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- Current Groundwater News
- Groundwater Basics
- Groundwater Management
- Groundwater Classification
- Groundwater in Texas
- Monitoring and Data
- Agricultural Resources
- Resources for Small Communities
- National Groundwater Awareness Week in Texas
- Groundwater White Papers
- Groundwater Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Septic Systems
An on-site (septic) system that is properly designed, installed, and maintained poses no threat to groundwater. However, inadequately functioning and/or failing systems can contribute to the contamination of groundwater with nitrates, harmful bacteria, and viruses. When disposed of improperly in an on-site system, trace amounts of metals and hazardous chemicals (from pesticides, solvents, and cleaners) can also contaminate groundwater.
To prevent contamination of your drinking water well, the system must be located a safe distance away from your well and the system must be kept in proper working order through routine maintenance.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Gerlich (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service) Groundwater and Septic Systems
EPA's Septic (Onsite/Decentralized) Systems website includes a suite of case studies demonstrating what communities across the country are doing to effectively manage their decentralized wastewater infrastructure and find solutions to meet their own unique wastewater infrastructure needs.
Image courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service What is a septic system?
National Environmental Services Center's Onsite Wastewater Systems has a host of information on a variety of topics.
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has developed public outreach interactive media tools to educate citizens about on-site sewage facilities (i.e., septic systems) and off-site sewage facilities (i.e., wastewater treatment plants).
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service's On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) website provides information about onsite wastewater treatment systems (including conventional septic systems and advanced systems), operation and maintenance requirements, and upcoming programs.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Gerlich (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service) Getting a Septic System
- Texas Commission of Environmental Quality's (TCEQ's) On-Site Sewage Facilities (Septic Systems): Information for Homeowners.
- Find licensed site evaluators, installers, and maintenance providers of septic systems (OSSFs) from TCEQ's database.
- TCEQ's list of authorized agents that can issue permits for septic systems (on-site sewage facilities).
- The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on-line Bookstore offers a number of publications on septic systems such as "On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems: Leaching Chambers" (L-5342). Hard copies or free electronic downloads of these publications are available after setting up an account.
- National Small Flows Clearinghouse's Pipeline newsletter has an "Alternative Dispersal Options" Edition that explores siting issues.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Gerlich (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service) Septic System Maintenance
- "Reducing Contamination by Improving Household Wastewater Treatment", a Tex*A*Syst publication.
- Lower Colorado River Authority's "Frequently asked questions about on-site sewage rules".
- National Environmental Services Center's Onsite and Decentralized Systems has a host of information on a variety of topics, including maintenance.
- EPA's SepticSmart program encouragies homeowners to take steps to maintain their home septic systems, preventing costly repairs, inconvenienc,e and pollution to local waterways, which poses risks to public health and the environment.
Septic Research
- The Texas On-site Wastewater Treatment Research Council was abolished in 2011, but links to selected TOWTRC Research Projects and associated reviews by TCEQ staff are available.
- The National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project, more recently known as the Decentralized Water Resources Collaborative, is a cooperative effort funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which supports research and development to improve our understanding and strengthen the foundations of training and practice in the field of onsite/decentralized wastewater and stormwater treatment.
Publications
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on-line Bookstore offers a number of publications on septic systems, also known as on-site sewage facilities (OSSFs) or on-site wastewater treatment systems (e.g., Operation and Maintenance (L-5347), Selecting and Permitting (B-6077), Service Contracts (B-6171), Understanding and Maintaining (L-5491), Graywater (B-6176), etc.). Hard copies or free electronic downloads of these publications are available after setting up an account.
