Septic Systems and Source Water Protection

• EPA's septic system program
• Memorandum of Understanding to Improve the Management of Septic Systems Nationwide (PDF 9 pp, 274 K) - EPA and eight partner organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address environmental problems resulting from failures of septic systems.
• Septic and decentralized wastewater systems program strategy (PDF 16 pp, 3,297 K) - Presents EPA's vision, mission and actions to improve the performance of septic systems, thereby providing better protection of public health and water resources.
• Information is available to help homeowners understand the function and maintenance of septic systems.
• Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (PDF 19 pp, 2,337 K)
• Short version of the homeowner's guide (PDF 2 pp, 797 K)
• Homeowner Septic System Checklist (PDF 1 p, 293 K)
• A Guide for the Septic System Owner (PDF 19 pp, 386 K)

A Section 319 Success Story

The Coverdale Crossroads Community is in Sussex County, Delaware. Failing septic systems were resulting in contaminated drinking water wells and nutrient loss to surface water and ground water supplies. Most residents used a cesspool, a failed septic system or no system at all. Find out how Cloverdale Crossroads met this challenge at partners upgrade septic systems in coverdale crossroads.

Septic System Fact Sheets

• Managing Septic Systems to Prevent Drinking Water Contamination (PDF 5 pp, 133 K)
• New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC): Source Water Protection for Municipalities - This Manual focuses on five key areas of vulnerability identified in New England State Source Water Assessments -- inadequate local regulations and ordinances, underground storage tanks, onsite sewage disposal systems, hazardous materials storage, and stormwater runoff.
• Fact Sheet on Septics for Municipal Officials, New England Interstate Pollution Control Commission (PDF 2 pp, 203 K)

Septic and Source Water Protection Case Study

Scottsdale, AZ, one of the fastest growing areas in the U.S., provides water for its 218,000 residents through a variety of surface and ground water sources, the latter of which have become increasingly vulnerable to contamination by septic systems. The city is developing outreach materials for the public about septic systems, their operation, appropriate landscaping, preventing failures, and issues specific to septic systems and Scottsdale's arid environment. To complement this project, the city has undertaken a series of WHP efforts, including a well abandonment program, a planned well inventory and classification project, and continued well maintenance and sanitary sealing.

• Scottsdale, Arizona: education campaign to reduce threat from septic systems

Local Ordinance Examples

Many communities have ordinances in place to protect source water from contaminates from failing septic systems.

• Electronic ordinance compendium
• Clarke County, Virginia: standards and procedures for the siting and installation of subsurface septic systems (PDF 5 pp, 15 K)
• New Jersey: Sparta Township subsurface sewage disposal systems zoning ordinance (PDF 14 pp, 30 K)
• Olmsted County, Minnesota: sewage and wastewater treatment regulations (PDF 15 pp, 30 K)