Well & Septic Problems

Onsite Systems Problems

Wells and septic systems can have problems that result in conditions hazardous to human and environmental health. When problems occur, property owners have a responsibility to seek assistance and resolve the problem promptly. The repair and replacement of individual, onsite systems needs to occur in accordance with County and State regulations, as administered by the Department of Permitting Services.

At times, well or septic system problems may not be apparent until the property has an inspection, as for the sale of the property. The onsite system failure can become a source of contention between the seller and the buyer in such cases, with the parties negotiating over the responsibility for resolving the problem. Propper maintenance and periodic inspections of wells and septic systems can help to avoid these situations.

Water Supply Well Problems

Water supply wells can suffer from a variety of problems. Water production from the well may decrease, sometimes to a point where the flow may not support the residential or non-residential use it serves. Underground changes may alter the cracks and fissures in the subsurface rock that provide groundwater to the well, changing the water flow. Decreased flow may also result from prolonged drought conditions. The drought years of 1997, 1998, and 1999 raised the consciousness of many well users about the limitations of their water supply. Drought and the associated lack of groundwater recharge affects well water supply in several ways:

A lowered water table means that there can be less storage available in the well borehole. Depending on depth of the well and the rate of water usage, you may experience loss of water pressure or loss of water from the well.
Mineral precipitation may occur in the upper fractures of the borehole; when the drought is over, well recharge may not be as great.
Old and/or shallow wells, during a severe drought, may lose water completely.

Well water can become contaminated with sediment, bacteria, or chemicals

There are two types of contaminants: those occurring naturally, including minerals such as iron, calcium, and selenium; and those produced or introduced by human activity. The groundwater a well draws from can be affected by human contamination, either by substances seeping down through the soil layers from the top surface, or by substances entering directly underground from such things as leaky storage tanks, mining, or septic systems.

Groundwater contamination can occur from the outflow from septic systems and cesspools

Improperly designed or maintained wastewater disposal structures may leak into the ground, introducing bacteria and viruses into the water source. Liquids leached through storage ponds and landfills, carrying dissolved waste materials like heavy metals and organic decomposition products, are also possible contaminants. Contamination may also result from pesticides and fertilizers.

Common problems with well water include cloudiness, the odor of rotten eggs, or a salty taste

Occurrences such as these are often natural, and not a result of man-made contamination. These characteristics are not usually harmful to human health. However, if there are abnormal characteristics or sudden changes in water quality (discoloration, taste or smell) you should test your well water, and, if needed, have the well examined by a qualified scientist. In some cases, a contamination problem will appear in the results of water testing analyses. Following a positive contamination result from testing, resample and retest to confirm that the water is contaminated. Then, try to find the source of the contamination, such as a cracked well cover. For assistance in identifying potential contaminants, contact DPS. After the contamination is controlled, disinfect the well system yourself or hire a professional.

Functional Water Supply Well Problems

Any mechanical system is prone to deterioration and failure. A water supply well has a mechanical pump that operates on electricity. A pipe connects the well with the user’s building. A bladder or storage tank inside the building can provide water storage for additional demand. The property owner is responsible for all of these components, their maintenance and replacement, as necessary.

When well problems such as these occur, property owners should contact the DPS Well and Septic Section: call 311 or 240-777-0311 from outside of the county. DPS can be of assistance and may need to permit the relief measures for the well problem. Additional information on well problems and solutions is available from DPS.

Remedies for well problems can include

Getting qualified service for a pump that has stopped working or to replace a worn-out pump with a new one if needed.
Resetting and resealing the well cap and cleaning the well. A loose well cap can allow surface water runoff to enter the well from above, bringing in sediment, bacteria, or chemical contaminants.
Drilling a new, deeper well to increase the water yield for the user. This is especially important in situations where the existing well is shallow or was originally dug by hand.
Providing filter systems to remove chemical contaminants.
Changing the pattern and/or amount of the occupants' water usage.
Using bottled water as an interim measure, if needed.
Connecting to public water service. This requires that the County has identified the property as approved for public water service. In most cases, a connection to public water service is only practical if an existing water main is directly available to the property. Upon notification from DPS, DEP may request that WSSC expedite the provision of public water service due to an existing well failure.

