Research article
03 Aug 2012
Research article | 03 Aug 2012
Domestic wells have high probability of pumping septic tank leachate
J. E. Bremer and T. Harter
Related subject area
Hydrostratigraphic modeling using multiple-point statistics and airborne transient electromagnetic methods
Adrian A. S. Barfod, Ingelise Møller, Anders V. Christiansen, Anne-Sophie Høyer, Júlio Hoffimann, Julien Straubhaar, and Jef Caers
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3351–3373, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3351-2018,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3351-2018, 2018
Short summary
A risk assessment methodology to evaluate the risk failure of managed aquifer recharge in the Mediterranean Basin
Paula Rodríguez-Escales, Arnau Canelles, Xavier Sanchez-Vila, Albert Folch, Daniel Kurtzman, Rudy Rossetto, Enrique Fernández-Escalante, João-Paulo Lobo-Ferreira, Manuel Sapiano, Jon San-Sebastián, and Christoph Schüth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3213–3227, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3213-2018,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3213-2018, 2018
Short summary
Estimating drought risk across Europe from reported drought impacts, drought indices, and vulnerability factors
Veit Blauhut, Kerstin Stahl, James Howard Stagge, Lena M. Tallaksen, Lucia De Stefano, and Jürgen Vogt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2779–2800, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2779-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2779-2016, 2016
Estimating the flood frequency distribution at seasonal and annual time scales
E. Baratti, A. Montanari, A. Castellarin, J. L. Salinas, A. Viglione, and A. Bezzi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 4651–4660, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4651-2012,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4651-2012, 2012
Cited articles
Ahmed, W., Neller, R., and Katouli, M.: Evidence of septic system failure determined by a bacterial biochemical fingerprinting method, J. Appl. Microbiol., 98, 910–920, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2004.02522.x, 2005.
Alhajjar, B., Stramer, S., Cliver, D., and Harkin, J.: Transport modelling of biological tracers from septic systems, Water Res., 22, 907–915, https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(88)90028-0, 1988.
Arnade, L.: Seasonal correlation of well contamination and septic tank distance, Ground Water, 37, 920–923, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1999.tb01191.x, 1999.
Bauman, B. and Schäfer, W.: Estimating ground-water quality impacts from on-site sewage treatment systems, in: Proceedings of the Fourth National Home Sewage Treatment Symposium, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, 285–294, 1985.
BGR: WHYMAP – World-wide Hydrogeological Mapping and Assessment Programme, http://www.whymap.org/whymap/EN/Home/whymap_node.html, last access: 12 June 2012.
Bicki, T., Brown, R., Collins, M., Mansell, R., and Rothwell, D.: Impact of on-site sewage disposal systems on surface and ground water quality – Summary of a report to the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Notes in Soil Science No. 17, Soil Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida Location, Gainesville, FL, USA, 1985.
Bishop, C., Wallace, J., and Lowe, M.: Recommended septic tank soil-absorption system densities for the principal valley-fill aquifer, Sanpete Valley, Sanpete County, Utah, Report of Investigation 259, Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2007.
Borchardt, M., Bradbury, K., Alexander Jr., E., Kolberg, R., Alexander, S., Archer, J., Braatz, L., Forest, B., Green, J., and Spencer, S.: Norovirus outbreak caused by a new septic system in a dolomite aquifer, Ground Water, 49, 85–97, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2010.00686.x, 2011.
Brown, K. W.: An assessment of the impact of septic leachfields, home lawn fertilization, and agricultural activities on groundwater quality, Report to the new jersey pinelands commission, K. W. Drown Assoc., College Station, Texas, 1980.
Burow, K., Shelton, J., Hevesi, J., and Weissmann, G.: Hydrogeologic characterization of the Modesto area, Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5232, US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, 2004.
Canter, L.: Nitrates in groundwater, CRC, Chelsea, Michigan, USA, 1997.
Carrara, C., Ptacek, C., Robertson, W., Blowes, D., Moncur, M., Sverko, E., and Backus, S.: Fate of pharmaceutical and trace organic compounds in three septic system plumes, Ontario, Canada, Environ. Sci. Technol., 42, 2805–2811, https://doi.org/10.1021/es070344q, 2008.
Carroll, S., Goonetilleke, A., Thomas, E., Hargreaves, M., Frost, R., and Dawes, L.: Integrated risk framework for onsite wastewater treatment systems, Environ. Manage., 38, 286–303, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-005-0280-5, 2006.
Charles, K., Ashbolt, N., Roser, D., McGuinness, R., and Deere, D.: Effluent quality from 200 on-site sewage systems: design values for guidelines, Water Sci. Technol., 51, 163–169, 2005.
