Septic Systems are on-site sewage disposal systems that are widely used across the country. They are designed to take waste water, settle out solids, break down biological pollutants, and infiltrate water through a drain field back into the ground.
- There are an estimated 420,000 septic systems in use in Maryland (51,000 in the Critical Area).
- Most of the systems in use today rely on technology that is more than 50 years old.
- These systems are not designed to remove nutrients such as nitrogen. An average system can release approximately 45 lbs of nitrogen per year into the environment (1,100 tons of nitrogen per year in the Critical Area).
- Septic systems contribute approximately 5% of the nitrogen entering the Bay, but as much as 26% of the annual nitrigen load in some Maryland tributaries.
is an upgrade to the traditional septic system. Motorized fans or pumps inject air into the waste, stimulating bacteria that remove nitrogen from the wastewater, converting it to a gas, which is then expelled into the air. Such systems can reduce nitrogen levels in effluent by 60%.
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LINKS:
Septic System Maintenance:
Information by County:
- Talbot County Public Works:
410-770-8170.
- Caroline County Health Dept.,
Adam Corry: 410 479-8045 (acorry@bhmh.state.md.us).
- Dorchester County Health Dept.,
Eric Van Greafeiland: 410-228-3223.
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