InspectAPedia ^®

Septic system contaminants: how to identify water and soil contaminants produced by onsite waste disposal systems InspectAPedia®  -     Septic system contaminants: identifying pathogens and nitrogen, nitrate, and nitrite contaminants produced in soil or water by onsite waste disposal systems

This document identifies and discusses the principal Nitrogen contaminants produced by septic systems or on-site waste disposal systems. This chapter discusses nitrogen and nitrate contaminants and links to sister documents discussing septic tank pathogens and other contaminants as well as to discussions of what to do about sewage backups in buildings and how to inspect and repair a septic system after flooding. We include discussion of health or other concerns with soil and groundwater contamination and with measures adopted to address these problems.

The photo above shows what dirt and sewage effluent may look like in a yard where the sewer line between the house and septic tank is damaged and leaking. Nitrates, nitrites, and sewage pathogens leaking from a septic system to the soil surface and subsoil waters are potential health hazards. More in-depth, un-biased, expert information on these topics and on building defect inspection, diagnosis, & repair can be found at "More Information below.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

INTRODUCTION - to Septic System Operation and Septic Contaminants

Initial sewage treatment occurs in the holding tank where solids and some greases are separated for later removal by a septic cleaning or pumping contractor. These contaminants must be hauled to an approved disposal site and are regulated.

The second phase of onsite waste treatment which also may occur in the holding tank or to some degree in soils of the absorption bed, is the removal of dissolved or emulsified contaminants.

The third and final phase of onsite waste treatment is the processing of pathogens in the clarified effluent. At onsite waste systems (private septic systems using, for example, a leach field), liquid waste leaving the absorption bed seeps into the ground where it should be processed by a biomass of bacteria whose purpose is to digest certain pathogens, leaving the remaining effluent sufficiently sanitary as to not be considered a groundwater contaminant.

Not only are there defects which prevent adequate biomass treatment - thus releasing contaminated effluent into local soils, streams, and possibly wells, but further, as this water passes through local soils it may pick or contain up other contaminants not adequately processed by the biomass. Of these nitrogen (discussed first below) is a major concern. Other contaminants that may be conveyed to nearby streams or wells includes soil particles, heavy metals, organic compounds, animal waste, and, if the system is in a more urban area, potentially oil and grease.

This paper collects and discusses various contaminants that can be expected to escape the third phase of septic treatment just named. Separately I discuss the causes of septic system failure and their remedy. See More Information below.

NITROGEN CONTAMINATION: nitrogen discharge from sewage treatment plants

New York -- January 11, 2006. New York City will spend more than $700 million on advanced water treatment systems to help restore Long Island Sound's water quality by upgrading municipal sewage treatment plants over the coming decade in order to reduce the discharge of nitrogen.

Nitrogen in treated sewage effluent causes a number of problems including excessive algae growth, reduced oxygen in water, and the death of fish, shellfish, and plants. The project will address Jamaica Bay and other water systems in the area. -- New York Times B4, 1/11/2006.

NITROGEN REFERENCES - Nitrogen in sewage

That nitrogen release is a worldwide concern is evident from these example reports on nitrogen and sewage treatment.

Israel: Evaluation of Pollution in the Gulf of Eilat - Report For the Ministries of Infrastructure, Environment and Agriculture.

"There is consensus that the water clarity and coral reefs of Eilat are deteriorating. The widely suggested explanation for the degradation is that Eilat waters are suffering from sustained inputs of organic carbon and nutrients.

The International Expert Team (IET) was tasked to identify existing and potential sources of pollution; assess the carrying capacity of the Gulf for fish-farming; and formulate recommendations for minimization of pollution and environmental pressures. The IET considered 10 factors contributing to pollution in the Gulf: phosphate dust, sewage, fish-farms, groundwater inputs, siltation, marina activities, oil, tourist diving activities, water temperature, and port-ballast water.

The IET recognizes that there have been multiple stressors on the coral reefs of Eilat over the past 25 years, and these are discussed and ranked in the report. Presently, environmental pressures include: 1) continued inputs of nutrients from Aqaba phosphate dust, Aqaba sewage, and fish farms; 2) siltation from construction; 3) diving activities and, perhaps, 4) increased water temperature."

" In the past 25 years, total nitrogen in the water of the northern Gulf appears to have doubled, but varies seasonally. The large seasonal fluctuations are approximately equivalent to all the nitrogen input from fish-farms over the last 10 years and one-fourth of all the nitrogen input from sewage over the last 30 years;..."

China: The Problems and Countermeasures on Agricultural Sewage Irrigation in China - Yang Jifu (Irrigation and Drainage Department,IWHR)

"Abstract Due to the lack of agricultural water resources and the continuously increasing volume of sewage discharging all over the country, sewage has already become an important water resources for agriculture irrigation in the suburbs near many big cities in the North.In 1991 sewage irrigation area has reached 3 million hectares about 6%of the total irrigation area.

On the one hand, sewage irrigation alleviates agricultural water shortage, and on the other hand, it reduces the harmful impact on water environment by discharging sewage. However,three big problems on sewage irrigation have been existing for many years. They are the low water quality, the blind development on irrigation area and the backward research and management.

Thus, the sewage irrigation has become one of the three sources of water environment worsening in the village.It has been jeopardizing not only the quality of food and drinking water in the irrigation area, but also the food safety of 1.6 billion populations until the 21 st century.The following suggestions and countermeasures are provided in the Paper."

PATHOGENS in SEWAGE

See Septic Tank Pathogens in Sludge and Floating Scum for a list and discussion of of the common pathogens and other contaminants in residential sewage.

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners
• Septic Contaminants, identifying - what are the Nitrogen contaminants produced by septic systems and what can be done about them if they escape initial treatment?
• Septic Tank Pathogens in Sludge and Floating Scum: what makes up the contents of residential sewage
• Measuring Septic Sludge & Scum Levels in Septic Tanks - Measuring the Level of Accumulated Solids, Sludge and Floating Scum in Treatment Tanks
• Septic Contaminants, identifying - what are the contaminants produced by septic systems and what can be done about them if they escape initial treatment? (this web page)
• Sewage and Septic Contamination in Residential Buildings - inspecting and testing for bacterial contamination after a sewage spill: consumer information and expert resources
• Septic Flood Response when and what to do to a septic system after area flooding


• The Septic Information Website - Inspecting, Designing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems
• Remediation of Sewage Contaminated Crawlspaces - Byjim Holland, CR, "Cleaning and Restoration," July 1999, pp 22-24
• Escherichia coli O157:H7- US CDC
• Demistifying Ecoli - Federation of Ontario Cottagers
• Microbiology home page - US EPA
• Cost effective testing for blackwater contamination in buildings Aerotech Labs
• Indicator organisms, testing for sewage contamination in buildings Aerotech Labs

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting