The Impact of Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) on Storm Water Pollution
Storm Water Defined Water Quantity
Storm Water and Sanitary Sewers
Purpose of Franklin County and Township Storm Water Program • Compliance with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency NPDES municipal storm water permit. • Share resources and expertise by co-permitting. • Water quality and stream corridor protection.
Franklin County and Township Storm Water Program Participants • Franklin County Townships • Franklin County Drainage Engineer • Franklin County Economic Development and Planning • Franklin County Sanitary Engineer • Franklin County Public Health • Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District • Residents and businesses in unincorporated Franklin County • Developers , contractors and consultants working in unincorporated Franklin County
Franklin County and Township Storm Water Community Benefits • Public health • Drinking water • Recreation • Wildlife • Reduced infrastructure costs • Quality of life
Storm Water Permit Requirements • Public education • Public involvement • Construction site runoff • Post construction site management • Good housekeeping/pollution prevention • Illicit discharge detection and elimination
Storm Water Program Highlights • Storm water education efforts. • Mapping of storm sewers to be added to existing drainage and stream resource maps. • Enhanced county regulations for construction site and post-construction management. • Participation of county and townships in pollution prevention programs. • Continued resolution of illicit discharges including failing HSTS.
Report Pollution! Failing Household Sewage Treatment Systems • Franklin County Public Health (614) 525-HSTS (4787) or failingHSTS@franklincountyohio.gov Report Emergency Spills • Ohio EPA 24-Hour Emergency Hotline 1 (800) 282-9378 Report any other water pollution related complaint or • concern to: Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (614) 486-9613
Definitions • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) • Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
IDDE Topics Include • Explanation of public health risks • Explanation of Household Sewage Treatment Systems • Identify and eliminate failing HSTS • Where are the public health risks
What are the Public Health Risks? • Untreated or improperly treated sewage can contaminate: – drinking water supply – drainage ditches – streams, rivers and lakes • When household sewage treatment systems fail, untreated sewage is discharged into the environment.
What are the Public Health Risks? • Contact with human waste can pose health risks because it can carry disease-causing organisms. • Health risks are directly tied to exposure and ingestion of untreated sewage. • The young, the old and those with chronic conditions are at higher risk.
Avoid Exposure • Do not allow kids and pets to play in water that looks and smells like sewage. • Do not swallow or get water from ditches or streams in your mouth or nose. • If you are in those types of areas, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
The aeration system was invented in the 1970’s as a treatment option for households not connected to the sanitary sewer
Human Fecal Pollution
Discharge pipe Untreated sewage
Discharge pipe with untreated human waste
Untreated sewage in catch basin storm sewer
Storm sewer Untreated sewage
Old Aeration System Aeration chamber
Maintaining Aeration Systems • Annual inspection by Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) or a maintenance contract. • Properly operating motor. • Properly operating air intake. • Tank pumped based on manufacturers recommendations.
Septic Tank and Leach Field Systems
Maintaining Septic and Leach Field Systems • Tank pumped based on manufacturers recommendations. • Functional baffles. • Check for sewage or ponding in your yard. • Ensure leach field is not connected into a farm tile, ditch or storm sewer.
Why HSTS Fail • Aeration, septic and leach systems fail because: – Unsuitable soil conditions – Improper design and installation – Inadequate maintenance – Age of the system – Amount of water use
Septic and Leach Field System Failures
Definition of a Public Health Nuisance 1) HSTS cause a public health nuisance when any of the following situations occur: a) Not operating properly due to a missing component. b) Incorrect settings. c) Mechanical or electrical failure ( motor not running). AND, timely repairs of these situations are not made after notice to the property owner by the Board of Health.
Definition of a Public Health Nuisance 2) There is a blockage in a known sewage treatment system component or pipe that causes a backup of sewage or effluent affecting the treatment process or inhibiting proper plumbing drainage.
Definition of a Public Health Nuisance 3) There is ponding or bleeding of liquid onto the surface of the ground or into surface water. The liquid has a distinct sewage odor, a black or grey coloration, or the presence of organic matter and any of the following: a) a dye test identifying effluent from an HSTS b) samples show fecal coliform at a level that is equal or greater than five thousand colonies per one hundred milliliters of liquid c) samples show more than one thousand thirty e.coli counts per one hundred milliliters of liquid
Current Annual Inspection Program • We inspect individual aeration system for a nuisance: - if the system is not operating properly due to a missing component, incorrect settings, or a mechanical or electrical failure. - if there is a blockage in a known sewage treatment system pipe that causes a backup of sewage or inhibits drainage.
New Stormwater Pollution Investigations • FCSWCD will inspect storm sewer outfalls for the presence of sewage during dry weather screening. If there are "obvious" or “suspicious” signs of – sewage pollution, FCPH will investigate the aeration or septic systems connected to the storm sewer for nuisance conditions, and will abate the nuisance if found.
Where are the Public Health Risks? • Every township in Franklin County. • In urban areas. • In rural areas. • Along roadways. • Along streams.
How Do We Know the Risks Exist? • Nuisance and pollution complaints. • Maintenance reports by HSTS owners. • Annual inspections performed by FCPH. • Observation during roadway construction. • Dry Weather Screening for NPDES permit.
Questions?
Recommend
More recommend
