Download Septic System Failure and Stormwater Impacts Septic systems are

Septic System Failure and Stormwater Impacts
Septic systems are installed throughout Flower Mound. They are in areas of Town where access to the
public sewer system is not practicable. According to the EPA, “an estimated 25 percent of the U.S.
population relies on onsite wastewater systems to treat and dispose of their household waste. Of that
number, about 95 percent of the disposal systems are septic tank systems.” Because of the large
number of people who rely on septic system to treat their wastewater it is important to stress the
importance of good septic system maintenance and best management practices to prevent any type of
environmental impact as a result of system failures. If a septic system fails it will release and discharge
effluent that can potentially impact our local storm sewer system eventually reaching our local
waterways. The discharge carries several organic and non-organic pollutants that can have a deleterious
impact on the environment. Those pollutants include sulfate, calcium, chloride, nitrogen, phosphorous
and both fecal coliform and fecal streptococci bacteria. These pollutants can all have harmful impacts to
not only water quality but the health of both local wildlife and humans.