Wastewater and Septic Discharge
Human-caused sources of pollution include wastewater and septic discharges.
Recent scientific studies conclude that in addition to agricultural pollution:
Wastewater is a dominant source of pollution in the choptank river basin
Septic systems are designed to leach nutrients from wastewater into the soil. These nutrients eventually find their way into groundwater, and into our rivers. Faulty or leaking septic systems exacerbate the problem. The Maryland Department of the Environment, working with our counties, has available a free septic upgrade program designed to reduce pollution. The state will pay the cost of adding a nitrogen-removal device to septic systems, with priority given to waterfront homes. This technology would cut the nitrogen pollution from an upgraded septic tank in half. Funding exists for 600 upgrades a year. Out of 420,000 septic systems throughout the state, only a few hundred homeowners have used the program. Septic system owners must be encouraged to take advantage of this program.
Learn More About the Septic System Upgrade Initiative