The Threat

Here in Steuben County, there’s a threat to our quality of life. Failing septic systems are endangering our supply of clean water. Untreated sewage and harmful bacteria are contaminating our wells, streams, rivers and lakes.

Evidence of Failing Septic Systems

The combination of aging residential septic systems and inadequate soil quality has created a groundwater crisis in our region. The symptoms of failing septic systems are in widespread evidence:

• Plumbing backups and slow draining sinks
• Sewage odors, both indoors and outdoors
• Mushy ground or ponding sewage above the absorption fields
• High levels of bacteria in nearby streams or wells
• Algae blooms or excessive plant growth in nearby ponds and lakes
• Gurgling sounds in the plumbing