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raw waste into the soils, which can then pollute groundwater sources. The untreated waste contains large amounts of organic materials. Those organic materials, once released into a surface water system, provide a great food source for bacteria residing in the water. Therefore, Failed Septic Systems (FSS) are a source of organic nutrient enrichment. The bacteria must break down the organic molecules into smaller particles they can then utilize as an energy source. This process requires oxygen, and as the bacteria break down and digest the organics, they burn off large amounts of oxygen. This leads to a condition in the water called anoxia, or low dissolved oxygen. This |
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condition will result in stream habitat that unsuitable for most aquatic macroorganisms. In time, as dissolved oxygen level nears depletion, the bacteria cannot process the organic materials as fast as they are supplied from the failed septic system. Because of this, the raw waste begins to accumulate and eventually moves downstream. The condition will spread further downstream and the effects of the condition will extend even further downstream, thereby creating significant stream reaches where very little to no aquatic life can be found. The anoxic condition of this water and accumulation of untreated waste not only creates problems for wildlife that would utilize or inhabit the water. This water resource may be a drinking water resource for a downstream community. In order to make the water safe for consumption, the water must be treated. And as the level of organic pollution increases, the level of treatment must be increased as well. This has the potential to cause treatment costs to increase dramatically. As previously mentioned, in the LBC watershed there are very few populated places. With small populations come small tax bases from which small communities can draw to pay the costs of operating a water treatment plant. As the increasing level of treatment causes costs to increase, those same small communities struggle to find funding for it. It becomes an unfortunate possibility that a community may have to take the risk of utilizing water that may not be adequately treated to prevent illness and the spread of waste-borne diseases. The Columbia County and Mahoning County Health Departments are charged with maintaining records and monitoring of these septic systems. However, the sheer number of systems far outweighs the manpower available from these agencies. Therefore, regular monitoring of septic systems is rarely completed. In the vast majority of cases, failed systems are only identified when citizens contact the agencies to report the possible presence of a failed system. In these cases, the nuisance septic complaints are investigated. If the system is failing, the system’s owner is informed of their responsibility to repair the system and any options which may be available to assist them in completing a repair or replacement. The common problem with FSS, aside form the water pollution they generate, is the cost associated with repairs or replacement. A septic repair can cost several thousand dollars, and replacement of system can cost as much as $12,000. Because of the substantial cost, many home and property owners that may have failed systems will not repair the system. Since the likelihood of the failed or failing system being reported to the health department or being discovered by a sanitarian is quite low, they will take the risk of not properly repairing the system in lieu of assuming the high cost of the repair. It is also generally the case that households or properties where systems are failed and not repaired are individuals that are poor, or low-income persons or families. The health departments have difficulty with handling such cases. Health departments have the authority to fine a property owner that is polluting land or water resources. However, it does little good for the agency to fine a property owner that cannot afford to repair a failed system, let alone pay the additional cost of a fine.
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“preservation and protection for future generations” |
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Water pooling over a failed septic system |
Finding and repairing failed septic systems |
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Because the LBC watershed is predominantly rural with few significantly populated areas, public sewage systems are not common. Septic systems are the predominant form of human waste disposal in the area. There are an estimated 35,000 septic systems in Columbiana County alone. Of that number, it is estimated that 23,000 of those systems lie within the LBC watershed. Septic systems are even present in areas where public sewer systems are available. When septic systems are no longer functioning properly, they can release raw sewage from homes directly into a LBC tributary or roadside ditch. Some failed systems may leak |
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Repairing a septic can be time-consuming and expensive. |
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Septic Systems |
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A donation of $10 or more will allow you to become a member of the Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation. |
