Innovative/Alternative Septic Systems
![Cape Cod shoreline](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-12/cape_cod_shore-176901176.jpg?itok=Y-WMhSSG)
- Environmental Issue
- Project Focus and Research Approach
- Goals and Expected Outcomes
- Project Partners
- Related Resources
Learn more about the overarching project to reduce excess nutrients entering Cape Cod's coastal waters.
A Neighborhood-Scale Demonstration of Septic Systems in Cape Cod
EPA is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC), the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center, and others to implement a neighborhood-scale demonstration of enhanced innovative/alternative (IA) septic systems, which are designed to prevent excess nutrients, such as nitrogen, from entering estuaries and freshwater ponds in the Cape Cod region.
Enhanced IA septic system designs have shown promise for removing much of the nitrogen in wastewater before it enters surrounding groundwater, estuaries and ponds, but only a limited number have been field-tested. More installations and testing are needed to evaluate performance of the latest enhanced IA septic systems before they’re considered for broader use. Acceptance of these systems by homeowners can depend on social factors, cost, aesthetics, perceived risks, and local ordinances.
Environmental Issue
Although nutrients, such as nitrogen, are a natural part of aquatic ecosystems, excess amounts can cause water systems to become polluted. Excess nitrogen from septic systems and other human activities can threaten estuaries, wetlands, drinking water sources, and freshwater ponds as they contribute to algae blooms; low dissolved oxygen; degradation of seagrass; impaired freshwater; estuarine ecosystems; and in extreme cases, fish kills.
The Three Bays watershed in Barnstable, Massachusetts (Cape Cod region) contains more than 5,000 traditional septic systems. These traditional septic systems do little to remove nitrogen from wastewater, which has resulted in excess nitrogen in the surrounding environment. This excess nitrogen has impacted groundwater, estuaries, and freshwater ponds in the Cape Cod region within the watershed.
Project Focus and Research Approach
After examining groundwater quality in four candidate Barnstable neighborhoods with elevated nitrogen levels, EPA and partners identified one with high housing density on approximately one quarter-acre, regularly spaced lots for the IA septic systems demonstration project.
From 2020 into early 2021, BCWC will be leading the replacement of traditional septic systems for up to 40 homes to more novel systems capable of removing nitrogen from wastewater. EPA will be advising on locations for septic replacement and coordinating subsequent monitoring of system performance.
The IA septic system upgrades are being offered by BCWC to neighborhood homeowners. Each system will be monitored for nitrogen removal performance for approximately three years following installation. Groundwater monitoring wells located up- and downgradient from participating homes will be monitored to determine the total effects of IA septic systems on groundwater nitrogen levels.
EPA scientists will conduct concurrent research on the social acceptability and user experience of IAs to inform outreach to potential future participants. Information gathered from focus groups of IA septic system adopters and non-adopters will be shared with stakeholders in the Cape Cod region and other areas seeking to better manage nitrogen from septic systems.
Goal and Expected Outcomes
![marsh in winter](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2020-12/marsh_in_winter-158186259.jpg?itok=EFyMXrRf)
This study is part of a larger pilot project at EPA focused on evaluating promising interventions with a goal of reducing excess nitrogen in the Cape Cod region.
It is expected that this demonstration project will provide the following:
- Performance measures and cost effectiveness information for the deployed IA septic systems.
- An impact evaluation of the systems on groundwater nitrogen levels.
- Lessons learned that local, state, regional and federal partners can use in watersheds similarly compromised by traditional legacy septic systems.
Project Partners
- Barnstable Clean Water Coalition
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Town of Barnstable
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center
- The Nature Conservancy