Septic systems are an important part of rural living. Designed, installed, and maintained properly, they do a good job of treating human waste. Homeowners have a responsibility to properly use and maintain their septic system. If not properly maintained, septic systems can fail, potentially impacting both human health and the environment. Lakefront properties, in particular, are susceptible to degrading water quality, which in turn degrades property values. If a septic system fails and needs to be replaced, it almost always needs to be in a new location, which may be inconvenient for the homeowner and can be costly, up to $25,000! It pays to understand your septic system so that it can continue to function properly, protecting you and your neighbors’ health and the health of nearby surface waterbodies.
This talk will describe what a septic system is, how different systems work, what causes them to fail, and how homeowners can take proper care of septic systems so they continue to function properly. It will also cover a recently enacted bill that will require DHHS to revise septic system design standards to minimize nutrient pollution of surface and groundwaters. In the meantime, lake associations can develop guidelines or ordinances for owners of lakefront properties to install septic systems to reduce nutrient impacts. Several communities are in the process of developing guidelines or ordinances for that purpose.
This talk will be provided by David Rocque, retired Maine state soil scientist, site evaluator, and overall septic system guru. David’s workshop is geared toward homeowners, but is also relevant to anyone interested in learning about the latest system technology, soils, disposal fields, and/or siting concerns.