Corbett, R., Dillon, K., Burnett, W., and Schaefer, G.: The spatial variability of nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in a sand aquifer influenced by onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems: a case study on St. George Island, Florida, Environ. Pollut., 117, 337–345, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(01)00168-3, 2002.
Dawes, L. and Goonetilleke, A.: An investigation into the role of site and soil characteristics in onsite sewage treatment, Environ. Geol., 44, 467–477, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0781-6, 2003.
DeBorde, D., Woessner, W., Lauerman, B., and Ball, P.: Virus occurrence and transport in a school septic system and unconfined aquifer, Ground Water, 36, 825–834, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1998.tb02201.x, 1998.
DeSimone, L.: Quality of Water from Domestic Wells in Principal Aquifers of the United States, 1991–2004, Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5227, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, 2009.
Drake, V. and Bauder, J.: Ground water nitrate-nitrogen trends in relation to urban development, Helena, Montana, 1971–2003, Ground Water Monitor. Remed., 25, 118–130, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.2005.0017.x, 2005.
Dubrovsky, N., Burow, K., Clark, G., Gronberg, J., Hamilton, P., Hitt, K., Mueller, D., Munn, M., Nolan, B., Puckett, L., Rupert, M., Short, T., Spahr, N., Sprague, L., and Wilber, W.: Nutrients in the Nation's Streams and Groundwater, 1992–2004, Circular 1350, US Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA, 2010.
Fong, T., Mansfield, L., Wilson, D., Schwab, D., Molloy, S., and Rose, J.: Massive microbiological groundwater contamination associated with a waterborne outbreak in Lake Erie, South Bass Island, Ohio, Environ. Health Persp., 115, 856–864, https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9430, 2007.
Frazier, C., Graham, R., Shouse, P., Yates, M., and Anderson, M.: A field study of water flow and virus transport in weathered granitic bedrock, Vadose Zone J., 1, 113–124, https://doi.org/10.2113/1.1.113, 2002.
Gerba, C.: Applied and theoretical aspects of virus adsorption to surfaces, Adv. Appl. Microbiol., 30, 133–168, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2164(08)70054-6, 1984.
Gerba, C. and James, E.: Sources of pathogenic microorganisms and their fate during land application of wastes, J. Environ. Qual., 34, 42–48, 2005.
Godfrey, E., Woessner, W., and Benotti, M.: Pharmaceuticals in On-Site Sewage Effluent and Ground Water, Western Montana, Ground Water, 45, 263–271, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2006.00288.x, 2007.
Gray, N.: Drinking Water Quality: Problems and Solutions, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2008.
Hantzsche, N. and Finnemore, E.: Predicting Ground-Water Nitrate-Nitrogen Impacts, Ground Water, 30, 490–499, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1992.tb01524.x, 1992.
Harden, H., Roeder, E., Hooks, M., and Chanton, J.: Evaluation of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in shallow karst terrain, Water Res., 42, 2585–2597, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2008.01.008, 2008.
Harmsen, E., Converse, J., and Anderson, M.: Application of the Monte Carlo simulation procedure to estimate water-supply well/septic tank-drainfield separation distances in the Central Wisconsin sand plain, J> Contam. Hydrol., 8, 91–109, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-7722(91)90010-X, 1991a.
Harmsen, E., Converse, J., Anderson, M., and Hoopes, J.: A model for evaluating the three-dimensional groundwater dividing pathline between a contaminant source and a partially penetrating water-supply well, J. Contam. Hydrol., 8, 71–90, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-7722(91)90009-P, 1991b.
Harter, T., Lund, J., Darby, J., Fogg, G., Howitt, R., Jessoe, K., Pettygrove, G., Quinn, J., Viers, J., Boyle, D., Canada, H., De LaMora, N., Dzurella, K., Fryjoff-Hung, A., Hollander, A., Honeycutt, K., Jenkins, M., Jensen, V. B., King, A., Kourakos, G., Liptzin, D., Lopez, E., Mayzelle, M., McNally, A., Medellin-Azuara, J., and Rosenstock, T.: Addressing Nitrate in California's Drinking Water with a Focus on Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley Groundwater, Report for the State Water Resources Control Board Report to the Legislature, http://groundwaternitrate.ucdavis.edu, last access: 12 June 2012.
Heberer, T.: Tracking persistent pharmaceutical residues from municipal sewage to drinking water, J. Hydrol., 266, 175–189, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(02)00165-8, 2002.
Horn, J. and Harter, T.: Domestic well capture zone and influence of the gravel pack length, Ground Water, 47, 277–286, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2008.00521.x, 2009.
