Laserfiche WebLink
Comprehensive Plan <br />Sanitary Sewer Sub -Element <br />TABLE 3.A.5 - TYPICAL CONCENTRATIONS FOR HOUSEHOLD WASTEWATER, <br />SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENT <br />PARAMETER <br />CONCENTRATION <br />SEPTIC TANK <br />WASTEWATER <br />HOUSEHOLD <br />EFFLUENT <br />TREATMENT PLANT <br />WASTEWATER <br />Max Da <br />Biochemical Oxygen <br />430 <br />150 <br />20 <br />Demand, 5 -day (BODS), <br />mg/1 <br />Total Suspended Solids, <br />370 <br />50 <br />20 <br />mg/ l <br />Fecal Coliform (per <br />7.5 X105 <br />5X101 <br />200 <br />loom]) <br />Total Nitrogen, mg/1 <br />84 <br />30 <br />3912 <br />Ammonia Nitrogen, mg/l <br />64 <br />25 <br />N/A <br />Total Phosphateorus, <br />61 <br />12 <br />61_5 <br />mg/1 <br />Source: Indian River County Wastewater Master Plan <br />Generally, the current system of septic tamessy tem maintenance is acceptable, particularly for <br />newer septic tanks meeting current regulations. For older septic-tanksystems, however, lack of <br />maintenance can be a problem, and there is no program requiring regular maintenance of these <br />septicmssystems. According to the County Health Deem men DOH -Indian River, a required <br />septic tank maintenance program could reduce septic tank- sy tem failures and associated adverse <br />impacts; however, such a program would be costly and difficult to implement. In the future, the <br />focus of the county and the TD�DOH-Indian River should be on providing public education <br />programs on the proper use, inspection, and maintenance of septic tanks. <br />Several features inherent to the operation of septic tank systems make them prone to <br />contaminating groundwater without any visual indication. For example, septic -s sy tems <br />that are undersized or not emptied ef4en one i hpumped every 3-5 years can accumulate sludge <br />and scum, resulting in a poorer quality effluent. 1 -f -When high groundwater conditions (within 3 <br />to ^ f of A -f ,7r;,i.,f-ieaI d Q_'a-11^ti. ^^'' feet from the bottom of the drainfield) exist, additional fill is <br />needed. Once a septic tank -system is installed and buried, these and other operating problems <br />cannot be recognized until the entire system fails and raw (untreated) sewage backs up into the <br />house plumbing or seeps above ground. Thus, a septic tanlE system that appears to be <br />functioning properly may, in reality, be providing very poor "treatment". This problem is more <br />likely to occur in areas of higher residential density where parcels are less than % acre, in <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 31 <br />App32n9dix A <br />