Septic Issues

Regulating On-Site Septic Systems

While monitoring the regular maintenance of an on-site septic system is certainly a positive step in the right direction, it is very challenging to certify that an on-site septic system is functioning properly. And, as a whole, it would be more costly to the homeowner, compared with a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW).

There are basically three types of on-site septic system failures: hydraulic failure, sub-surface failure, and proper treatment failure.

Hydraulic failure is the easiest to determine, because the wastewater erupts to the surface area. However, this issue is difficult to address, because hydraulic failure cannot be adequately repaired on a small lot that does not have a set-aside area.

Sub-surface failure is where partially treated sewage plumes move through the soils, posing a threat to sub-surface waters as well as surface waters. This type of failure would be difficult to both test for and certify.

Proper treatment failure is that the soil does not adequately treat the wastewater for nutrients such as nitrates. Again, it would be very difficult to test and certify an on-site system for this type of failure.