Effects of Septic Tanks on Groundwater Quality

EFFECTS OF SEPTIC TANKS ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY

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PREPARED ON: NOVMBER 28, 2011

Effects of Septic Tanks on Groundwater Quality

INTRODUCTION

Fresh water is one of the most vital renewable resources that we have, yet the world's supply of clean fresh water is gradually decreasing. The demand for water exceeds supply all over the world, especially California. As the world population continues to grow larger and larger, the demand for water will continue to grow as well. With 97-percent of the water on earth being salt (saline) water, the remaining 3-percent is fresh water, which does not leave a lot to go around. And within that 3-percent, 70-percent is in the form of icecaps, glaciers, and surface water, while the remaining 30-percent is in groundwater, which equals out to less than 1-percent of useable fresh water on the earth.

Water can be labeled as potable (usable) or non potable (renewable) water. Non-potable water is water that has been treated and can be returned as surface water, or used for applications that are not suitable for drinking or have the potential to return to the groundwater system. Such uses of non-potable water include crop irrigation, dust control on job sites, fire hydrant sources, and even large landscapes like golf courses. Where potable water, is water that is fit for drinking by humans and animals. Potable water is also called drinking water, and may be naturally potable, such is the case with pristine springs, or it may need to be treated in order to be safe. In either circumstance, the safety of water can be evaluated with tests which look for potentially harmful contaminants.

So the protection of fresh sources of groundwater is of high importance to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), especially in California. Some of the causes that can contaminate fresh groundwater are excessive agriculture run-off, household chemicals from septic...