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As groundwater contamination problems go, the stuff leaking from septic systems isnt terribly sexy. Give me a gas stations leaking underground storage tank any day, or an old electronics plant, or Kirtland Air Force Bases sloppy aviation fuel handling. That I can get excited about.

But waste leaking from an aging home septic system?

That, says University of New Mexico engineering professor Bruce Thomson, is precisely the problem.

Its groundwater contamination thats happening all around us, and were not paying any attention, said Thomson, an expert in treating human waste who delights in describing his academic specialty as turd mechanics.

Septic systems drain away household waste into settling tanks, with the water spilling out into drain fields and the natural filtration of the soil doing the cleanup work. But when they dont work because homes are packed too closely together, or the systems are old or poorly maintained, contamination can result. The key problem is nitrates, which can render water dangerous to infants.

Nitrate contamination from leaking septic systems is a problem statewide, and here in Bernalillo County, and its contamination thats entirely preventable, said Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins.

This evening, the Bernalillo County Commission will take a fresh stab at tightening the rules to try to reduce the risk, a combination of inspections of aging systems and rules that push some septic system owners to hook up to the regions municipal sewer system if that is an option.

As currently proposed, the ordinance would:

The ordinance, pushed by Hart Stebbins, has been bouncing around for more than a year, delayed by opponents concerns because of the way the cost of compliance falls on homeowners.

See the article here:
Bernalillo County grapples again with septic question

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There are two basic components to a septic systemthe septic tank and the soil absorption cesspool area. If you don't properly service and maintain your system, solids build up in the system and flow into the leaching field, causing the system to fail. This could permanently destroy the field as well. Additionally, household cleaners like detergents, toilet cleaners, bleach, and disinfectants kill the natural bacteria in the septic tank.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services Office of Wastewater Management may have records of the septic system location for a single-family residence if it was constructed later than 1973. Call the office at (631) 852-5700 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and give them the property tax map number and the year the house was constructed. If the lot is located on a subdivision map, the map name and lot number are also helpful in finding older records.

SEPTIC SYSTEM BASICS: There are two basic components to a septic system

The septic tank The cesspool (soil absorption area)

Here is the how the septic system works:

Waste flows from the home into the septic tank. Organic solids float to the top and inorganic solids sink to the bottom of the tank. Natural occurring bacteria in the septic tank converts the organic solids to liquid. The clear liquid in between the "solids" and "sludge" layers flows into the cesspool.

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Cesspool Sewer Septic Tank & Drain Cleaning Tips & DYI ...

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SHINNECOCK BAY, N.Y.(CBSNewYork) According to new data released by marine scientists on Wednesday, Long Island is in crisis mode when it comes to its waterways.

As CBS 2s Jennifer McLogan reported, commercial fisherman Kenny Raynor, of East Quogue, has seen dramatic and worrisome changes along the coast of Long Island.

It affects everything the fish, the wildlife, the birds. Nothing comes into the bay because theres too much nitrogen in the bay, Raynor said.

Too much nitrogen in the water means marine life swims away or dies off. Fin fish and shellfish cannot survive without enough oxygen and toxic algae takes over, McLogan reported.

In a startling new study by Stony Brook scientists, more than two-thirds ofthe Islandscoastal waters this summer showed poor to lethal amounts of oxygen.

Researchers used water monitors at 30 sites;of those sites, 21 failed, McLogan reported.

Sites with the worst oxygen levels include Westhampton Beach, Huntington Bay, Shinnecock and Flanders Bay.

By makingcontinuous measurements 24-7 all through the summer, we caught these times and periods where the oxygen levels would go to zero and stay there for an extended period of timeabsolutely dangerous, Professor Christopher Gobler said.

More:
New Data Shows Alarming Nitrogen Levels In Long Islands Waterways

By Chris Flood | Oct 21, 2014

Milford There are two candidates running for the Senate District 18 seat. Incumbent F. Gary Simpson is a Republican from Milford. Challenger Patrick Emory is a Democrat from Lincoln.

District 18 stretches from the Delaware Bay to the Maryland line. It begins at the northern border of Sussex County and includes Milford, Ellendale and Greenwood.

Patrick Emory

Age: 55

Residence: Lincoln

Occupation: Director of Community Services for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Education: Bachelors of Science from Salisbury University; Graduate of the State Police Academy

Family: spouse, Judy; children, Hunter and Janna

Reason for running: I have new, innovative ideas to grow our economy and return our area to prosperity; we shouldn't accept the status quo, because it hasn't worked; I believe it is time for a fresh start for our district.

