Maintaining What You Can’t See: Understanding Decentralized Systems

According to the American Ground Water Trust (AGWT), approximately one-third of Americans have their own septic systems. Installation of a new 1,250-gallon onsite system can run a typical homeowner around $10,000, including permit fees, excavation costs, plumbing, and installation. This doesn’t even include the upkeep, such as pumping out the tank every three to five years and periodic inspections.  

A typical septic system consists of a septic tank and a drainfield (or a soil absorption field). The septic tank digests organic matter and separates floatable matter (e.g., oils and grease) and solids from the wastewater. Unfortunately, many septic system owners neglect proper maintenance, for many reasons. The laws regulating onsite wastewater systems can vary from state to state, and even county to county, which creates confusion. Often, maintenance becomes a lower priority for homeowners simply because it’s “out of sight and out of mind.” Onsite wastewater treatment systems are cost-effective and reliable and, when properly designed, installed, and maintained, they protect public health and the environment. A neglected system can eventually become an environmental hazard when residential wastewater is leached into the aquifer, potentially contaminating the local drinking water source. 

The EPA has stated that one out of every five homes has a septic tank. Inspection of the tank and the drainfield is a must for anyone buying a home with an onsite wastewater system, which is not typically included in a standard home inspection. Even nearby tree roots can damage a septic tank over time.   

Failing septic systems have caused significant problems all over the country, especially in rural and low-income areas. As a result, there is a push to force septic tank owners to tie into a centralized sewer system or transition to alternative technology. Florida is a perfect example of enforcing a new law (HB 1379) that requires property owners who apply for new septic tank permits to transition to an enhanced nutrient-reducing septic tank by July 1, 2030. These nitrogen-reducing septic tanks are now required in areas that contain a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) as part of the municipality or county capital improvement element of its comprehensive plan. This is to protect the area’s wildlife and aquifer source.  

Unfortunately, the biggest challenge facing rural America is that there is a significant lack of oversight and enforcement of operational and maintenance requirements to prevent septic systems from leaking. Cost is another major factor: septic systems can be expensive to install and maintain, creating a financial and often insurmountable burden for many low-income households.  

Homeowners should be kept informed on the latest rules and regulations regarding septic tank protocols. Since the goal is to keep their septic system performing to satisfactory standards, the following are some examples that individual states, tribes and local governments could do:  

• Provide homeowners with tips on how to properly maintain their septic tank in order to prevent potential contamination to their water supply.   
• Alert the public about regulations and potential changes, such as a transition from septic to sewer. For example, homeowners in Florida should be advised that many municipalities have chosen to implement new regulations by July 1st, 2030. New system permits will be required to install approved nitrogen-reducing systems otherwise known as Enhanced Nutrient Reducing-Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (ENR-OSTDS) to protect natural springs and vulnerable basins.  

If you or your community have questions or concerns on your onsite/decentralized systems, please contact your local RCAP office as we have resources for both technical assistance and training to help protect public and environmental health for you, your family and your community as part of EPA and USDA “Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap” Community Initiative.