Humphrey Jr., C., O'Driscoll, M., and Zarate, M.: Controls on groundwater nitrogen contributions from on-site wastewater systems in coastal North Carolina, Water Sci. Technol., 62, 1448, https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.417, 2010.
Kaplan, O.: Septic Systems Handbook, Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Michigan, USA, 1991.
Katz, B., Lindner, J., and Ragone, S.: A Comparison of Nitrogen in Shallow Ground Water from Sewered and Unsewered Areas, Nassau County, New York, from 1952 through 1976a, Ground Water, 18, 607–616, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1980.tb03655.x, 1980.
Katz, B., Eberts, S., and Kauffman, L.: Using Cl/Br ratios and other indicators to assess potential impacts on groundwater quality from septic systems: A review and examples from principal aquifers in the United States, J. Hydrol., 397, 151–166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.11.017, 2011.
Kerfoot, W.: Is private well protection adequate when ground water flow is ignored, in: Focus on Eastern Ground Water Issues, National Water Well Association, Burlington, Vermont, 1987.
Kunstmann, H. and Kastens, M.: Determination of stochastic well head protection zones by direct propagation of uncertainties of particle tracks, J. Hydrol., 323, 215–229, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.09.003, 2006.
Lipp, E., Farrah, S., and Rose, J.: Assessment and impact of microbial fecal pollution and human enteric pathogens in a coastal community, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 42, 286–293, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00152-1, 2001.
Lowe, M., Wallace, J., and Bishop, C.: Ground-water quality classification and recommended septic tank soil-absorption-system density maps, Cache Valley, Cache County, Utah, Special Study 101, Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2003.
Lowe, M., Sabbah, W., and Wallace, J.: Ground-water model based septic-tank density recommendations using a mass balance approach to protect ground-water quality, Cedar Valley, Iron County, Utah, in: Rocky Mountain (63rd Annual) and Cordilleran (107th Annual) Joint Meeting (18–20 May 2011), vol. 43, Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO, USA, p. 74, 2011.
Miller, J.: Nitrate contamination of the water-table aquifer in Delaware, Report of Investigation 20, Delaware Geological Survey, Newark, DE, USA, , 1972.
Miller, L. and Ortiz, R.: Ground-Water Quality and Potential Effects of Individual Sewage Disposal System Effluent on Ground-Water Quality in Park County, Colorado, 2001–2004, Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5220, US Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA, 2007.
Musolff, A.: Micropollutants: challenges in hydrogeology, Hydrogeol. J., 17, 763–766, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0438-y, 2009.
Nicosia, L., Rose, J., Stark, L., and Stewart, M.: A field study of virus removal in septic tank drainfields, J. Environ. Qual., 30, 1933, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2001.1933, 2001.
Nizeyimana, E., Petersen, G., Anderson, M., Evans, B., Hamlett, J., and Baumer, G.: Statewide GIS/census data assessment of nitrogen loadings from septic systems in Pennsylvania, J. Environ. Qual., 25, 346–354, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1996.00472425002500020020x, 1996.
Osenbrück, K., Gläser, H., Knöller, K., Weise, S., Möder, M., Wennrich, R., Schirmer, M., Reinstorf, F., Busch, W., and Strauch, G.: Sources and transport of selected organic micropollutants in urban groundwater underlying the city of Halle (Saale), Germany, Water Res., 41, 3259–3270, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2007.05.014, 2007.
Pang, L., Nokes, C., Simunek, J., Kikkert, H., and Hector, R.: Modeling the impact of clustered septic tank systems on groundwater quality, Vadose Zone J., 5, 599–609, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2005.0108, 2006.
Perkins, R.: Septic tanks, lot size and pollution of water table aquifers, J. Environ. Health, 46, 298–304, 1984.
Pitt, W.: Effects of septic tank effluent on groundwater quality, Dade County, Florida – An interim report, Open-File Report 74-010, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, 1974.
Pitt, W.: Effects of septic tank effluent on groundwater quality, Dade County, Florida, Open-File Report 75-607, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, 1975.
Robertson, W. and Cherry, J.: Hydrogeology of an unconfined sand aquifer and its effect on the behavior of nitrogen from a large-flux septic system, Hydrogeol. J., 0, 32–44, https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00010960, 1992.
Robertson, W., Cherry, J., and Sudicky, E.: Ground-Water Contamination from Two Small Septic Systems on Sand Aquifers, Ground Water, 29, 82–92, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1991.tb00500.x, 1991.
Rudel, R., Melly, S., Geno, P., Sun, G., and Brody, J.: Identification of alkylphenols and other estrogenic phenolic compounds in wastewater, septage, and groundwater on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Environ. Sci. Technol., 32, 861–869, https://doi.org/10.1021/es970723r, 1998.
