More than one in five households across the United States depend on septic systems to treat their wastewater, but in rural parts of New England, that number can be as high as one in every two households, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“The Northeast has a higher proportion of homes serviced by septic systems than any other part of the country,” said Shelly Jenkins, a NEIWPCC information officer who coordinates the Massachusetts Title 5 Certification Renewal and Training Program. “That is why it is so important that we have access to training resources to care for these systems.”
Septic systems are an important component for improving water quality in Massachusetts. On Cape Cod, up to 85% of properties utilize septic systems, with many of these requiring upgrades, replacements and maintenance and posing a threat to coastal and fresh waterbodies. As a result, Massachusetts passed the Title 5 regulations in 1995, which provide legislation for how to install, use and maintain septic systems throughout the state.
On behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), NEIWPCC supports Title 5 by offering system inspector and soil evaluator certification programs and exams for operators who keep septic systems properly maintained.
Septic Systems
Underground wastewater treatment structures that use a combination of natural and technological processes to treat small volumes of wastewater from households or businesses. They are often found in suburban and rural locations that are not serviced by a centralized sewer system.
The two programs focus on different aspects of the installation and maintenance process with the end goal of producing fully-trained, efficient septic system operators. These personnel aid those looking to buy or sell property by ensuring that a proper system is in place. Soil evaluators determine what type of system is best suited for the soil conditions at the property; meanwhile, system inspectors ensure that septic tanks are being maintained and properly functioning.
Improperly maintained septic systems pose a threat to water quality by contaminating surface and ground waters with pathogens and excess nutrients, which threaten both human and ecological health. This can be especially concerning in areas that also rely on private wells for drinking water.
“Houses that are on septic are also often using wells,” said Jenkins. “If a system fails or is poorly located, it is possible that your neighbor down the street is going to get that groundwater. That is why it is so important that there are not any harmful pathogens left in there.”
Soil Evaluator Training
Septic systems use microbes to filter and treat wastewater. The process begins with components within the tank that separate solids and scum from liquid wastewater. The water then travels through a drainfield, where it slowly percolates into the soil. Once absorbed, it undergoes a natural filtration process that removes harmful bacteria, viruses and nutrients before it reaches the groundwater supply. For this process to work correctly, the proper system must be selected based on the soil type at each location, which is where the soil inspectors come in.
“Soil evaluators figure out if the soil type works with a septic system,” said Jenkins. Title 5 requires that a soil evaluation occurs when installing a new system or when replacing an existing one to determine if the soil is able to handle the waste load of the proposed system.
NEIWPCC offers the soil evaluators certification program twice a year, with each session consisting of eight classes taking place over two months. Meetings are divided between classroom lessons, which go over the basics of soil classification and industry software and hands-on field practicums, where participants get to test out what they have learned. Instructors hold each outdoor unit in a different location.
“We have them visit the four corners of Massachusetts so they can get access to all the different soil types that the state has to offer,” said Jenkins.
Prior to kicking off each session, Jenkins sends around a preparation list for students on what to expect from the program. Participants receive a comprehensive manual that covers the essentials of soil science including horizons, layers, color, texture, structure, consistency and geologic deposits. The document also explains how to estimate high groundwater elevations and determine site conditions.
Additionally, students receive a list of field equipment which includes specialized tools like soil sample trays, color books and field guides and other essentials such as sun block, insect repellent and proper field clothes.
On the fieldwork days, students explore pre-dug pits to collect samples from different horizons (defined as parallel layers in the soil with unique characteristics). They use those samples to perform experiments and gather data on the different characteristics of the soil. Some of these tests include matching the soil color to the samples in their guidebook and rolling samples into a ball and tossing them in the air to assess the texture. Students also use a soil texture triangle diagram to calculate the percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil.
“This is how they figure out what kind of system to put in the soil,” said Jenkins. “The soil makeup can determine how fast a system can send water through.”
In the classroom section, students learn a mathematical equation called the Frimpter Method, which provides a way to estimate the probable high groundwater levels across Massachusetts. They are also introduced to the MassDEP Title 5 Data Viewer, an application that was designed by Alex Gamble, a previous instructor of the class. The app allows soil evaluators to easily consolidate their data in one location rather than having to cross-reference multiple spreadsheets.
The soil evaluator program is taught by a series of instructors and presenters from MassDEP and the University of Massachusetts Amherst who all have field experience. One of the lead instructors, Paul Blain, is a retired senior hydrogeologist with MassDEP who has been involved with the program for 16 years.
