than the minimum required distance. Contamination is less likely the farther apart a well is from a septic system. | Consult your local health department about required setback distances in your area. |
| 9. Could my well be affected? | Your septic system could contaminate your drinking water well or a nearby well under certain conditions. Remember to test the drinking water from your well regularly and take corrective action as needed.The contamination risk to your well is LOWER: |
- The greater the distance between the well and the septic system, the better. the deeper the well is dug, and whether it is in bedrock or below a designated layer of silt or clay, the greater the risk
- Or When your septic system is pumped and repaired on a regular basis, you may expect the following:
The following factors increase the danger of pollution to your well:
- The well is at a shallow depth and in permeable soil
- It is downgradient of the septic system (i.e., groundwater flows from the septic system towards the well)
- There are many homes on septic systems near the well
- Or the well and/or septic system have been poorly constructed or maintained (i.e., contaminants can enter a cracked drinking well casing from groundwater or surface water).
| Learn other ways to keep your private well safe from possible sources of contamination. |
How Your Septic System Can Impact Nearby Water Sources
If the well is at a shallow depth and in permeable soil; if the well is downgradient of the septic system (i.e., if groundwater flows from the septic system towards the well); if there are many homes on septic systems near the well; or if there is poor construction or maintenance of the well and/or septic system (i.e., contaminants can enter a cracked drinking well casing from ground or surface water);
What is the recommended distance between a private water well and a septic tank?
| What should not be flushed through a septic system? |
- Grease, oils, or fats from cooking
- Pesticides
- Paints and paint thinners
- Solvents
- Disinfectants and other household chemicals
Septic Systems and High Water Tables — Water Quality
Septic systems and high water tables are two issues that need to be addressed. Authored by Tom Scherer, Irrigation and Water Resources Specialist, and Home Septic Systems. The North Dakota State University Extension Service Local ground water levels have been elevated as a result of above-average rainfall last autumn, which has resulted in many residential septic systems being waterlogged or temporarily flooding. This causes drains in the house to flow slowly and toilets not to flush correctly.
- One of the most important parts of a septic system is the tank, which collects and biologically breaks down solid waste; the other is the drainfield, which serves to offer extra biological treatment while also infiltrating wastewater into the earth.
- Any circumstance that blocks or slows the passage of water through the septic system has the potential to produce complications.
- This will result in the tank being overflowing and filling with groundwater rather than waste water from the home.
- It is at this point that the waste water from the house is unable to pass freely through the septic system.
- Because of the high water table circumstances that might arise, you may need to treat your septic tank as a holding tank and have it professionally cleaned and pumped on a regular basis.
- A tank that has had more than half its contents removed may attempt to float out of the earth, resulting in damage to the tank’s inlet and outlet pipes.
- Raw sewage on the ground (or in the snow) can be a health danger since it can be trampled by children and dogs, and it can also flow into a watercourse, causing contamination.
Some tips to assist your septic system in dealing with a high water table are as follows: 1.Reduce the amount of water used in the residence.
Water that is introduced to the septic system at the rate of one drop every 15 seconds might build up to a significant amount of extra water.
Avoid draining water from a basement sump pump into the septic system.
It is not permissible to allow water to drain into the drainfield area from roof gutters or the sump pump.
Laundry services are available at laundromats.
Only run the dishwasher when it is completely full.
Always keep in mind that the drainfield was created to infiltrate the quantity of water that would ordinarily be released from the home.
If your domestic plumbing does not function properly after the water table has dropped, it is possible that the drainfield or septic tank has been damaged.
As a result of the shifting, the input and outflow pipes from the septic tank may get partially clogged.
In addition, particles from the tank might clog the inlet and outflow pipes, causing them to get clogged. Request that a qualified and licensed septic tank pumper or septic system installation inspect and evaluate the problem.
Can My Septic System Contaminate My Well Water?
In addition to being responsible for protecting the safety of the groundwater and drinking water on your property as a homeowner or company owner who depends on a septic system for waste disposal, A good example of how to accomplish this is through regular repair of your septic system. Toilets, sinks, showers, and washing machines all generate wastewater, which drains into a septic tank that is subterranean, watertight, and contains a live filter. Solids sink to the bottom of the tank (sludge), whilst fats, oils, and grease float to the top of the tank.
Porous pipelines buried in soil, gravel, and sand transport the effluent to a leach field where it may be treated (drainfield).
Groundwater flowing beneath a drain field should be able to collect any impurities that have remained.
First and foremost, you must understand how your septic system and water supply interact with one another in order to protect your valuable drinking-water supply from getting polluted with potentially deadly germs.
How Does a Septic System and Groundwater Supply Interact?
Several homes that use a septic system rather than city sewer also rely on well water that comes from a source on or near your property. Water from an underground aquifer is pumped into your home, and your septic system deals with the waste water created by toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and other appliances, as well as from other sources. We generate items that seep into the soil and eventually make their way into the water that is stored there. These products are often gasoline, oil, road salt, and chemicals.
The polluted water then goes back to the surface water sources, where it finally reaches locations where humans, plants, and animals eat it, resulting in disease and broad harm to the environment.
Septic Systems and Drinking Water
Septic systems clean wastewater for a large number of homeowners, many of whom also obtain their drinking water from wells on their properties. The presence of pollutants in drinking water can occur if a septic system is not functioning correctly or is positioned too close to a drinking water well. Learn where your septic system is, how to run it, and how to keep it in good working order to protect adjacent wells.
Septic Systems and Surface Water
For the safe and effective treatment of their wastewater, many homeowners rely on septic tanks and systems. A septic system is used to cleanse household wastewater before it is allowed to flow into the soil. Recycled water from a septic system can aid in the replenishment of groundwater supplies; but, if the system is not functioning correctly, it can contaminate neighboring waterbodies with contaminants.
Learn how nutrients and pathogens from your septic system may affect streams, lakes, and other waterbodies in the vicinity of your house.
When Can Contamination Occur?
For the safe and effective treatment of their wastewater, many homeowners rely on septic systems. A septic system is used to cleanse household wastewater before it is allowed to seep into the ground and become contaminated. Groundwater supplies can be replenished by recycled water from a septic system; but, if the system is not functioning correctly, it might pollute surrounding waterbodies. Learn how nutrients and pathogens from your septic system may affect streams, lakes, and other waterbodies in the vicinity of your property.
How Can I Prevent Contamination of Well Water?
1. Contact your state or local department of health to find out how far apart your well and septic system should be placed from one another. A greater amount of space will be useful. A deeper well is also less likely to be contaminated by water that has passed through your septic system, thus digging a deeper well is recommended.2. Taking Care of Your Septic SystemSeptic systems normally require pumping once every 3-5 years, depending on the tank capacity and the quantity of home usage. Leaving a full tank unattended can result in backflow into your house as well as potentially harmful drainage into nearby water sources from your tank or drain field.3.
If you suspect a problem, test the water more often since water quality can fluctuate rapidly.4.
Septic tanks are responsible for holding wastewater in a safe manner for extended periods of time.
When it comes to septic tank problems, the last thing you want is to have to deal with harmful germs from backflow, or tainted drinking water from an inadequately designed septic tank system.
Protect your septic system from damagePreventable septic tank difficulties, such as preventing foreign and hard items from entering your drains from within your home and safeguarding the building above your septic tank and drain field, can assist you in avoiding a groundwater contamination disaster.6 Because of all the chemicals that are seeping and leaking into our groundwater supply, experts are warning us about the hazards of groundwater contamination.7 Health ConsequencesGroundwater contamination has a number of negative health consequences, and because it quickly enters the food chain, they are among the most serious.
Poisoning (both in animals and humans), diarrhea, and hepatitis are some of the dangers and harms that might occur.
