Our Watershed
Septic Systems Contribute Nitrogen to Local Waterways
Older septic systems in the critical area can discharge significant amounts of nitrogen into the Severn and Magothy rivers.
During the last several decades, many of the summer cottages that had been constructed along the Severn and Magothy Rivers were converted into year-round residences. Typically, the homes in these waterfront communities were situated on narrow lots and relied upon septic systems for wastewater removal. As the years progressed, the number of homes in these older communities increased and, during the last 20 years, the size of many of the homes increased as well. Unfortunately, it was not always possible to increase the size of the septic systems on these properties due to the small lots on which the homes were situated. According to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), older septic systems do not efficiently remove nitrogen from…
Mark Takacs
3:23 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
WOOPS.... It also does not pay to improve the existing delivery pipes that get the wastewater to the treatment plant....just ask Baltimore City.....they would be first in line. Ask why wastewater treatment plants have overflows? The power goes out, a clog in the pipe, but the best ones happen during heavy rains. Why does it happen during heavy rains.....because the pipes leak allowing rain water … more ›