Septic Systems and the Environment

A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment structure that works by using a combination of both nature and technology to treat wastewater from household plumbing produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry. By maintaining your septic system, you will save money, protect your property, and keep you and surrounding areas healthy. 


The first step in maintaining the septic system is locating it. The easiest way to do that is find the direction the pipe goes through the basement wall. “Back outside, the inspector will use aninsulated probe inserted into the soil to locate the buried piping. Once thesystem components are found, be sure to sketch a map and keep it on hand tosave time on future service visits.” The next step is to inspect the ports of the system. By flushing the toilets, running the water in the sinks, running the washing machine, etc. are all ways to check if the household plumbing is working correctly. Next it is important to scum and sludge layers with specific tools inserted through the port. “If the sludge depth is equal to one thirdor more of the liquid depth, the tank should be pumped. Also, the tank needs tobe pumped when it is 1/3 full.” Next, the tank and drain field need to be checked for cracks or any sign of failure.  “The average household septic system should be inspected at leastevery three years by a septic service professional.” It is important to avoid chemical drain treatments for clogged drains. Avoid pouring grease or oils down the drain, and limit the use of a garbage disposal. By not maintaining the septic system, it poses dangers to the environment.

Total & Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Total coliform bacteria are a collection of relatively harmless microorganisms that live in large numbers in soils, plants and in intestines of warm-blooded (humans) and cold-blooded animals. Coliform aids in digestion of food. Coliform can be found in soils, plants and in animal and human waste. Some types grow at higher temperatures than others and can be found in the fecal waste of warm-blooded animals. There are six species of fecal coliform bacteria found in animal andhuman waste. E. coli is one type of the six species of fecal coliformbacteria. Finding coliform in your water does not always mean the person in contact will become sick. However, if these organisms are around there is a chance other disease-causing organisms may also be present. Health symptoms related to drinking or swallowingwater contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria generally range from no illeffects to cramps and diarrhea (gastrointestinal distress). 

When fecal coliform is present in drinking water, there is an urgent concern to check for other diseases.  Since coliform bacteria usually persist in water longer than most disease- causing organisms,the absence of coliform bacteria leads to the assumption that the water supply is microbiologically safe to drink. Therefore, the drinking water standard requires that no coliform bacteria be present in drinking water. Fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria should also be totally absent from drinking water. Coliform contamination can be prevented through the upkeep of groundwater. Underground drinking water in a properly constructed well should have little to no coliform bacteria. If coliform are found in a well it generally means bacterial and mineral slimes have built up and your well needs to be professionally cleaned by a registered private water system contractor. There are devices that treat, disinfect, and filter the water to remove coliform bacteria.