Looming new sewage regulations can improve public health

One of the many tasks of public health is to protect drinking water as safe water is vital not only to health but also to economic development.

The ancient Romans developed a series of aqueducts and public latrines with the intention of making sewage go away. Their technology was innovative, but not very effective. Disease from contaminated water continued to spread widely.

This idea of simply making sewage go away prevailed until the very end of the 20th century.

In the 1950s and 60s, we experienced rapid economic growth and people by the thousands wanted to move out of the city to areas where there was no public sewer system. To accommodate this urban sprawl, we installed on-site sewage disposal systems that utilized leaching trenches and dry wells that were often deep enough to contaminate the aquifer. If waste water drained away quickly, that was considered good and we had little regard for where the sewage went.

Today, we realize that we need to do what is necessary to make sewage safe before it goes away. In Ohio, statewide rules are being developed for home sewage systems. No longer will we install sewage disposal systems. The plan is to install sewage treatment systems.

The new rules are still being finalized through a collaborative effort of private industry and government, and they are expected to be finalized for 2015. Their task is to protect the water supply through use of modern technology and better-trained contractors while providing more options for the homeowner or those who wish to build new homes.

The rules will require better use of the soil above bedrock as it contains micro-organisms that digest harmful bacteria and viruses contained in raw sewage. In order to determine what technology will be installed, we expect that all new and replacement septic systems, including those with expired approvals, will require a soil evaluation by the health department or a soil scientist.

At the same time, we expect a decrease of the required depth of soil which will allow us to install mostly modern leaching trenches instead of above-ground systems called mounds. Modern leaching trenches are not as deep and will have minimum length requirements along land contours which will make it more challenging to install a replacement system. A detailed plot plan will also be required for all new and replacement systems.

We expect the encouragement of the use of green technology. Water from bathing, showering and washing clothes will be allowed to be recycled through irrigation systems. Incinerating and composting toilets may also be installed in order to reduce the volume of waste discharged into the environment.

Installers, services providers and pumpers will have to show that they are trained to work with modern technology by passing a statewide test, having certificates of training for specific systems and completing continuing education courses. They will also be more accountable by having proof of general liability insurance and a surety bond.

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Looming new sewage regulations can improve public health