Read more here:
Emory taking on 15-year incumbent Simpson

Most people testifying Thursday evening about proposed rules aimed at reducing cesspools in the state agreed that protecting water quality is important. But many objected to what they considered draconian measures to accomplish it.

About 40 people attended a hearing in Hilo held by the state Department of Health as it considers rules that would prohibit construction of any new cesspools. It was the last of a series of hearings before the department decides whether to forward the rules to the governors office.

Rules would also require property owners to convert cesspools to septic systems within 180 days after sale of the property and reduce from 50 to 15 the number of dwellings in a subdivision before a centralized septic system is required.

Barbara Bell, in testimony, said she supported several parts of the rules, while she had concerns about the implementation of other parts.

Weve been waiting a very long time for this, said Bell, a former director of the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management.

Bell called the prohibition against new cesspools a no-brainer, but said there should be some kind of carrot, not just a stick, such as tax breaks for homeowners converting existing cesspools to septic systems.

But several Keaukaha residents said the countys current centralized sewer system isnt so clean either. The county was recently cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a failing outfall system that is leaking sewage into the nearshore waters east of Hilo Bay.

John McBride, who lives in Keaukaha, said the individual cesspools in the neighborhood havent caused problems. The problems came about when the county started consolidating the sewage and sending it to his neighborhood, he said.

I get to smell it, I get to taste it in the water, McBride said.

State Rep. Richard Onishi, D-Hilo, Keaau, Kurtistown, Volcano, questioned the process of developing the rules, saying the Health Department should have involved stakeholders early in the formulation of the rules, rather than presenting them as a fait accompli.

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Health Department hears cesspool concerns

Kayaker John Worbel, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, paddles toward the White Oak River near the Cedar Point Recreation Area last week as anglers Don and Peggy Cole, of Bristol, Va., return. The site is within the Croatan National Forest.

By Drew C. Wilson, Halifax Media Services

CAPE CARTERET | The Croatan National Forests most popular campground is getting a facelift.

The U.S. Forest Service announced it would spend about $700,000 in renovations to the Cedar Point Campground on the southwest corner of the Croatan National Forest near Cape Carteret.

Its exciting to know that they are renovating this place. Well definitely come back next year, said camper Aleah Schoengut of Clarksville, Tenn.

She stayed two nights last week at the campsite with her husband and dog. She said the family likes the Cedar Point site because of its proximity to the beach and its forested setting.

The campground, located on the White Oak River, will close on Tuesday for the five-month renovation project that involves replacement of an aging and failing sewer system, relocation of a sewer dump station for recreational vehicles, an upgrade of electrical systems at campsites from 30 amps to 50 amps, renovation to the campsites and renovation to the bathroom and shower building with water-saving fixtures.

This project is a substantial investment in the Croatan National Forest and the community as a whole, Croatan District Ranger Jim Gumm said. The large dollar figure reflects the amount of work thats needed at the site and the important role this premier recreation destination plays in North Carolina.

The campground has 40 camp sites with nearby bathroom and showers, electrical hookups and available potable water.

Im glad theyre doing the work on it, said camper David Bobbitt of Littleton. It took a long time.

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Popular Croatan campground to get $700,000 facelift

CEDAR POINT | The Croatan National Forests most popular campground is getting a facelift.

The U.S. Forest Service announced it would spend about $700,000 in renovations to the Cedar Point Campground on the southwest corner of the Croatan National Forest near Cape Carteret.

Its exciting to know that they are renovating this place. Well definitely come back next year, said camper Aleah Schoengut, of Clarksville, Tenn.

She stayed two nights recently at the campsite with her husband and dog. She said the family likes the Cedar Point site because of its proximity to the beach and its forested setting.

The campground, located on the White Oak River, will close on Tuesday for the five-month renovation project that involves replacement of an aging and failing sewer system, relocation of a sewer dump station for recreational vehicles, an upgrade of electrical systems at campsites from 30 amps to 50 amps, renovation to the campsites and renovation to the bathroom and shower building with water-saving fixtures.

This project is a substantial investment in the Croatan National Forest and the community as a whole, Croatan District Ranger Jim Gumm said. The large dollar figure reflects the amount of work thats needed at the site and the important role this premier recreation destination plays in North Carolina.

The campground has 40 camp sites with nearby bathroom and showers, electrical hookups and available potable water.

Im glad theyre doing the work on it, said camper David Bobbitt, of Littleton. It took a long time.

Bobbitt said he has been coming to the campground for the last four or five years with his wife Grace.

It got so the septic system needed work on it, Bobbitt said. We didnt come much this year simply because they said they were going to be closing it. Its a fantastic park and its usually filled up. We really enjoy it.

