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A STATEWIDE AND LOCAL PERSPECTIVE ON ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEMS: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAKES, ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS Bindu Bhakta, Educator, MSU Extension Terry Gibb, Senior Educator, MSU Extension Dr. Ted Loudon, Professor emeritus, MSU Laura Pobanz, Supervisor, Macomb County Health Department Michigan Inland Lakes Conference April 30, 2016
Helping people to improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. EXTENSION S MISSION
SMITH-LEVER ACT THE BEGINNING OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE 1914 2016 Over 100 Years of Researched-based Education
MSU EXTENSION FUNDING PARTNERS Federal State County Contracts/ USDA Smith Lever Act of 1914 State Legislature Land Grant University County Board of Commissioners County voted millage Grants Applied for based on current local needs and issues identified by citizen input
ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT MAINTAINING YOUR SYSTEM Laura Pobanz Macomb County Health Department Protect The Environment Protect Your Health Protect Your Investment 6
THERE IS NO AWAY Onsite wastewater systems need long term maintenance.
WHY NOW? WHAT S CHANGED? The old paradigms The sewer is coming It just goes away The new paradigms The sewer is NOT coming! There is NO AWAY!
THE WATERS OF THESE UNITED STATES Laws based on navigation Prohibit any restrictions or actions that inhibit navigation Waterways led the westward expansion Waterways are economic engines
THE CLEAN WATER ACT -- 1972 No one has the right to pollute Not cities Not corporations Not you or me National Goal that our waters be: Fishable Swimmable
Source: http:www.cleveland.com
THE EPA SUPPORTS DECENTRALIZED OPTION In 1997, the EPA reported to Congress on Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems Here s an excerpt from the EPA s Executive Summary: Adequately managed decentralized wastewater systems are a cost-effective long-term option for meeting public health and water quality goals...
REGULATING ONSITE WASTEWATER IN MICHIGAN Local Health Department Codes for single and two family homes and commercial systems less than 1,000 gallons per day. Statewide rules for commercial systems over 1,000 gallons per day. Statewide rules for subdivisions, condominiums, and parcels less than one acre.
WHAT IS SEWAGE? Black-water vs. Graywater Wastewater Streams Garbage Grinder Laundry Kitchen Bathroom 14
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SEPTIC TANK 16
SEPTIC OUTLET 17
DRAIN TILE 18
STONE 19
TRENCH COVER 20
TRENCH DESIGN 21
DRAINFIELD BED 22
WHAT DETERMINES THE SIZE OF A SEPTIC FIELD? 1. Type of soil 2. Water Table 3. Number of bedrooms in the house 23
PERC TEST VS. SOIL EVALUATION Perc Test Apply water to ground & clock absorption time Does not show impact of continuous dosing, effect of ground water, flooding potential Soil Evaluation Dig into soil Observe slope, soil horizons, texture, structure, color Look for indications of water table fluctuation and flooding 24
USDA SOIL TRIANGLE 25
SOIL STRUCTURE 26
DESIRABLE CONDITIONS Porous and Dry Soil - Amount of sand compared to clay and silt The more sand the better for absorption Limits: too coarse leaches to groundwater Texture blocky structure vs. layered Low seasonal high water table 27
WELL DRAINED SOIL - NO MOTTLING 28
UNDESIRABLE CONDITIONS Non-porous soils (clay,silt) Compact soils Saturated soils (seasonal or year round) Mottled soil Gray / Blue soil Thick & black top soil Surface water Water marks on trees Vegetation types Topography 29
MOTTLING IN SOIL 30
ISOLATION Proper Isolation - Well protect water supply Basement prevent flow back to basement; footing drains can be a quick route to well Surface water prevent contamination of surface water; prevent surface water from impacting function of drainfield Property line prevent neighbor disputes Driveways - prevent traffic on drainfield 31
ADDITIONAL DESIGNS/COMPONENTS Effluent Filter 32
DIVERTER VALVE 33
DISTRIBUTION BOX Install tile lines at different elevations Slow effluent from pump prior to header 34
DISTRIBUTION BOX 35
DROP BOX 36
PUMP SYSTEMS 37
STONELESS SYSTEMS 38
ADVANCED TREATMENT DESIGN PRETREATMENT FILTER Use where natural soils are not suitable for a conventional drainfield Use when available space is limited Effluent goes from septic tank through a pretreatment device (sand filter, manufactured media filter etc.)clean effluent from pretreatment goes to final drainfield Must have O & M contract 39
