Who’s responsible?

We all are.  If you use a septic system or are connected to a sewer, fertilize your lawn, or don’t pick up after your dog – you are part of the problem.  Conventional Title 5 septic systems do not remove enough nitrogen, so it is carried to our rivers and estuaries by the groundwater.   Even if your household sanitary waste is treated at a wastewater treatment plant, you are part of the problem because nitrogen is present in treatment plant effluent.  Treatment plants discharge nitrogen, but at much lower levels than conventional septic systems which serve most of the properties in Town.

Example of nutrient impacts to Santuit Pond

Example of nitrogen impacts on Costal Estuaries