Questions and Answers About the Effects of Septic Systems on Water Quality in the La Pine Area, Oregon

Fact Sheet ◽  
2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Williams ◽  
David S. Morgan ◽  
Stephen R. Hinkle
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Questions And Answers

scholarly journals Regulatory and Resource Management Practices for Urban Watersheds: The Florida Experience

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 418-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard O. Carey ◽  
George J. Hochmuth ◽  
Christopher J. Martinez ◽  
Treavor H. Boyer ◽  
Vimala D. Nair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Urban Watersheds ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Quality

Urban water quality management is becoming an increasingly complex and widespread problem. The long-term viability of aquatic ecosystems draining urban watersheds can be addressed through both regulatory and nutrient and water management initiatives. This review focuses on U.S. regulatory (federal, state, and local) and management (runoff, atmospheric deposition, and wastewater) impacts on urban water quality, specifically emphasizing programs in Florida. Because of rapid population growth in recent decades, and projected increases in the future, appropriate resource management in Florida is essential. Florida enacted stormwater regulations in 1979, before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) to regulate stormwater discharges. However, in the United States, more research has been conducted on larger structural best management practices (BMPs) (e.g., wet ponds, detention basins, etc.) compared with smaller onsite alternatives (e.g., green roofs, permeable pavements, etc.). For atmospheric deposition, research is needed to investigate processes contributing to enhanced deposition rates. Wastewater (from septic systems, treatment plants, and landfills) management is especially important in urban watersheds. Failing septic systems, elevated nutrient concentrations in discharged effluent, and landfill leachate can all potentially degrade water quality. Proposed numeric nutrient criteria from the USEPA and innovative technologies such as bioreactor landfills are emergent regulatory and management strategies for improved urban water quality.

Study of food waste degradation in a simulated septic tank

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1199-1206
Author(s):  
Hongjian Lin ◽  
Yuchuan Wang ◽  
Leif van Lierop ◽  
Carlos Zamalloa ◽  
Casey Furlong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Septic Tank ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Septic System ◽  
The Impact

Septic systems are typically designed to treat domestic wastewater from households without access to centralized facilities. The installation of a food waste disposer (FWD) may increase the discharge of food waste (FW) into the wastewater; therefore, the installation of a FWD is discouraged in households that have a septic system. This study was conducted to determine how a typical dose of FW from a FWD can affect the performance of a septic system in terms of sewage treatment and solids accumulation. A 20-L control tank was compared with an experiment tank to which FW was added, increasing the amount of total suspended solids (TSS) by 31.3% and total chemical oxygen demands by 46.3% for a period of 110 days. Although the influent water quality changed dramatically, the effluent from the experiment tank had a substantially lower percentage increase in water quality parameters compared with the effluent from the control. It was found that in the experiment tank, 75.8% of FW TSS was degraded, whereas only 36.7% of sewage TSS was degraded, and that 18.8% of FW TSS and 44.9% of sewage TSS accumulated in the experiment tank. The addition of FW increased the scum accumulation, even though the dry matter of the scum layer was much less in quantity than the sludge layer. It also increased the lipid content in the sludge. The increase in the scum layer was mainly due to the increase in protein from the addition of the FW. Overall, compared with sewage TSS, FW TSS tends to be more biodegradable, which indicates that the impact on pumping frequency from adding FW will be insignificant.

Using a GIS transfer model to evaluate pollutant loads in the Lake Kinneret watershed, Israel

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 75-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Markel ◽  
F. Somma ◽  
B.M. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Point Source ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Lake Kinneret ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus

Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is the only large surface water body in Israel, encompassing an area of 167 km2 and supplying some 30% of the country's fresh water. Pollution from anthropogenic sources and water abstraction for domestic and agricultural uses has long been threatening the water quality of the lake. Point-source pollution in the watershed has decreased drastically with the development of wastewater treatment. However, diffuse pollution from agricultural activities is still an unresolved issue. In this paper we present an application of AVGWLF (a GIS-based watershed load model) to the Lake Kinneret watershed. The model allows one to simulate daily stream flows and monthly sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loads discharged to the lake from the surrounding watershed. Results from simulations yield a satisfactory correspondence between simulated and measured daily water volume. Partition by source of total phosphorus delivered to the lake in the period of 2000–04 confirms the reduction in point source nutrient contribution due to improvement of wastewater treatment facilities in the area. Future management should focus on reduction of nutrients originating from septic systems (point sources) and pasture and cropland areas (diffuse sources). Results from simulations will enable watershed managers to prioritize effective management alternatives for protecting the water quality in the lake.

scholarly journals Septic Systems and Springs Water Quality: An Overview for Florida

EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Lusk ◽  
Andrea Albertin ◽  
Whitney Elmore ◽  
William Lester ◽  
James Moll
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Proper Treatment ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
N Loading ◽  
Trace Organic Chemicals ◽  
Trace Organic ◽  
Soil And Water

Wastewater carries pathogens, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and trace organic chemicals that may be harmful to human health and ecosystem functioning. Thus, proper treatment of wastewater is crucial. While septic systems can be one means of effective wastewater treatment, there are some special considerations for their use in Florida because of unique geography and sandy soils. The purpose of this new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences is to explain the basics of how septic systems work and how they can affect springs water quality in Florida, with a special emphasis on potential N loading from septic systems. This document is intended for homeowners, the general public, and county, city, and other local personnel tasked with managing water quality in areas with septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Andrea Albertin, Whitney Elmore, William Lester, and James Moll.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss693

scholarly journals Harmful Cyanobacteria in Three Oregon Lakes: Comments on Hall et al. Beyond Water Quality Advisories and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Water 2019, 11, 1125

