Connecticut has implemented nitrogen credit trading as a method of first controlling and then,
reducing the concentration of nitrogen being discharged into the Long Island Sound. So far, it is
costing the state some money, as many of the nitrogen producing sewage treatment plants are back
fitting nitrogen-removal technologies. This reduces the inventory of nitrogen available for trading and
requires that the state pay the difference. Soon, the cost to upgrade older sewage treatment plants
will rival the cost of new construction. Some older cities have wastewater infrastructure dating to the
19th century, even with upgrades and repairs; the negative impact on the environment is measured
in lost shellfish beds, crashing fish populations, algal blooms and large areas of hypoxia. At some
point, the new construction option seems to make sense.
The same principles apply to the residential subsurface sewage disposal systems. I constantly hear,
“There is nothing wrong with my system, just look at my yard.” All septic systems have an impact on
the environment. The key is to minimize that impact. Cesspools offer limited treatment and are best
described as 19th century sewage injection units. Undersized septic tanks are also problematic; the
effluent needs to “rest” in the tank for at least 24 hours. If you have a 500-gallon tank, and you
entertain 6 people for dinner that tank functions more like a cesspool, a sewage injection unit. For
those of you with 250-gallon tanks; hmm, you can do the math. Most people never consider asking
their neighbor about septic tank capacity. Wouldn’t that be an interesting exercise? And remember
groundwater doesn’t care about property lines. So, you ask, what is the right size septic tank for my
living situation? A three-bedroom home is required to use a minimum 1000-gallon tank. If you add a
garbage disposal, you should have a 1250-gallon tank, and each additional bedroom adds 250
gallons to the minimum requirement. So, a four-bedroom home, with a garbage disposal, requires a
minimum 1500-gallon septic tank. Did you happen to notice how many times I used the word
“minimum”? That’s right; the Connecticut Public Health Code only requires a minimum standard! For
comparison purposes, consider spending a day in “minimum land”. Wake up with the minimum time
to get to work or school. (For most of us, that is normal.) Commute at the minimum speed, with
minimum gas in the tank. Do just the minimum required at work or school. How does minimal Fire or
Police protection sound? Or, minimal insurance coverage, building quality, plumbing or electrical…
This is one of my personal favorites; nuclear power plants run with minimal procedures with minimal
supervision and minimal oversight. Or, submarines built to minimum standards. Have you noticed
that the really important things in life seem to have a margin, exceeding the minimum standards? In
school, I’d rather earn an A or B, instead of a C or D. Minimum wage with minimum performance
evaluations, well, you get the idea.
When upgrading a septic system, a wise homeowner will opt for a margin of safety. That extra
capacity will cost more, now, but with inflation, an addition just a few years down the road will cost a
whole lot more! A complete system cost less than 500 dollars in 1950. A new septic system adds
value to an existing home. One of the first questions in a real estate transaction, “How is the septic?”
And, “Just look at my yard”, does not satisfy the question. Now, prices are adjusted downward when
the septic system is an issue. Or, take the chance, buy the house with an “as is” septic system. Did
you change the usage? A young, growing family moving into an established or retiring family home
will drastically change the performance of the septic system. Several people have come into Town
Hall, after the fact, asking for advice and guidance in the repair of an older, overloaded system. “Just
look at my yard, now!”
Many other states have recognized this situation and passed legislation that funds the upgrade,
replacement or repair of older septic systems. After all, they are the sewage treatment plants for
someone. Many other states allow for and actually fund the installation of modern technologies in
residential settings. It’s frustrating to look at 30-year-old technologies applied and functioning in
nearby states and not being able to employ those methods close to home.
Steve Luckett
WPCA Coordinator