SAND FILTER 40
FILTER EFFLUENT Tank Single Pass Multiple pass (recirculating) 41
MEDIA FILTERS 42
HOW TO AVOID THIS 43
BIOMAT FORMATION 44
CONTRIBUTORS Improper Design Poor Installation Hydraulic Overload Landscape Intrusion Physical Deterioration Poor/Improper Maintenance 45
POOR SITE PREPARATION 46
GOOD SITE PREPARATION 47
ROOT INTRUSION 48
PHYSICAL FAILURE OF TANK 49
KNOW WHERE YOUR SYSTEM IS Check with your local health department for records Make a sketch of your yard showing where everything is; include measurements 50
PUMP REGULARLY 51
CONSERVE WATER Don't run the washer in water-usage prime times, such as when the toilets, showers, and bathtubs are in demand. Don't do several loads of laundry in one day. Spread it out and do one load a day for several days. 52
DO NOT FLUSH COFFEE GRINDS DENTAL FLOSS DISPOSABLE DIAPERS KITTY LITTER SANITARY NAPKINS TAMPONS CIGARETTE BUTTS CONDOMS FAT, GREASE, OR OIL PAPER TOWELS 53
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PROPERLY USE AND DISPOSE OF CLEANERS AND CHEMICALS Too many chemicals can cause disruption of the bacterial process in the tank 55
KEEP VEHICLES & LARGE LANDSCAPING OFF 56
DIVERT SURFACE WATER 57
WHAT DO I DO????? 58
TAKE HOME POINTS Know what your site conditions are or are not capable of handling Make sure the design is suited for the site conditions Protect the site from damage prior to, during, and after construction Maintain through regular pumping, proper landscaping, water conservation, and conscious disposal. Keep good records 59
ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PHOSPHORUS, NITROGEN AND PATHOGEN REMOVAL Ted Loudon Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department MSU
Important Definitions Permeability The ability of a soil to allow water to move through it Nutrients Compounds which can cause water quality problems at elevated levels Pathogens Organisms which can pose health risks
LAKE WATER QUALITY CONCERNS Biological Bacteria Coliform is the indicator organism typically used Nutrients Phosphorus Nitrogen
BIOLOGICAL AND NUTRIENT REMOVAL OCCURS IN SOIL ABSORPTION TRENCH CONSTRUCTION
SOIL STRUCTURE
PERMEABILITY OF SOIL Course Fine High Low
PROCESSES AT WORK LIQUID WASTES ORGANICS AIR MEDIA BIOLOGICAL MASS PATHOGENS END PRODUCTS EXCESS CELL MASS B.O.D. SS NUTRIENTS
LIMITATIONS OF CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEM Type of Soil Depth of Soil Environmental Sensitivity of the Site Type of Wastewater
Absorption Field Trench Backfill Stone Air Water Table
WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN SOIL Physical Processes Filtering Adsorption Biological and Chemical Processes Aerobic biological processes Microscopic Organisms Reduction of Pathogens
BIOLOGY TYPES OF ORGANISMS Anaerobic Thrive in the Septic tank Most pathogens are Slow growth Aerobic Most soil-based treatment Aerobic treatment units Faster growth in response to food availability Both break down waste Use it as food source
PATHOGEN RETENTION Pathogen trapped physically Pathogen trapped + and charges attract
PATHOGEN REMOVAL Attacked by soil bacteria, Die due to temp. and Moisture fluctuations.
PATHOGEN REMOVAL Depends on flow rate through soil Two types of water flow in soil Saturated flow Unsaturated flow Pathogen removal best in unsaturated flow situation
PATHOGEN REMOVAL RATES Depends on wastewater strength Depth of loam soil to remove fecal coliform: Septic tank effluent 18-24 inches Constr. Wetland effl. 6-12 inches Sand filter effluent less than 6 in.
PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL Many soils have ability to remove P Sandy soils remove less unless they have Iron, Aluminum or Calcium present Soils with clay or organic matter usually are good at P removal
PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL Soils horizons where Iron, Aluminum or Calcium are present are effective in removing Phosphorus. Iron and Aluminum tend to be associated with clay particles and may be concentrated in certain soil layers
THE SYSTEM EVALUATED
PHOSPHORUS IN GROUNDWATER In most silt and clay rich soils, groundwater velocities are slow enough (<10 m/year) and phosphate retardation factors are high enough that phosphate migration (perhaps <1 ft/yr) is not normally of great concern.