Economic ConsequencesWhen groundwater is polluted, the issues escalate in a cascade fashion, resulting in a negative impact on the economy.
Lastly, but certainly not least, groundwater pollution has had a negative impact on the ecosystem, which has suffered significantly as a result.
Toxic water existing in ecosystems may have disastrous consequences, including the extinction of whole habitats. Besides that, nutrient contamination has the potential to have catastrophic impacts throughout the entire environmental cycle.
Summary
Septic tanks are mostly self-sufficient, but if your septic system is neglected or damaged, it can result in devastating pollution of groundwater if it is not properly serviced. Pumping and maintenance should be scheduled on a regular basis to guarantee that your septic tank continues to operate at peak performance for many years to come. We at West Coast Sanitation understand that you are busy and do not have time to deal with septic issues. If you believe that your system has reached its maximum capacity, please contact us immediately to discuss your options.
Setback Distance From Septic to Drinking Water Well – Drinking Water and Human Health
To treat and dispose of wastewater, or sewage, many rural people install on-site wastewater treatment systems (also known as individual septic systems) on their property. Among the impurities found in residential wastewater include disease-causing bacteria, contagious viruses, common household chemicals, and excess nutrients. An on-site wastewater treatment system that is correctly planned, implemented, and maintained will limit the likelihood of these pollutants entering the drinking water supply.
- A septic tank and soil absorption system is a wastewater treatment technology that is allowed in a number of jurisdictions.
- It may be permissible to use alternative technologies as well.
- When it comes to protecting a private drinking water supply from pollution, while minimal setbacks are important, higher separation lengths are frequently preferable in many cases.
- The minimum setback distances in Nebraska will be used as an example.
- A residential lagoon must be at least 100 feet away from a private drinking water well in order to be allowed to operate.
- It is always a good idea to double-check local requirements for minimum setback lengths in your area.ResourcesThe U.S.
- Septic (Onsite) Systems are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Is Septic Waste Affecting Drinking Water From Shallow Domestic Wells Along the Platte River in Eastern Nebraska?
Is drinking water from shallow domestic wells along the Platte River in eastern Nebraska being contaminated by septic waste?
Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, Lower Platte North Natural Resources District, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, and the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance collaborated on the development of this document.
Fact Sheet 072-03
1The United States Geological Survey is located at 8987 Yellow Brick Road in Baltimore, Maryland 21237. Second, contact the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance in Lincoln, Nebraska (phone: (402) 685-1300). Three hundred and sixty-sixth U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Building, Centennial Mall North, Room 406, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. 4The United States Geological Survey is located at 4821 Quail Crest Place in Lawrence, Kansas 66049. 5The United States Geological Survey is located at Building 15, McKelvey Building, Menlo Park, California 94025.
Significant Findings
Analyzing water samples for the presence of septic system-derived chemicals allowed researchers to determine if the quality of drinking water from shallow household wells was compromised by seepage from septic systems. In order to demonstrate the effects of septic systems on water from domestic wells, several tracers were used. These included bacteria, virus indicators, dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen species, nitrogen and boron isotopes, and organic compounds such as prescription and nonprescription medications.
Introduction
According to Tuthill and others (1998), more than 100 million people in the United States rely on ground water as their primary source of drinking water. Additionally, approximately one-third of the rural and waterfront population (25 to 30 percent of the households) in the United States relies on septic systems to dispose of wastewater (Robertson and others, 1991; McAvoy and others, 1994; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000). A septic tank’s primary function is to remove particles from sewage through the use of settling chambers (fig.
Water and contaminants can be transported relatively easily and quickly in sand and gravel aquifers because of their large pore sizes, which allows for the concentration of dissolved constituents from septic systems to occur in the shallow part of the aquifer and affect the quality of drinking water withdrawn from domestic wells.
- In a few instances, drinking-water supplies are provided by sand-point and cased wells that are within 15 feet of septic systems.
- In order to detect the presence of water and components from septic systems, water samples were tested for evidence of particular compounds that indicate their existence.