Septic System Problems

A septic system does not have an indefinite lifespan, although a system that the owners maintain and use properly can last for many decades. As noted elsewhere, septic systems permitted since the mid-1970s are designed with two or three reserve areas for replacement drainfields. A replacement drainfield will be needed when the soil beneath can no longer accept effluent at the rate being provided. This often happened when the open spaces in the soil become clogged with solids and can no longer allow effluent to percolate through the soil.

One advantage to septic systems is their simplicity. Most septic systems have no moving parts; they operate by gravity. Sewage flows by gravity out of the building into the septic tank and effluent flows out of the tank and into the drainfield and then into the soil below by gravity. There are no mechanical or electrical system to wear out and eventually fail. Some septic systems, such as sand mound systems, shallow dip systems, and BAT systems, do require electrically powered pumps, aeration blowers, and distribution systems. These do require periodic maintenance and may eventually require replacements.

A property owner may notice a problem with a septic system either when sewage backs up into the house or when sewage effluent rises into the yard above the system. The owner may also detect a sewage odor near the septic tank or drainfield in the yard or may notice a particularly green patch of grass and wet conditions in the yard. (In some cases, a neighbor downstream or downwind may notice a problem before an owner does.) Other problems may not be noticeable, going unnoticed for a long period of time. This can occur where a septic tank leaks into the soil beneath it or a drainfield or seepage pit directly contacts groundwater. These situations can require the replacement of the septic tank, the drainfield, or the entire septic system. In other cases, problems do not always require a system replacement to resolve; a repair—such as replacing a broken pipe—is sufficient. Some septic system problems result from a lack of maintenance for or misuse of the septic system.

When septic system problems such as these occur, property owners should contact the Department of Permitting Services’ (DPS) Well and Septic Section: call 311 locally or 240-777-0311 outside of the county. DPS can be of assistance and may need to permit the relief measure for the septic system problem. Additional information on septic system problems and solutions is available from DPS.

Remedies for septic system problems can include:

Changing water use habits, such as spacing out clothes washing and showers. Also avoid using the in-sink garbage disposal to dispose of food waste.
Examining the septic system for broken or crushed pipes or a cracked septic tank lid. Driving or parking over top of the septic system and its connecting pipes can result in damage to the system.
Replacing the septic tank. This step has become more prevalent for older septic tanks constructed using cement block and mortar. After many years, the mortar between the blocks in the tank will deteriorate, allowing sewage to flow directly into the soil around and under the tank. Groundwater can also flow into the leaking septic tank.
Replacing the drainfield or seepage pit. These structures function to distribute septic effluent into the ground where bacteria in the soil provides the final step in the onsite treatment process. (Note that new seepage pits are no longer allowed by State and County regulations.) Modern septic systems will have areas (referred to as “reserve areas”) on the property identified for a replacement drainfield. For older septic systems that lack identified reserve areas, onsite water table and percolation testing may be needed to establish a new drainfield area. Restrictive onsite conditions may dictate the use of a sand mound or shallow drip septic system as a replacement. (See Septic Systems for information on these specialized septic systems.
Avoiding the use of septic system “additives” that promise to reduce the frequency of septic tank pumping. While these additives may indeed reduce the need the need to pump out a septic tank, they do so by putting solids from the bottom of the tank into suspension in the liquid effluent above the solids. This can result in more solid material moving into the system’s drainfield or seepage pit, clogging the soil below. This will reduce the efficiency of the septic system and may require premature replacement of the drainfield or seepage pit. Pumping the septic tank on regular schedule is cheaper.
Connecting to public sewer service. This requires that the County has identified the property as approved for public sewer service. In most cases, a connection to public sewer service is only practical if an existing sewer main is directly available to the property. Upon notification from DPS, DEP may request that WSSC expedite the provision of public sewer service due to an existing septic system failure.