Scandura, J. and Sobsey, M.: Viral and bacterial contamination of groundwater from on-site sewage treatment systems, Water Sci. Technol., 35, 141–146, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1223(97)00249-7, 1997.
Schmidt, K.: Nitrate in Ground Water of the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area, Californiaa, Ground Water, 10, 50–64, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1972.tb02900.x, 1972.
Standley, L., Rudel, R., Swartz, C., Attfield, K., Christian, J., Erickson, M., and Brody, J.: Wastewater-contaminated groundwater as a source of endogenous hormones and pharmaceuticals to surface water ecosystems, Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 27, 2457–2468, https://doi.org/10.1897/07-604.1, 2008.
Stanford, B., Amoozegar, A., and Weinberg, H.: The impact of co-contaminants and septic system effluent quality on the transport of estrogens and nonylphenols through soil, Water Res., 44, 1598–1606, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.11.011, 2010.
Swartz, C., Reddy, S., Benotti, M., Yin, H., Barber, L., Brownawell, B., and Rudel, R.: Steroid estrogens, nonylphenol ethoxylate metabolites, and other wastewater contaminants in groundwater affected by a residential septic system on Cape Cod, MA, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 4894–4902, https://doi.org/10.1021/es052595+, 2006.
SWRCB: Onsite wastewater treatment system policy – Draft substitute environmental document, http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/owts/docs/draft_final_sed2012.pdf, last access: 12 June 2012.
Trela, J. and Douglas, L.: Soils septic systems and cyrrying capacity in the pine barrens, in: Proc. and Papers of First Res. Conf., N.J., Pine Barrens, 37–58, 1978.
US DC: American Housing Survey for the United States: 2007, H150/07, http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/h150-07.pdf (last access: 12 June 2012), 2008.
US EPA: The Report to Congress: Waste Disposal Practices and Their Effects on Groundwater, EPA 570/9-77-002, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C., USA, 1977.
US EPA: National Water Quality Inventory: 1996 Report to Congress. EPA 841-R-97-008, http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/cwa/305b/96report_index.cfm, 1998.
US EPA: National Water Quality Inventory: National Water Quality Inventory: 2000 Report, EPA-841-R-02-001, http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/cwa/305b/upload/2009_01_22_305b_2004report_2004_305Breport.pdf, 2002a.
US EPA: Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, EPA/625/R-00/008, http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/septic.cfm?page_id=268, 2002b.
US EPA: Drinking Water From Household Wells, EPA 816-K-02-003, http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/upload/2003_06_03_privatewells_pdfs_household_wells.pdf, 2002c.
US EPA: Voluntary national guidelines for management of onsite and clustered (decentralized) wastewater treatment systems, EPA 832-B-03-001, http://www.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs/septic_guidelines.pdf, 2003a.
US EPA: National primary drinking water standards, EPA 816-F-03-016, http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/consumer/pdf/mcl.pdf, 2003b.
US EPA: Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems: A Program Strategy, EPA 832-R-05-002, http://www.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs/septic_program_strategy.pdf, 2005.
Verstraeten, I., Fetterman, G., Meyer, M., Bullen, T., and Sebree, S.: Use of tracers and isotopes to evaluate vulnerability of water in domestic wells to septic waste, Ground Water Monitor. Remed., 25, 107–117, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.2005.0015.x, 2005.
Whitehead, J. and Geary, P.: Geotechnical aspects of domestic on-site effluent management systems, Aust. J. Earth Sci., 47, 75–82, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0952.2000.00769.x, 2000.
Wilcox, J., Gotkowitz, M., Bradbury, K., and Bahr, J.: Using Groundwater Models to Evaluate Strategies for Drinking-Water Protection in Rural Subdivisions, J. Am. Plan. Assoc., 76, 295–304, https://doi.org/10.1080/01944361003742403, 2010.
Woodson, R. D.: Water wells and septic systems handbook, Irwin/McGraw Hill,, New York, NY, USA, 2003.
Wright, J.: Water quality and solid waste problems in rural new mexico and some solutions, in: Water pollution control in low density areas, edited by: Jewell, W. and Swan, R., University Press of New England, Hanover, New Hampshire, 1975.
Yates, M.: Septic Tank Density and Ground-Water Contamination, Ground Water, 23, 586–591, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1985.tb01506.x, 1985.
Yates, M.: Microorganisms: The drinking water contaminats of the '90's?, Cooperative Extension University of California Environmental Toxicology Newsletter 11(1), University of California, 1991.
Yates, M. and Yates, S.: Septic Tank Setback Distances: A Way to Minimize Virus Contamination of Drinking Watera, Ground Water, 27, 202–208, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1989.tb00441.x, 1989.