- Schematic representation of a typical septic system.
- The study area is defined as the 100-year flood plain plus a 1-mile buffer on both banks of the Platte River (fig.
- The depth of the water table in the study region is typically less than 10 feet in most places.
- A little amount of silt and clay can also be found at depths of less than 100 feet.
- Approximately 26 household wells were studied, including sand-point (no casing) and cased (with casing) wells, and the results were analyzed (see fig.
- Wells that were less than 120 feet deep and within 250 feet of a septic tank were selected for sampling within the research area, and samples were taken only if permission from the well owners could be secured from the well owners.
- When detecting if drinking water from household wells has been contaminated by septic system water and components, these and other tracers can be beneficial.
The Nebraska Department of Health, the United States Geological Survey’s National Water Quality Laboratory, and numerous USGS research facilities assessed the samples. Figure 3.Drawings of a sand-point well and a cased well, both of which are similar to those that are often used in the study region.
What We Found Out
When shallow wells are erected near a septic field, the water table is shallow, and the saturated media primarily consists of sand and gravel, the study demonstrates that they can be damaged by septic waste, regardless of whether they are sand-point wells or cased wells According to the study results, bacteria and nitrate concentrations may not always be the most reliable indications of septic-system pollution of drinking water, and that other signs may be more beneficial in some situations.
Bacteria and Viruses
No bacteria were found, which is unusual because bacteria are usually used as markers of fecal contamination. Because there were no detections, it is possible that the time necessary for water to travel from the drain field to the well was sufficient to allow bacteria to die or adsorb to sediment due to the presence of iron or ammonium in the well water (Gerba and Bitton, 1984). In two out of the 19 samples tested, indicator viruses (male-specific coliphages) were found. This water sample included male-specific coliphages, which suggests that fecal contamination was present in the water.
Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Boron Isotopes
Figure 4 illustrates how nitrogen species can shift from one molecule to another as a result of biological processes occurring during infiltration and mobility within the sediment. Water samples from four of the 26 wells exceeded the maximum contaminant level set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency of 10 milligrams per liter of nitrate as nitrogen (NO 3-N) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000). (table 1). Table 1: Statistical information on chosen variables of interest in a generalized manner
| Constituent (unit of measure) | MRL | Number of samples | Minimum | Mean | Median | Maximum |
| Well depth (ft) | – | 26 | 15 | 34 | 29 | 100 |
| Distance of well to laterals of septic drain field (ft) | – | 26 | 25 | 85 | 65 | 250 |
| Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) | 0.05 | 25 | .06 | 1.12 | .17 | 12.0 |
| pH (standard units) | .20 | 26 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.8 |
| Specific conductance (µS/cm) | 26 | 285 | 550 | 570 | 710 | |
| Organic carbon, dissolved(mg/L) | .20 | 14 | .5 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 4.3 |
| Ammonia as nitrogen (mg/L) | .04 | 19 | .04 | .40 | .17 | 1.39 |
| Nitrate as nitrogen (mg/L) | .05 | 26 | .05 | 4.39 | .05 | 38.7 |
| Nitrite as nitrogen (mg/L) | .006 | 19 | .006 | .004 | .006 | .09 |
Nitrification occurs when there is an abundance of oxygen in the ground water, causing ammonia to convert into nitrate over short distances. Denitrification can occur in the lack of oxygen in ground water, resulting in the transformation of nitrate into nitrogen gas (fig. 4). The presence of ammonia in water from 12 of 19 wells may suggest that the distances between the septic tank and the home well were short enough that ammonia did not have the chance to be changed into nitrate or nitrogen gas in these instances.
- The absence of nitrate and the presence of nitrogen gas in water from one of three wells are consistent with full conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas by denitrification, according to the findings.
- The kind of well, the depth of the well, and the distance between the well and the laterals of a septic system all appear to be connected to ammonia concentrations.
- 5).
- 87.) Figure 5.
