bhakta et al septics - canr.msu.edu · regulating onsite wastewater in michigan ... diverter valve...

MSU is an affirmative action, equal-opportunity employer.

MSUE programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.

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

EXTENSION’S MISSION

Helping people to improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities.

SMITH-LEVER ACTTHE BEGINNING OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

1914 – 2016Over 100 Years of Researched-based

Education

MSU EXTENSION FUNDING PARTNERS

Contracts/GrantsApplied for based on current local needs and issues identified by citizen input 

County•County Board 

of Commissioners•County voted millage 

State•State Legislature•Land Grant University

Federal•USDA•Smith‐Lever  Act of 1914

ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENTMAINTAINING YOUR SYSTEM

6

Protect The Environment Protect Your Health Protect Your Investment

Laura PobanzMacomb County Health Department

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 polluteNot citiesNot corporationsNot 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’sExecutive 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 subdivisions, condominiums, and parcels less than one acre.

• Statewide rules for commercial systems over 1,000 gallons per day.

WHAT IS SEWAGE? Black-water vs. Gray-

water Wastewater Streams

Garbage Grinder Laundry Kitchen Bathroom

14

15

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?

23

1. Type of soil

2. Water Table

3. Number of bedrooms in the house

PERC TEST VS. SOIL EVALUATION

Soil Evaluation Dig into soil Observe slope, soil

horizons, texture, structure, color

Look for indications of water table fluctuation and flooding

Perc Test Apply water to ground

& clock absorption time

Does not show impact of continuous dosing, effect of ground water, flooding potential

24

USDA SOIL TRIANGLE

25

SOIL STRUCTURE

26

DESIRABLE CONDITIONS

Porous and Dry Soil -Amount of sand compared to clay and siltThe more sand the better for absorptionLimits: too coarse leaches to groundwaterTexture – blocky structure vs. layeredLow 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

ISOLATIONProper 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

32

Effluent Filter

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 DESIGNPRETREATMENT 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

TankSingle PassMultiple pass

(recirculating)

41

MEDIA FILTERS

42

HOW TO AVOID THIS…

43

BIOMAT FORMATION

44

CONTRIBUTORS

Improper DesignPoor InstallationHydraulic OverloadLandscape IntrusionPhysical DeteriorationPoor/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

52

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.

DO NOT FLUSH

53

COFFEE GRINDS

DENTAL FLOSS

DISPOSABLE DIAPERS

KITTY LITTER

SANITARY NAPKINS

TAMPONS

CIGARETTE BUTTS

CONDOMS

FAT, GREASE, OR OIL

PAPER TOWELS

54

PROPERLY USE AND DISPOSE OF CLEANERS AND CHEMICALS

55

Too many chemicals can cause disruption of the bacterial process in the tank

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 records59

ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT –PHOSPHORUS, NITROGEN AND

PATHOGEN REMOVALTed Loudon

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department

MSU

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

Important Definitions

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

High Low

Course Fine

PROCESSES AT WORK

MEDIA

BIOLOGICALMASS

LIQUID WASTES

ORGANICS

END PRODUCTS

AIR

PAT HOGENS

EXCESSCELL 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

Water Table

Backfill

StoneAir

WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN SOIL

Physical Processes Filtering Adsorption

Biological and Chemical Processes Aerobic biological processes Microscopic Organisms Reduction of Pathogens

BIOLOGYTYPES OF ORGANISMS Anaerobic

Thrive in the Septic tankMost pathogens areSlow growth

AerobicMost soil-based treatmentAerobic treatment unitsFaster growth in response to food availability

Both break down wasteUse it as food source

PATHOGEN RETENTION

Pathogen trapped physically

Pathogen trapped –+ and – charges attract

PATHOGEN REMOVALAttacked by soil bacteria,Die due to temp. and Moisture fluctuations.

PATHOGEN REMOVAL

Depends on flow rate through soilTwo types of water flow in soil

Saturated flowUnsaturated flow

Pathogen removal best in unsaturated flow situation

PATHOGEN REMOVAL RATES

Depends on wastewater strengthDepth of loam soil to remove fecal

coliform:Septic tank effluent – 18-24 inchesConstr. Wetland effl. – 6-12 inchesSand filter effluent – less than 6 in.

PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL

Many soils have ability to remove PSandy 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 SYSTEMDISTRIBUTION

SHALLOW PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION

SHALLOW TRENCHES

Backfill Over Area

Diversion ForSurface Water

Grass Cover

A SECOND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION OPTION

DRIP IRRIGATION OPTION

MOUND SYSTEMTREATMENT 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 detergentsRemoves up to 60%

Eliminate P in dish washing detergentsRemoves 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 tankAdds greatly to the solids accumulationRemoves up to 95%

NITROGEN REMOVALDepends on soil conditionsNitrogen removal is a two step process

First requires an aerobic conditionSecondly it requires an anaerobic condition

In a sandy soil with no clay layerAeration results in nitrate formationNo anaerobic condition existsNitrate moves toward groundwater

FOR PROPER SYSTEM USEDO:

Practice Water ConservationUse Garbage Grinder SparinglyHave Tanks Checked and PumpedWatch 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

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

In person Webinar

Survey Response Rate

2014 & 2015 FOLLOW UP RESULTS2014 Workshops

Over 76% 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

2015 F2F Workshops

74.3% indicated making changes regarding septic use

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

2015 Webinar

61.5% indicated making changes regarding septic use

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 localCounty Health Department

105

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION

Contact Information

Terry Gibbgibb@anr.msu.edu

Bindu Bhaktabhaktabi@anr.msu.edu

Dr. Ted Loudonloudon@msu.edu

Laura Pobanzlaura.pobanz@macombgov.org