|How Septic Systems Function|Why Worry?|System Failures|What You Can Do To Prevent Failure|Other Types of Treatment Systems|Buying, Building, or Selling|Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative (KWIC)|
Historically, we simply buried or dumped our sewage into rivers and lakes, believing in natures ability to "wash away" our refuse. As we have discovered that these methods of disposal produced lasting negative effects in the environment there has been a change of emphasis from disposal to treatment of septage. Currently, nearly all residences, businesses and institutions around the Keuka Lake Watershed depend on individual, onsite septic systems to properly "cleanse" their wastewater. Only a short corridor of properties, at the end of the east branch, between the village of Penn Yan and Keuka College have access to a municipal sewage collection service. In order to address the serious potential impact of improper onsite sewage treatment, the eight municipalities that border Keuka Lake and represent nearly all of the lake's watershed have adopted a uniform wastewater treatment law to assure that septic systems are designed, built and managed in a manner that protects water quality, public health and the value of lake front properties.
Years of experience have proven that properly designed, sited, installed, and maintained septic systems have, with the exception of nutrient runoff, little adverse effect on the environment. Local regulations have been developed to ensure septic systems conform to strict standards. A reputable contractor and the Watershed Inspector together can make sure your system will be properly installed. Homeowners have a major influence on how well their septic system functions. This chapter will describe how septic systems function, the role of the Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative in septic system regulation, and how homeowners can properly maintain the function of their septic systems.
Septic systems have two major components: a septic tank and a soil absorption system. The septic tank is typically a concrete container, usually prefabricated according to a standardized design, that receives wastewater from the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Here heavy solids settle and are partially decomposed by bacteria to form sludge. Light solids and grease float to the top forming a scum layer.
The soil absorption system (drainfield or leachfield) consists of a distribution box, perforated distribution lines made of plastic, and an area of well-drained soil. Wastewater from the septic tank filters through the soil where soil particles, bacteria, and other organisms remove harmful, disease-causing microorganisms, organic matter and some nutrients. For the system to function properly, it must be carefully designed and constructed for the site's soil conditions.
The soil also needs time to filter out these harmful materials from the wastewater. Suitable soils do not include pure sand, which allows wastewater to pass through too fast, or clay, which is too dense to allow for proper wastewater percolation. State and local regulations that determine what constitutes suitable soil have been developed after careful consideration of many factors that affect a soil’s ability to adequately treat domestic wastewater. These factors specify four feet of usable soil with no bedrock, high water table or other limiting layer on slopes of less than 15%. Before a septic system is built, municipalities require a percolation, or "perc test," to determine if the soil meets these criteria. The soil is further examined using a deep hole test of 6-8 feet to determine the capacity of soil to accept wastewater.
The threat of disease is the chief concern in treating human wastewater. The epidemics that killed millions of people in the Middle Ages were caused by mixing of human waste with drinking water supplies. Domestic wastewater contains bacteria and viruses that cause dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever and many other significant diseases. To protect human health, it is important to exclude these organisms from both surface and ground water supplies used for drinking water. Fortunately, soil and soil bacteria effectively remove disease-causing microorganisms from wastewater in properly functioning septic systems. It takes time for these natural processes to work so there are regulations dictating separation distances between septic systems and water sources to prevent contamination before the wastewater is fully treated. Sewage treatment plants, in order to protect the waterbody receiving the effluent use chlorine and/or bacteria to remove pathogens.
Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater can cause both health and nuisance problems if allowed to reach surface or groundwater supplies. Nitrogen in the nitrate form poses the most significant threat. When ingested by infants, nitrate can interfere with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, causing "blue-baby" syndrome. Nitrogen carried in septic tank wastewater is usually in the form of ammonia. Ammonia is readily transformed into nitrate, which can easily become part of ground and surface water supplies.
Excess nutrients, in particular phosphorus, in surface water causes algal blooms. Throughout the bloom, algae die and decay, depleting oxygen in the water and reducing the amount available to other organisms. This process has been responsible for fish kills all over the world is one reason for the efforts to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the environment from point and nonpoint sources.
Septic systems do not last forever. The expected life is 20 to 30 years under the best conditions. Eventually, soil in the absorption field becomes clogged with organic material, making the system unusable. Symptoms of a serious problem include:
• Sewage backup in you drains or toilets
• Slowly draining sinks, bathtubs, and toilets not cured by plungers or drain cleaning products
• Surface flow of wastewater
• Lush green grass over the absorption fields, even during dry weather
• The presence of nitrates or bacteria in your drinking water well
• Excessive growth of aquatic weeds or algae in lakes or ponds adjacent to your home
• Unpleasant odors around your house
Many other factors can cause the system to fail well before the end of its "natural" lifetime. Pipes blocked by roots, soils saturated by high water tables, crushed distribution pipes, improper location, poor original design or poor installation can all lead to major problems.
By far the most common reason for early failure, however, is improper maintenance by homeowners. When a system is poorly maintained by not pumping out on a regular basis, solids build up in the septic tank, allowing solids to flow into and clog the absorption field.
What You Can Do To Prevent Failure
Maintenance and use of water conservation fixtures are the most important factors a homeowner can control to make sure a septic system will function properly over a long period of time. Too often homeowners forget what goes down the drain ultimately finds its way into the soil and then the lake.
The following maintenance practices will keep the system running smoothly:
• Know the location of all components of the septic system. Keep heavy vehicles away from the system.