- Typically, wastewater-affected water has an isotopic value of boron of +5 per mil or less, indicating that it has been exposed to boron (Vengosh and others, 1994).
Figure 5.Ammonia concentration as a function of the distance between the well and the laterals of the septic system
Organic Compounds
It is possible to detect wastewater pollution in well water by the use of prescription and nonprescription medications. These organic chemicals, on the other hand, can either be biodegraded or adsorbed into the aquifer medium. At amounts as low as 0.13 micrograms per liter, eight nonprescription medications were found in water samples taken from 12 of 19 household wells, according to the study. There are no Maximum Contaminant Levels for drinking water for these substances that have been determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- It was not determined if the source was the owner’s own septic field or a neighbor’s septic field during this investigation.
- Some of these discoveries were made in developments near sandpit lakes or in small towns.
- Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and an erythromycin degradation product were discovered, as well as other antibiotics.
- ciprofloxacin was found in negligible amounts, but an erythromycin breakdown product was found at concentrations as high as 0.75 micrograms per liter.
What the Results Mean
It is possible to detect wastewater pollution in well water by looking for prescription and nonprescription medications. Although biodegradable, organic chemicals such as these can be absorbed into aquifer media and then removed from the environment. At amounts as low as 0.13 micrograms per liter, eight nonprescription medications were found in water samples from 12 of 19 household wells. With regard to these substances, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has not defined any Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for drinking water.
Whether the source is the owner’s own septic field or a neighbor’s septic field could not be determined during this investigation.
A number of these discoveries were made in developments around sandpit lakes or in tiny towns and villages.
Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and an erythromycin degradation product were discovered, as well as a number of other antibiotics.
ciprofloxacin was found in tiny amounts, whereas an erythromycin breakdown product was found at a concentration of 0.75 microgram per liter.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to the well owners for their participation in the experiment and for granting permission to sample their private wells. As well, we would like to express our gratitude to the Nebraska Department of Health for their assistance, the constructive comments of numerous other Nebraska state and local agencies, and the contributions of Matt Landon, John Karl Böhlke, Michael Doughten, Steven Zaugg, and Jeffrey Cahill from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
References
Groundwater pollution microbiology, edited by C.P. Gerba and Gabriel Bitton (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1984). Microbial pollutants—their survival and transport pattern to groundwater is chapter 65 in Groundwater pollution microbiology edited by C.P. Gerba and Gabriel Bitton (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1984). Soil fertility and fertilizers—an introduction to nutrient management: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 499 pages, by Havlin, J.L., Tisdale, S.L., Nelson, W.L., and Beaton, J.D., 1999; Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
- McAvoy, C.E.
- Moore, and R.A.
- 13, no.
- 213–221 in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in 1994.
- 1991, Groundwater pollution from two small septic systems on sand aquifers (Robertson et al., 1991).
- 29, issue 1, p.
- Robertson et al., 1991, Groundwater contamination from two small septic systems on sand aquifers.
- 29, issue 1, p.
- Environmental Health, April 1998, p.
- Tuthill MS, Meikle DB, Alavanja MCR (1998) Coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination: Environmental Health, April 1998, p.
EPA, 2000, Current drinking water standards—national primary and secondary drinking water regulations: Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, accessed on December 27, 2000, at URL:Vengosh, A., Heumann, K.G., Juraske, S., and Kasher, R., 1994, Boron isotope application for tracing sources of contamination in groundwater: Environmental Science and Technology, vol.
1968–1974.
For further information contact:
United States Geological Survey Federal Building, Room 406100 Centennial Mall NorthLincoln, NE 68508(402) 437–5082 USGS Nebraska District Home Page: Accessibility of the document: Adobe Systems Incorporated gives information on how PDFs may be used by those who are visually challenged. This article contains resources to assist in making PDF files more accessible. These utilities convert Adobe PDF documents into HTML or ASCII text, which may subsequently be read by a variety of standard screenreading applications that synthesis text into audible voice and convert it back to PDF.