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2482
Author(s):  
Joseph Eilers
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Current System ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
The State ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Total Maximum Daily Loads ◽  
Harmful Cyanobacteria ◽  
Maximum Daily Loads ◽  
Total Maximum

The article “An Ecological Function Approach to Managing Harmful Cyanobacteria in Three Oregon Lakes: Beyond Water Quality Advisories and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), Water 11:1125” by Hall et al. critiques the current approach used by the state of Oregon with regard to managing cyanobacterial blooms and offers the proper functioning condition (PVC) as a superior method of managing cyanobacterial blooms in lakes derived from nonpoint sources of pollution. They evaluated three lakes in Oregon as examples of how this approach could be applied to support water quality improvement. Two of the three lakes, Lemolo and Diamond, experienced cyanobacterial blooms, not as a function of nonpoint source loadings from the watershed, but rather because of internal nutrient cycling associated with high fish biomass. The third lake, Tenmile Lakes, in additional to having a greatly altered fish community, also experiences cyanobacterial blooms (CyanoHABs) issues because of timber harvest on steep slopes, loss of wetlands, altered watershed hydrology and nutrient input from septic systems. The authors’ attempts to use satellite images and PVC methodology on the stream networks is incomplete with respect to Tenmile Lakes and is totally misdirected regarding Lemolo and Diamond Lakes. Although I don’t support the current system employed by the state of Oregon to manage lakes experiencing CyanoHABs issues, the proposed approach offered by staff with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will yield little water quality benefit for the lakes in question.

scholarly journals Influence of infrastructure on water quality and greenhouse gas dynamics in urban streams

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2831-2849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose M. Smith ◽  
Sujay S. Kaushal ◽  
Jake J. Beaulieu ◽  
Michael J. Pennino ◽  
Claire Welty
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Watershed Management ◽  
Urban Streams ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Saturation Ratio ◽  
Gas Saturation ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Linear Regressions

Abstract. Streams and rivers are significant sources of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) globally, and watershed management can alter greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from streams. We hypothesized that urban infrastructure significantly alters downstream water quality and contributes to variability in GHG saturation and emissions. We measured gas saturation and estimated emission rates in headwaters of two urban stream networks (Red Run and Dead Run) of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study Long-Term Ecological Research project. We identified four combinations of stormwater and sanitary infrastructure present in these watersheds, including: (1) stream burial, (2) inline stormwater wetlands, (3) riparian/floodplain preservation, and (4) septic systems. We selected two first-order catchments in each of these categories and measured GHG concentrations, emissions, and dissolved inorganic and organic carbon (DIC and DOC) and nutrient concentrations biweekly for 1 year. From a water quality perspective, the DOC : NO3− ratio of streamwater was significantly different across infrastructure categories. Multiple linear regressions including DOC : NO3− and other variables (dissolved oxygen, DO; total dissolved nitrogen, TDN; and temperature) explained much of the statistical variation in nitrous oxide (N2O, r2 =  0.78), carbon dioxide (CO2, r2 =  0.78), and methane (CH4, r2 =  0.50) saturation in stream water. We measured N2O saturation ratios, which were among the highest reported in the literature for streams, ranging from 1.1 to 47 across all sites and dates. N2O saturation ratios were highest in streams draining watersheds with septic systems and strongly correlated with TDN. The CO2 saturation ratio was highly correlated with the N2O saturation ratio across all sites and dates, and the CO2 saturation ratio ranged from 1.1 to 73. CH4 was always supersaturated, with saturation ratios ranging from 3.0 to 2157. Longitudinal surveys extending form headwaters to third-order outlets of Red Run and Dead Run took place in spring and fall. Linear regressions of these data yielded significant negative relationships between each gas with increasing watershed size as well as consistent relationships between solutes (TDN or DOC, and DOC : TDN ratio) and gas saturation. Despite a decline in gas saturation between the headwaters and stream outlet, streams remained saturated with GHGs throughout the drainage network, suggesting that urban streams are continuous sources of CO2, CH4, and N2O. Our results suggest that infrastructure decisions can have significant effects on downstream water quality and greenhouse gases, and watershed management strategies may need to consider coupled impacts on urban water and air quality.

scholarly journals Influence urban infrastructure on water quality and greenhouse gas dynamics in streams

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose M. Smith ◽  
Sujay S. Kaushal ◽  
Jake J. Beaulieu ◽  
Michael J. Pennino ◽  
Claire Welty
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Urban Infrastructure ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2

Abstract. Streams and rivers are significant sources of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4), and watershed management can alter greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from streams. GHG emissions from streams in agricultural watersheds have been investigated in numerous studies, but less is known about streams draining urban watersheds. We hypothesized that urban infrastructure significantly influences GHG dynamics along the urban watershed continuum, extending from engineered headwater flowpaths to larger streams. GHG concentrations and emissions were measured across streams draining a gradient of stormwater and sanitary infrastructure including: (1) complete stream burial, (2) in-line stormwater wetlands, (3) riparian/floodplain preservation, and (4) septic systems. Infrastructure categories significantly influenced drivers of GHG dynamics including carbon to nitrogen stoichiometry, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and water temperature. These variables explained much of the statistical variation in nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) saturation in stream water (r2 = 0.78, 0.78, 0.50 respectively). N2O saturation ratios in urban streams were among the highest reported for flowing waters, ranging from 1.1–47 across all sites and dates. The highest N2O saturation ratios were measured in streams draining nonpoint N sources from septic systems and were strongly correlated with TDN. CO2 was highly correlated with N2O across all sites and dates (r2 = 0.84), and CO2 saturation ratio ranged from 1.1–73. CH4 was always super-saturated with saturation values ranging from 3.0 to 2157. Differences in stormwater and sewer infrastructure influenced water quality, with significant implications for enhancing or minimizing stream CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions.

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