BENEFITS OF ALTERNATING SYSTEMS It has been observed that resting a soil absorption system (that is, suspending septic tank effluent loading) for several months can lead to regeneration of some of the phosphate removal capacity in the vadose zone (Gold and Sims 2000).
PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION
SHALLOW PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION
A SECOND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION OPTION Diversion For Surface Water Backfill Over Area Grass Cover SHALLOW TRENCHES
DRIP IRRIGATION OPTION
MOUND SYSTEM TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION Cross Section Detail
MOUND SYSTEM
MOUND SYSTEM WHY IS IT NEEDED? Improves treatment Provides Vertical Separation for Treatment Above water table Above impermeable layer Above bed rock Spreads Effluent over Large Area of Soil Allows Use of Slowly Permeable Soil or soils with high water table
SOURCE REDUCTION Eliminate P in laundry detergents Removes up to 60% Eliminate P in dish washing detergents Removes up to 25%
SOURCE DIVERSION Eliminate garbage grinders Removes 2 10% Micro-flush toilets and black water holding Involves very low water, usually vacuum assist toilets Black water only holding tanks Pump and haul by licensed hauler Removes 50 90% depending on detergent diversion Urine separation and diversion Urine only holding tanks No pathogen concern Application to agricultural land, possibly by farmers Removes 33 43% depending on user s motivation
PRECIPITATION IN THE SEPTIC TANK Add precipitating agents to the tank Adds greatly to the solids accumulation Removes up to 95%
NITROGEN REMOVAL Depends on soil conditions Nitrogen removal is a two step process First requires an aerobic condition Secondly it requires an anaerobic condition In a sandy soil with no clay layer Aeration results in nitrate formation No anaerobic condition exists Nitrate moves toward groundwater
FOR PROPER SYSTEM USE DO: Practice Water Conservation Use Garbage Grinder Sparingly Have Tanks Checked and Pumped Watch System For Warning Signs
WHY A STATE CODE? Onsite wastewater technology is changing rapidly Less emphasis on disposal, more on treatment More science applied to the field and more research results coming out Improved understanding of wastewater treatment by soils More treatment options more hardware to choose from With local rule, every local jurisdiction has to review, understand, and make judgment about each change that comes along Society is more mobile and more communicative Installers work a wider area, don t do well with varying rules People are more aware and don t understand why a technology that is OK in one place in not OK in another More use of onsite, more need to do it the best way
SEPTIC SYSTEM WORKSHOP FOLLOW UP 2015 Workshops 4 in person : Harrison Twp., Shiawassee Co., Washington Twp., Barry-Eaton Co. 105 participants 1 statewide webinar 148 participant sites
2015 FOLLOW UP RESULTS 33% response rate from in person participants 27% webinar response rate 100% indicated knowledge increase on topic 79% / 82% primary residence was septic 29%/ 31% septic was second residence 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Survey Response Rate In person Webinar
2014 & 2015 FOLLOW UP RESULTS 2014 Workshops Over 76% indicated making changes regarding septic use 2015 F2F Workshops 74.3% indicated making changes regarding septic use 2015 Webinar 61.5% indicated making changes regarding septic use Changes included: Spaced out laundry -69% Reduced water usage -56% Reduced use of garbage disposal -44% Had system checked by professional - 44% Stopped putting grease, fats, oils down drain -44% Over 95% shared program information with family, neighbors, co-workers Changes included: Spaced out laundry 60.7% Reduced use of garbage disposal 53.5% Reduced water usage 46.3% System checked by professional -39.3% Stopped putting grease, fats, oils down drain 39.3% 94.3% shared program information with family, neighbors, co-workers Changes included: Spaced out laundry: 53.9% Reduced water usage 42.3% Reduced use of garbage disposal 30.8% Had tank pumped 34.6% Stopped putting grease, fats, oils down drain 26.9% 72% shared program information with family, neighbors, co-workers
FOLLOW UP SURVEY COMMENTS I needed a new septic field and the session helped me understand and talk to the installers I recently moved to a home with a septic and even though I had a home with septic decades ago, I needed up-to-date info (You) imparted a great deal of useful knowledge and the importance of proper maintenance of our home septic system Excellent webinar. Would highly recommend (I) attended program to increase knowledge to caution clients I don t have a septic system just wanted the knowledge
FOR MORE INFORMATION Questions regarding a specific property: Contact your local County Health Department 105
QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION Contact Information Terry Gibb gibb@anr.msu.edu Dr. Ted Loudon loudon@msu.edu Bindu Bhakta bhaktabi@anr.msu.edu Laura Pobanz laura.pobanz@macombgov.org