As an added bonus, an accessible version of Acrobat Reader 6.0, which includes support for screen readers, is available for download. Adobe Access, which includes these capabilities as well as the accessible reader, is a free download from Adobe.
Stanford scientists confirm that polluted groundwater flows from coastal septic systems to the sea
Researchers at Stanford University have traced a plume of contaminated groundwater from a septic system to one of California’s most popular recreational beaches, according to the university. The findings might be a significant step forward in the improvement of coastal wastewater management in the United States. Daniel Strain is the author of this piece. The image is courtesy of Nick de Sieyes. Geophysical contractors work on the installation of monitoring wells in Stinson Beach, California, using a drill rig.
Despite this, only a few scientific investigations have been conducted to show a direct relationship between septic systems and coastal pollution.
According to the researchers, these findings might represent a significant step forward in the improvement of wastewater management in coastal areas throughout the United States and Canada.
“We hope that our work will raise awareness of the importance of groundwater as a source of pollution, and that coastal communities would include groundwater as a source of pollution when planning conservation efforts.” ” Using data from a big sewage system at Stinson Beach, a popular swimming and surfing destination approximately 20 miles north of San Francisco that is operated by the National Park Service, Boehm and her Stanford colleagues have been investigating groundwater flow since 2008.
The Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University has provided funding for the research through an Environmental Venture Projects award.
Efforts in these towns to make the expensive move from water-based plumbing to sewer-based plumbing have met with opposition.
Groundwater pollution
Toilet and sink wastewater is channeled into an underground tank, where it passes through porous pipes into a leach field, where the sand filtering of bacteria and other pathogens is carried out. Microbes in the dirt decompose organic and inorganic pollutants, including nitrogen, into simpler compounds. The image is courtesy of Nick de Sieyes. The installation of a data recorder into a monitoring well at Stinson Beach was completed by graduate student Nick de Sieyes. “Wastewater treatment in typical septic systems tends to be ineffective for some pollutants,” said Nick de Sieyes, a graduate student in engineering who is working with Boehm.
Stinson Beach is home to a large septic system that collects waste water from nearby homes and public toilets.
There are many hundred yards between the septic system and the ocean, thus the wells were erected in parallel rows on the beach dividing the two systems.
Researchers were able to collect groundwater samples and measure the level of pollution moving from the septic system via the beach and out to sea thanks to this network of wells.
Mixed results
In one regard, the results were positive, according to de Sieyes, but not in another. The results of the tests indicated low quantities of fecal indicator bacteria — germs that are employed by health officials to analyze water quality in order to determine whether or not to close the beach. During the investigation, “the septic system looked to be treating fecal indicator bacteria to a reasonably high degree, indicating that there was little risk of triggering a water-quality alert in the surf zone,” he explained.
Excess nitrogen, according to research, can lead to dangerous blooms of phytoplankton and other algae in coastal waterways, which deplete the water’s oxygen supply.
Furthermore, in subsequent laboratory investigations, it was discovered that the groundwater near Stinson Beach was an excellent diet for algae.
Installing a water monitoring equipment at Stinson Beach is Nick de Sieyes’s latest project.
Fixing the plumbing
Many California cities have shifted from septic tanks to conventional sewer systems as a more environmentally friendly method of processing wastewater. However, septic-to-sewer conversions are expensive and discourage expansion, according to Boehm. De Sieyes went on to say that wastewater treatment plants are also energy hogs. The fact that septic systems rely on naturally occurring bacteria in the earth to accomplish the cleaning means they are significantly more energy efficient, according to Mr.
Septic system technology, however, has not advanced significantly since the 1950s, according to Boehm, so new systems may need to be built that treat wastewater at a higher level before it is released to a leach field.
The study team has presented its results to the National Park Service and at public forums, and it has collaborated extensively with the Stinson Beach County Water District on its findings and recommendations.
