COUNTY-LEVEL WATER QUALITY AND SEPTIC FAILURE MONITORING

In the interest of public, the KCHSD Environmental Health & Laboratory Services Bureau monitors the levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli)[1] bacteria at public bathing beaches and other designated surface waters throughout Kalamazoo County. The risk of illness increases when the limits set by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Water Quality Standards) for levels of bacteria for total body contact recreation, are exceeded. Monitoring is meant to cover the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day and so begins on the last Monday in April and ends on the last Friday in September.

Sources of the E. coli bacteria

Ø Illicit waste connections to storm sewers or roadside ditches

Ø Malfunctioning on-site sewage disposal systems (septic systems)

Ø Sanitary sewer overflows & sewer line break discharges

Ø Urban storm water runoff which may include rain and snow-melt

Ø Polluted runoff from rural areas which may include roads, golf courses, agriculture, and lawns

Ø Wild & domestic animal waste

Ground water quality maintenance is important in Kalamazoo County because, although groundwater is plentiful and it is the only source of Drinking Water in the County, it is also very vulnerable to contamination from surface spills and leaks. The Kalamazoo County officials are involved in residential well monitoring and other local governments participate in the wellhead protection program that seeks to protect ground water from contamination.

In the view that septic systems are one of the main sources of the E. coli bacteria there is septic monitoring at the county level. A septic system “consists of three main parts: a septic tank, a drainfield, and the soil beneath the drainfield.” The waste enters the septic tank where solids separate from the liquids. Most contaminants that are present are partially broken down by bacteria present in the tank. Wastewater from the tank is then distributed through a series of perforated pipes in the drainfield. The soil further treats the wastewater before it returns to the groundwater. In the US it is estimated that 20 million homes have septic systems and discharge as much as 2.55 trillion gallons of effluent into the ground annually.[2]

Septic tanks that are properly designed and installed correctly and are not overloaded with water or household grease or solids from garbage disposals normally function well for many years. Septic failure is normally due to tree roots can enter sewage and drainfield lines and cause plugging of the lines or from traffic or wheel loads on the system and hence to avoid failure the systems/drainfields should be built faraway from trees and no roads should be placed over them.[3] Septic failure can be reduced by ensuring timely pumping out of the system, reducing the use of household chemicals that might kill the bacteria responsible for the decomposition of waste, reducing the volume of water used if possible as this overloads the system and reducing the disposal of solid waste into the system as this reduces the time interval between pumpings.[4]

Under Part 117, Septage Waste Servicers, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Surface Water Quality Division together with county health departments is responsible for septic failure monitoring[5].

In the Kalamazoo County the County Demand Staff is responsible for issuing construction permits and performing inspections of on-site residential and commercial water wells and septic systems and perform an evaluation of the water supply and/or septic system for homes when required by a lending institution for a mortgage. They are also involved in investigating nuisance and garbage complaints.

Funding for the monitoring is partly provided under the Department of Environmental Quality’ Clean Michigan Initiative, with approximately $3 million, in the form of grants, set aside for this.[6]

While it is well known that septic failure and the resulting overflows result in the pollution[7] the monitoring of this has been shown to be inefficient by the “Wasting Our Water Wonderland” report. The two main septic failure monitoring agents The MEDQ and County Health Departments have in the past recorded different figures of septic failures raising doubt on how effective the monitoring process is and are charged with under reporting overflows by tens of billions of gallons. An example is where at the request of FIOA county health departments reported 52 billion gallons of overflows while at the same time their websites including that for MEDQ reported only 23 billion recorded 254 and “MEDQ’s data accounted for less than of the overflow figures recorded by 32 county health departments.”[8]

Reference:

Worcester County Government :Information on septic systems.

http://www.co.worcester.md.us/septic.htm

Kalamazoo County Government Website http://www.kalcounty.com/EH/ehwater.htm

http://www.kalcounty.com/EH/swqmp/q&a.html#whydoes

http://www.kalcounty.com/eh/ehwaste.htm

http://www.kalcounty.com/gwpp/index.html

Worcester County Government Website http://www.co.worcester.md.us/septic.htm

[1] Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterial species predominantly comprising the fecal coliform group of bacteria. E. coli bacteria are found and live in the digestive systems of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Therefore, they are found in sewage and other wastewater. While most members of this species are considered harmless organisms, some strains are responsible for gastrointestinal and diarrhea illnesses.

[7]Septic wastes are potential health problems because they contain high levels of nitrates and phosphates as well as disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Sources of contaminants include household and garden chemicals, human wastes, and foodstuffs.