Cathy Rofshus, Making Waves

In the next few months, several property owners in the Shell Rock River Watershed District will receive notices that their septic systems needed to be checked. These notices are based on a search of Freeborn County records for sewer system permits. All rural properties using an on-site sewer system should have a permit on file. This permit indicates the type and age of system installed.

It may just be a case of missing paperwork, but &8220;no permit on file&8221; usually indicates one of the following problems:

– The system was installed with no permit. This means the system needs a compliance check to make sure it&8217;s functioning properly and not causing a health hazard such as sewage pooling on the ground surface.

– There is no sewage treatment system in place. Instead, the home or business discharges its wastewater to a &8220;straight pipe,&8221; meaning it&8217;s piped directly to a field drainage tile, wetland, pond, drainage ditch, stream or lake.

Should you be concerned about your septic system? Take this short quiz and find out.

1. Do you know what kind of sewage treatment system you have?

2. Has your septic tank been pumped in the last 5 years?

3. Do you have a copy of your sewer system permit?

4. Do you have a maintenance guide for your sewer system?

5. Does your septic system have a functioning drainfield to filter the wastewater?

If you answered &8220;no&8221; to any question, you should be concerned.

Call Freeborn County Environmental Services at 377-5186 for:

– Details of the Freeborn County Sewer System Loan Program

– Septic System Owner&8217;s Guide

– List of licensed sewer system contractors who perform compliance checks and provide services such tank pumping

As the Watershed District has worked with Freeborn County to develop its Pollution Prevention Program for on-site sewer systems in the last year, the public has asked many questions. Frequently asked questions include the following.

Q: Rural septic systems aren&8217;t the main causes of lake pollution so why are you requiring compliance checks and system upgrades?

A: A case study in the Seven Mile Creek Watershed District, north of Mankato, found that one failing septic system can be a major source of pollution. By working with a rural home owner, the watershed tested the creek before and after replacement of a straight-pipe system. In this case, the home discharged its wastewater through a field drainage tile to the creek, which was a quarter-mile from the home.

For the case study, watershed district staff monitored the levels of E. coli bacteria. E. coli bacteria are found in the intestine of animals, including humans. Their presence means that pathogens may be in the water. For E. coli, the federal standard for streams like Seven Creek is 126 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. This means that levels about 126 colonies per 100 milliliters is unsafe for full-contact recreation such as swimming.

The findings from the 2006 case study:

– Before the septic system was replaced, the average concentration of E. coli bacteria levels in the outlet pipe was 350 colonies per 100 milliliters, or almost three times the federal standard.

– The highest concentration documented was 7,000 colonies per 100 milliliters!

– After a new septic system was installed, the average concentration of E. coli fell to 8 colonies per 100 milliliters.

– Overall, the new system, which cost $9,100, reduced bacteria concentrations by 98 percent.

This case study shows that correcting one system can make a difference.

Q: Why aren&8217;t you doing something about the city of Albert Lea? They dump sewage in the lakes every time it rains.

A: Emergency dumping of wastewater in Albert Lea is serious but infrequent problem. During times of heavy rainfall, stormwater (rain water that runs off the land) can leak into wastewater pipes and overwhelm the city&8217;s treatment system. To prevent sewage from backing up into homes and businesses, the city sometimes bypasses (pumps) the wastewater into local lakes, either directly or through the stormwater system.

The city has taken major steps to prevent this emergency discharge. It now requires sump pumps to discharge to the stormwater system instead of the wastewater system.

The stormwater system drains to local lakes. The wastewater system goes to the treatment plant for &8220;cleaning&8221; before discharge to the Shell Rock River.

The city conducted a house-to-house inspection to ensure sump pumps are no longer connected to the wastewater system.

Now the city is requiring that foundation drains outlet to the stormwater system instead of the wastewater system. It is ensuring compliance through an inspection program.

Q: A new septic system can cost $10,000 or more. How am I supposed to afford that?

A: Freeborn County now offers a loan program to replace failing septic systems. Property owners pay back the loan through assessments on their property taxes.

If you receive a notice about your septic system, please respond politely. A compliance check is simply an inspection by a licensed contractor to determine how well a system is working. It may find that a system needs minor repairs or a complete replacement. The watershed district and county want to work with you to ensure the health and safety of the local community.

Cathy Rofshus is the outreach director for the Shell Rock River Watershed District. She can be reached at 377-5785.