According to him, “the local water department and the entire community should be applauded for confronting the problem squarely in the face.” According to Boehm, “Our findings will give vital insight into the fate and movement of toxins from septic systems throughout the California coastal and worldwide.” In order to advise regulators in determining whether coastal locations are suited for septic systems, it will be necessary to predict where, when, and what amount of environmental contamination might be expected.
” Dean Sivas, a law professor at Stanford, and Woods Institute Senior Fellows Scott Fendorf, a professor of environmental Earth system science, and Rosemary Knight, a professor of geophysics, are among the Stanford collaborators on the Environmental Venture Projects grant.
The Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University is where Daniel Strain is working as a science writing intern.
Media Contact
Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment can be reached at (650) 723-9296 or [email protected].
Septic System Information and Care
When municipal sewer service is not available, a septic system that has been properly constructed and maintained is an excellent option for treating wastewater and protecting groundwater quality. A typical septic system is comprised of two key components: the septic tank and the drainfield (or leach field). Waste from toilets, sinks, washing machines, and showers is channeled into a septic tank, which is a holding tank that is typically constructed of pre-cast concrete or fiberglass and is proportioned according to the projected wastewater flow from a given-sized house or commercial establishment.
- In the first stage of wastewater treatment, anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can survive in an oxygen-free environment) break down solids into liquids and generate gas that is vented through the building’s plumbing vent stack.
- The lack of oxygen inside the septic tank also has the added benefit of deactivating some of the disease bacteria that are prevalent in sewage.
- Because it allows aerobic (oxygen-using) bacteria to continue deactivating the disease germs that remain in the wastewater, the drainfield serves as a secondary treatment facility for sewage.
- Evaporation of water also occurs through the layer of soil that surrounds the drainfield.
- That way, enough permeable or unsaturated soil is available to filter the wastewater before the remainder of it gets into the groundwater table and underlying aquifer.
- In certain instances, modern wastewater treatment systems that “aerate,” or add oxygen to the wastewater, may be necessary to treat the effluent.
Septic System Care
Don’t flush cigarette butts, tampons, condoms, or any other indigestible things down the toilet or down the sink drain. Consequently, the exit filter or drainfield will become clogged. Never throw grease down the drain since grease cannot be digested by the septic system and will cause it to become clogged! rather than dumping it in the garbage, pour it into an empty container or bottle and throw it away. Make sure you don’t use excessive amounts of bleach or other cleaning agents in your septic tank since doing so will interfere with the bacterial operation inside the tank.
- Instead of doing numerous loads of laundry back-to-back, stretch your wash loads out over the course of the week to reduce the amount of water that the septic system has to treat (a normal wash load consumes between 60 and 90 gallons each load!).
- Roots from trees and plants will grow into the drainlines and cause them to get obstructed.
- Driving over your drainfield can cause the pipes to become crushed or the dirt surrounding them to become compacted, and driving over your septic tank can cause the lid to fracture or even fall apart!
- Consider the installation of water-saving showerheads, toilets, and other water-saving appliances in your home.
- Septic tanks should be pumped out every four to five years, according to the Florida Department of Health, in order to prevent the buildup of sludge in the tank over time.
- Stoppages and overcrowded drainfields are caused by leaking toilet flapper valves, which can allow hundreds of thousands of gallons of waste water to enter your septic system each day.
- In addition to providing you with many useful suggestions and information, our Environmental Health Professionals can also assist you extend the life of your existing septic system.
If you would like more information on the operation of traditional or sophisticated wastewater treatment systems, or if you have any questions about maintaining your septic system, please call us at (386) 758-1058.
