Help the Environment - Replace your Septic System

The State of Maryland has a tremendous program in place to help reduce Nitrogen preoduced by septic systems. Actually in invovles replacing your septic system. Don't panic the upfront cost is fronted by the home owner and then reimbursed by the state as long as their criteria is met.

http://www.mde.state.md.us/ResearchCenter/Publications/General/eMDE/vol3no6/septic_upgrades.asp

Twenty percent of property owners in Maryland rely on a septic system for wastewater treatment. The average person using a septic system delivers about 9.5 lbs of nitrogen per year to the groundwater. If you live on one of the over 51,000 properties in the Critical Area, the land within 1000 feet of tidal waters, and are served by a septic system, approximately 80 percent of the nitrogen from your septic system would reach surface waters. That is over one million pounds per year. You might be thinking, "I don't live anywhere near the Bay, what does that have to do with my system?" The truth is you don't have to have waterfront property for your septic system to have an impact. All septic systems discharge nitrogen to groundwater. While some of this groundwater is consumed as drinking water, much of this groundwater is discharged to surface waters. This means that all septic systems are contributors of nitrogen to our local watersheds. It's not just a Bay issue; it's a Maryland issue. From State of Maryland Department of Environment website