Continue reading here:
Croatan campground to get $700,000 facelift

OWASCO | A proposed third sewer district would improve Owasco Lake water quality by transitioning homeowners from septic to a sewer system, said Town of Owasco Supervisor Ed Wagner.

A third sewer district is proposed from south of Burtis Point to Koenig Point and would affect approximately 200 residents, several across the border in Niles.

Property owners in this area currently operate on-site subsurface wastewater treatment systems, or septic systems.

This technology, Wagner said, is limited.

"Septic is useful for solid waste," he said, but becomes problematic when it comes to liquids.

Septic infrastructure is typically complemented by a leaching system of holding tanks, dry wells or leach fields.

"Some are just not built to today's standards," Wagner said.

The supervisor estimates septic replacement costs to reach $15,000, or more if an aerobic digester is needed.

Periodic septic system monitoring by the Cayuga County Department of Health investigate complaints of septic failures. Liquid waste, which is not unlike cow manure, runs the risk of eventually finding its way into the lake, a drinking water source for as many as 50,000 people, Wagner said.

"Liquids leach out to ground water," he said. "Kind of like what we're complaining about with cows (manure) in the watershed.

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Proposed Owasco sewer district could improve lake water quality

Campaign contributions The Daily Briefing Buckeye Forum Podcast

The Dispatchpublic affairs team talks politics and tackles state and federal government issues in the Buckeye Forum podcast.

After a huge toxic-algae bloom in the western part of Lake Erie contaminated Toledos public water supply this summer, environmentalists, politicians and scientists scrambled.

Summits were held. Money was allocated for research and infrastructure improvements. Bills were introduced.

But state lawmakers and agency directors have been reluctant to pass regulations that would limit farm runoff, one of the major contributors to phosphorus and nitrogen in watersheds. Both chemicals help create algae blooms in lakes worldwide.

In fact, little has been done to limit farm runoff despite years of blooms that have affected as many as 19 lakes in Ohio since 2010. Erie has endured even larger blooms than the one that forced Toledo officials to tell 500,000 residents to keep their taps closed for two days.

And despite calls from various groups, the state wont declare the Maumee River in distress, a designation that would allow tougher restrictions on farm fertilizers. That has some groups wondering about the agriculture industrys influence at the Statehouse.

The agriculture industry, including fertilizer manufacturers, has given nearly $3.1 million to political candidates, parties and ballot issues in Ohio since 2010, according to the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization Follow the Money, which tracks campaign contributions and industry influence.

Of that $3.1 million, the Ohio Farm Bureau and the bureaus Agriculture for Good Government political-action committee contributed about $766,000 about one-quarter of the total agriculture contributions.

Environmental groups, by comparison, donated less than $112,000 over that same time period.

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Agriculture industry has history of making political donations

Utilities View Larger Local More Local Stories US & World More US & World Stories Local Stories from ThisWeek More Articles By Earl Rinehart The Columbus Dispatch Sunday September 21, 2014 10:55 AM

Diane Mays cant wait for the lines to be laid that will bring drinking water to her Mifflin Township home for the first time in 20 years. Shes worried, though, about something else that will flow to her home the highest water rate in the county.

Franklin County system users pay 84 percent more than Columbus residents pay for water, according to the county sanitary engineer department. Like most Columbus suburbs, the county buys its water from the city.

This is a very, very low-income community, Mays said of her Leonard Park neighborhood. She already has a lien of at least $8,000 on her $100,000 market-value home for the sanitary sewer line the county installed about three years ago.

Still, the waterlines would mean that her son, Matt Bowen, would no longer have to make three trips a day to fill a 330-gallon tank in a pickup truck at a faucet outside the township hall to top off the leaky 1,025-gallon water tank at her house. Mays well has never pumped clean water. It ran dry about five years ago.

And I raised five kids in that home, Mays said, standing outside the ranch home on Missouri Avenue.

The township water has always been free, township Service Director D.J. Tharp said.

On the other side of Columbus in Franklin Township, residents of the Mon-E-Bak Farms neighborhood have water in their wells but cant drink it because its contaminated with their own sewage.

Leonard Park, squeezed into a corner of I-670 and Stelzer Road, and Mon-E-Bak, nestled in the crook of I-70 and Wilson Road, top a list of 20 unincorporated urban pockets slated to get waterlines. Work begins next month in Leonard Park; Mon-E-Bak must wait until 2016.

The average quarterly water and sewer bill for a Columbus family of three is about $184. For a resident of Dublin, where the median household income is $144,000, its $225. In Mon-E-Bak, where the average income is $18,000, and other areas served by the county, the bill will be around $332.

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Franklin County water comes at a high price