The Ins and Outs of Septic Systems in Pennsylvania
Septic systems on private land are used by approximately 26% of Pennsylvania houses for the treatment of domestic sewage. The majority of these residences also have their own private well for drinking water. If you have a septic system, be sure to operate it properly! If you understand how your system operates and how to maintain it, you will be able to do the following:
- Safeguard your drinking water supply and your health
- Maintain the longevity of your system—and prevent spending thousands of dollars for a new system
- Protect the value of your home
- And contribute to the protection of Pennsylvania’s groundwater, streams, rivers, and lakes
- And
Because of Pennsylvania’s geology, soils, land development patterns, and outdated septic systems, there is a danger that poor septic systems may contaminate our groundwater and surface waters—our streams, rivers, and lakes—as well as our groundwater and surface waters Surface waters that have been polluted with viruses and bacteria from sewage pose a greater risk of swimmers being ill with eye and ear infections, acute gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and other infectious disorders.
It is possible that groundwater contamination will poison your own and others’ drinking water supplies, resulting in the transmission of illness to humans and animals.
In 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection stated that septic system failure was responsible for 202 impaired stream miles and 3,192 damaged lake acres in the state.
Who Has Oversight of Your Septic System?
In Pennsylvania, local governments (for example, boroughs and townships) are responsible for ensuring that private septic systems with a capacity of 10,000 gallons or less comply with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations. In the event that you have any queries regarding an existing septic system on your land, or about the construction of a new system on your property, you should contact your local government office first. Many towns have a Sewage Enforcement Officer who ensures that all septic systems are correctly sited, permitted, and inspected throughout their installation to verify that they follow all regulations.
Soil Is Your Best Friend: How Your Septic System Operates
Individuals with private septic systems of 10,000 gallons or less are responsible for ensuring that they comply with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations in Pennsylvania. The first port of call should always be your local government agency if you have any inquiries regarding an existing septic system or about installing a new system on your property. Local Sewage Enforcement Officers are employed by many communities, and they are responsible for ensuring that all septic systems are properly sited, permitted, and installed according to regulations.
Septic system maintenance is required by law in some towns, and other municipalities establish a sewage management program to ensure that property owners carry out the necessary maintenance.
Keep Things Moving Underground
It is believed that the typical lifespan of a septic system is between 15 and 40 years, although it may live much longer if it is properly maintained. Maintaining your septic system is similar to changing the oil in your automobile. It is a low-cost investment compared to the high cost of constructing a new system, which may cost up to $15,000 and more. Don’t overburden the commode with your thoughts when you’re at the sink. Take into consideration what you flush down the toilet and down the sink.
It is best to avoid utilizing common household objects that might clog your system or kill the bacteria underground that are necessary for wastewater treatment.
- D diapers, baby wipes (including those labeled as “flushable”), cat litter, cigarettes, coffee grounds, fats and grease, solids (including feminine hygiene items), and prophylactic devices are all examples of “system cloggers.” “TreatmentKillers” include household chemicals, gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, paint, and excessive concentrations of anti-bacterial soaps and detergents, among other things.
Don’t put too much pressure on your drain. The less water that you use, the less work your septic system needs to do to keep up with you. Use water-based appliances in small batches, install high-efficiency plumbing fittings, and address any leaks that may exist in your house. Protect your playing field. Keep anything that weighs more than your lawnmower away from your drainage field. Rain and surface water should be diverted away from it. Root clogging in the drainfield might cause the system to fail, therefore avoid planting trees or shrubs in close proximity to the drainfield.
It should be safeguarded and regularly inspected.
According to Pennsylvania laws, this should be done whenever the tank is more than one-third full of solids or scum.
Inspections and pumps may be required under the terms of your local sewage management program, which may be more strict.
It is important to be aware of the following warning signals of a failing septic system:
- Backing up or bubbling of wastewater into residential drains
- There is an unpleasant smell, or there is some black sludge surrounding the septic tank or drainfield. In the vicinity of your drainfield, you may notice bright green vegetation or spongy conditions.
If your sewage system is not operating properly, contact your local Sewage Enforcement Officer right away. It is important to respond quickly since the less pollution that occurs, as well as the lower the expense of repair work, the better. Your septic system will serve your house and contribute to the protection of Pennsylvania’s waterways for many years to come if it is operated and maintained properly. Do your part and learn about septic systems!