• Don’t plant trees or shrubs near drainage fields since their roots can clog the pipes. Willow trees are particularly troublesome.
• Dispose of household chemicals properly. Do not pour them down the toilet or drain . Even common cleaning products like bleach and drain cleaner, if used in excess, can temporarily disrupt septic tank function.
• Distribute laundry chores throughout the week to avoid overloading the system on any given day.
• Don’t use garbage disposals. They contribute unnecessary solids and grease to the septic system.
• Conserve water whenever and wherever possible by using water conservation fixtures.
• Don’t use toilets as trash cans.
• Monitor the septic tank yearly and have a DEC licensed pumper remove sludge and scum every three to five years. This helps ensure that there is enough space in the tank for wastewater and prevents solids from escaping into the absorption system.
• Consider using the laundramat periodically to lessen the burden on your septic system.
• Be careful of commercial septic tank "cleaning" products. They may do more harm than good.
Other Types of Treatment Systems
Sometimes, a conventional leachfield cannot be constructed on the property to meet Health Department standards. For example, soils at the location of a building site may not have proper drainage for conventional systems. Inadequate separation distances or steep slopes may also restrict the site for a conventional installation. These situations present problems for the homeowner and may require the assistance of the Watershed Manager, State Health Department and/or a professional engineer. There are several alternative systems available for difficult sites.
A built-up or mound system is used where the water table is too close to the surface. The absorbtion field is built up with at least 4 ft. of usable soil between the distribution pipes and the water table. Near a lake or river it is recommended that there be at least 4 feet of soil above the 10 year flood level (717.9 ft. above mean sea level). This may require a considerable amount of time, money and trucked in topsoil.
Another alternative is a sand filter. This system uses a bed of sand to treat the effluent. Current standards do not allow discharge from these systems so an absorption system must follow the sand filter to treat the sand filter effluent. Sand filters, like all alternatives, must be designed by a qualified engineer and meet appropriate health requirements.
Aerobic waste treatment systems have recently been successfully used to replace failing systems on undersized waterfront lots. Aerobic systems use aerators to in introduce oxygen to greatly improve the quality of effluent discharged to the absorption field. Effluent from aerobic systems must be discharged to a leachfield.
Holding tanks can only be used as an absolute last resort, if no other kind of waste system can be installed for an existing residence. Holding tanks are not allowed for new constructions.
Whether you are buying, building or selling a home, it is important to consider the condition of the septic system. Replacing an old or inadequate system can be an expensive proposition. As a buyer and builder, you need to make sure you know what you are getting, and as a seller, you need to make the prospective buyers aware of what they are getting. Keeping good records of all of this information is important so, for your convenience, there is a Septic System Record Sheet. It includes a place for: a map of the location of the system; system specification such as size; maintenance records; information about the installer; and information about the septic system pumper.
For those considering purchasing a new home or selling the old one, it is a good idea to have the septic system evaluated. By clearly informing buyers before hand, a previous owner is protected from liability if the system fails. Financially strapped new homeowners avoid the surprise that a new septic system is needed. Useful information for evaluation includes: the age of the system - if properly maintained, septic systems can last 20 to 30 years; the size of the system - systems are typically designed to accommodate 150 gallons per day per bedroom, assuming two persons per bedroom; the maintenance history of the system - a properly maintained system will function better and longer; and the historical and current condition of the system - Are there wet spots? Does it have a history of flooding? What material is the septic tank made of? What is the condition of the plumbing? Most of this information is revealed during the required septic inspection described in the Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative later in this chapter.
Just as the prospective homeowner needs to be aware of current and future septic needs, builders or owners replacing a failed or inadequate system need to plan for the future. Besides proper siting, good percolation tests, permits, and having a reputable contractor to install the new system, the design of the system needs to fit the intended use. The NYS Department of Health's Public Health Law, section 75-A.6(1), revised in 1990, sets the minimum tank capacities and minimum liquid surface area requirements. For homes with 1 to 3 bedrooms the minimum septic tank capacity is 1000 gallons with a minimum liquid surface area of 27 square feet. If the home is going to have a garbage disposal or other device that generates significant waste and/or waste water, each of these units is considered another bedroom.
As with any construction, use a certified and reputable contractor. Be certain to have a written agreement with the installer that stipulates that final payment will not be made until the system has received approval from the Watershed Manager.
Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative (KWIC)
Because onsite septic systems are such a widespread practice in the Keuka Lake watershed, and because of the long recognized need to prevent untreated waste from entering the lake, all municipalities bordering the lake have formulated and adopted a uniform septic system construction and management law. Important features of the law include: a requirement that all septic systems be constructed according to specifications outlined in a construction permit; that NYS sanitary code standards be followed for replacement and repair work as well as new construction activities; that inspection of septic systems be performed by the local Watershed Inspector as part of property transfers, complaints and building construction; and that routinely scheduled inspections are required of all holding tanks, aerobic treatment systems, and all sites within 200 feet of the lake or its tributaries. These inspections are intended to assure that those systems with the greatest potential to impact the lake through failure or mismanagement are upgraded or improved as necessary, and managed in an effective manner. Oversight and policy for the program is carried out by a board of directors consisting of one elected official from the municipalities of Barrington, Jerusalem, Hammondsport, Milo, Penn Yan, Pulteney, Urbana and Wayne. Staff for the program consists of the Watershed Manager, responsible for the design and approval of septic systems, and coordination of the inspection program, and the Watershed Inspectors, responsible for the various forms of system inspection required by local law.