What is the future of on-site wastewater systems? This question was discussed at length by the planning committee in light of the fact that the number of on-site wastewater treatment systems are steadily increasing throughout the state and nation. Some on the committee saw the future as questionable at best and scary at worst while others saw a future involving more regulation, or looked towards more defined management as a key element. Despite this disparity of view points, the committee agreed that future environmental impacts must be minimized and public health must be maintained. The committee decided that this goal could be best secured by promoting proper site selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of on-site wastewater systems. In order to begin promoting these ideas one needs to look at the past to understand how we arrived where we are today and how we can move into the future without repeating the mistakes of the past. Furthermore, the committee recognized that a properly functioning system relies on several parameters. Based on this recognition the goals of the conference were set to include: a look at how a system and its components operate, illustration of how site conditions influence the system performance, and a description of the role of technology (innovative systems and components, planning and educational aids).
In today's world technology is playing a larger role in our day to day lives. Several innovative systems that are technically more advanced than a conventional gravity system have been approved in this state. Despite being technically advanced, these systems are based on the same basic principles that allow for treatment of wastewater. Recognizing and accepting this idea lead us to devote several talks to planning, installation, and post-installation issues and procedures. Soil is an extremely important component of an on-site wastewater system since the majority of wastewater treatment occurs in the soil. An entire session has been devoted to discussions of how the soil interacts and treats wastewater. The understanding of how a system works allows the field personnel to make sound decisions during the design and installation process. Such decisions need to be backed up and understood by well informed public officials. Once the system is installed it is up to the owner of the system to make certain it is properly maintained and operated. Many new homeowners may be unaware of the in and outs of an on-site wastewater system thus education becomes necessary. Use of technology may play a role here as well. The use of the World Wide Web is one way to get the word out about septic systems. The future of on-site wastewater systems is by no means clear, however by understanding the function, the form, and the processes involved we can begin to secure their future. In order to secure our future along with our environment we must make certain that people are educated about their systems operation and maintenance. In the end the future of on-site wastewater systems will be secured by integrating all aspects of system development (siting, installation, and landscaping) with ongoing education, research, and management programs.
Please address any questions to Dr. David Lindbo.
This page
(http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/plymouth/septic/98intro.html)
created by
Vera MacConnell,
Research Technician, I
on November 3, 1998.
Last Updated on 7/25/00 by Roland O.
Coburn, Research Tech. I