“Paul has a lot of information to give,” said Jenkins. “He is very dedicated to his work.”
Early on the mornings of the field sessions, Blain meets with the excavators who dig the pits. He also conducts site visits in advance of the class to help select locations that showcase different soil types.
The program also includes a lesson from a geologist who helps students learn to read topographical maps and take cues from the environment around them. “The instructor shows them how the land is formed, how to read the land and landforms, how to see the landscape and figure out why the soil is the way that it is at each location,” said Jenkins.
The soil evaluator certification program is open to individuals who meet the required qualifications for enrollment, which can range from being a registered engineer, a member of the board of health or having completed a degree or coursework in geology or soil science.
At the end of both the classroom and field sections, students take exams testing them on their knowledge and fieldwork experience. A passing grade awards students the credentials to complete site evaluations on properties, as required by Title 5. The average pass rate is between 80-90%.
“This is such a good class,” said Jenkins. “I do not think there is any other state that does what Massachusetts does in this regard.”
Upon obtaining certification, soil evaluators are also qualified to perform evaluations in other situations such as for construction and real estate development, wetland management, agricultural planning, stormwater management and environmental consulting.
System Inspectors
NEIWPCC also runs the bi-annual certification program for system inspectors, who are responsible for ensuring that septic systems are working correctly. These inspections are a required component of the buying and selling process for property with septic systems in Massachusetts.
The system inspectors program consists of two half-day virtual sessions hosted by Dan Ottenheimer, NEIWPCC’s lead Title 5 trainer who works in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Environmental Protection. Ottenheimer also previously helped write the regulations for Title 5. He is the owner of Mill River Consulting and designs septic systems for houses in the North Shore region of Massachusetts.
The class begins with an overview of the Title 5 regulations, including their purpose and required inspections, and information about the individual components of a septic system. Participants are then given a step-by-step guide on how to conduct a Title 5 inspection, which evaluates the system for any potential issues. The course also covers how to properly fill out inspection forms, health and safety tips for the field and previous inspections that can serve as case studies.
At the end of the course, Jenkins hosts a mathematics refresher on concepts that might appear on the certification exam. The exam is given as an in-person multiple choice test, with a pass rate of about 80%. This program is open to engineers, board of health members and other septic system professionals.
In addition to running the training and certification programs, NEIWPCC also manages the renewal process for both soil evaluator and system inspector professionals and maintains an online database of certified personnel on behalf of MassDEP.
Spreading the Word on Septic Systems
NEIWPCC supports continued dialogue around septic systems by hosting the Onsite Wastewater Workgroup twice a year, which is attended by regulators from all seven members states, as well as representatives from the EPA. The workgroup discusses septic system management and operator training needs, as well as the newest technological innovations and developments.
Jenkins is also dedicated to preventing pollution caused by septic systems by spreading awareness on water quality issues directly to homeowners, who she describes as the weakest link in ensuring septic systems work properly.
Many property owners are not aware that septic systems require regular maintenance every one to three years to function properly. Without this maintenance, sewage may back up into the home and the system could end up failing long before it reaches its natural lifespan. Additionally, faulty septic systems can result in insufficiently treated water being released into the environment, which can cause a variety of water quality issues including drinking water contamination, harmful algal blooms and human health concerns.
According to Jenkins, there are many free resources for homeowners to learn how to properly maintain their septic systems. One of these is the Rural Community Assistance Partnership’s homeowner training materials, which provide a comprehensive online training covering the basics of owning a septic system. The resource was created by the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association through a grant funded by the EPA.
“I remind the soil evaluators and system inspectors to tell the homeowners at each call about this program,” said Jenkins.
She also suggests that evaluators and inspectors advise homeowners keep an eye out for EPA’s Septic Smart Week, an annual event that occurs during the third week of September. The campaign includes helpful printouts and videos that provide tips on maintaining a healthy septic system. This can include resources on how to maintain a proper drainfield in the yard by not planting trees, parking or placing other drainage systems in that area. The EPA also creates informational resources during the event for people with rental properties to pass along to renters utilizing septic systems. In addition to proper maintenance, septic users must be aware that flushing anything besides human waste and toilet paper can impact how well the system works.
“When a septic system is properly designed, installed, and maintained, it can last 20 to 30 years or more and work reliably the whole time,” said Jenkins.