Septic SYSTEM

Toxic algae blooms, St. Lucie Estuary, 2013 Tips: • Help reduce toxic runoff by having your septic Why is water quality so This is what happens when we tank inspected every 1 to 3 years and pump out important? don’t maintain our water quality. Tips:your tank every 3 to 5 years. • Don’t drive or park on your septic system. Water is a finite and precious natural resource Like the human body, aquatic plants and animals Doing so can compact soils, damage pipes or and the source of all life. Access to clean water need nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. tank or other components. is essential to live a healthy life. But too many nutrients can be harmful. Excess Other items such as cat litter, coffee grounds, nutrients in the water causes algae to grow faster • Whether it is a glass of water at the dinner grease, and feminine hygiene products can clog than the environment can handle. It depletes the table, or the pond behind a home; a trip to the the system. Also, the use of garbage disposals system of oxygen and can lead to fish lesions and sandbar or a visit to the ocean; while floating in will further tax the system. If you use a garbage massive fish kills. a pool or watching children play in a sprinkler, disposal your septic tank should be pumped more we expect all the water in our lives to be clean The increase in stormwater or nutrient runoff frequently. and safe for drinking and for many other uses. disrupts the natural balance of physical, chemical, Avoid planting trees and shrubs near the and biological processes. It causes pollution in • From the Atlantic Ocean, to the St. Lucie River drain field as the roots can cause damage to natural systems and creates damage downstream. and the Indian River Lagoon, to our myriad of the system. wetlands and all the way to Lake Okeechobee, water is the common element that binds Martin County together and makes our community Know where your flush flows! SEPTIC vs. SEWER such a special place to live. As residents, we Your Septic System Sewer. have a responsibility to protect the waterways . Maybe you’ve heard the When wastewater is flushed from your that play such a vital role in our quality of life. expression: “The grass is always greener over the toilet or drains from the washing machine, septic tank.” Actually, it’s the drain field, and the dishwasher, bathtub, or sinks in your home, it flows Maintaining and improving water quality is grass really is greener – it benefits from the extra through your community’s sanitary sewer system essential to protect public health and drinking moisture and nutrients in the drain field. to a wastewater treatment facility to reduce and water supplies as well as to support healthy remove pollutants. ecosystems, habitats and fisheries, and to A septic tank is simply a big concrete or steel tank enhance abundant opportunities for public that is buried in the yard. The tank might hold 1,000 Whether you have septic Did you know recreation and a vibrant tourism economy. gallons of water. Wastewater flows into the tank at or sewer, always flush one end and leaves the tank at the other. This water responsibly! Don’t ever Martin County We know that discharges from Lake flows out of the septic tank and into a drain field. dispose of household is a 100% reuse county? Our wastewater Okeechobee and other canal systems pollute A drain field is made of perforated pipes buried chemicals, oil, is treated and used to our waterways. But did you know that we in trenches filled with gravel. The water is slowly antifreeze, paint, irrigate golf courses are also a part of the pollution problem? The absorbed and filtered by the ground in the drain field. pesticides, beauty and residential good news is there are many simple ways to The size of the drain field is determined by how well products or medicine neighborhoods. become part of the solution! the ground absorbs water. down the drain.

Know the flow. Be a part of the pollution solution.

Martin County Engineering Department Ecosystem Restoration & Management Division

2401 SE Monterey Road Stuart, Florida 34996 (772) 288-5927, ext. 3 A Citizens Guide www.martin.fl.us to Protecting our Waterways

Simple things Martin County residents can do to make a difference Top 10 things you can do to reduce water pollution

Throw trash in its place. Use fertilizer and pesticide sparingly. They pose a serious threat to your health and safety Only rain goes down the storm drain. Never 3 8 and pollute both ground and surface water. dump anything you wouldn’t want to drink It’s far cheaper to prevent pollution than it is to 1 or swim in onto the street, down a storm clean it up! drain or into a drainage ditch, including grass Clean up after your pet. clippings or leaves. 4 Comply with Martin County’s summer Report any illicit discharges to Martin County’s Check your vehicles for leaks – fertilizer ban waterways or storm drains to our Stormwater and repair them. from June 1 – 2 Hotline at 772-228-5658. 5 September 30

Think Green. Compost leaves and yard clippings. Our drains Use rain barrels to collect water or plant a rain Wash your vehicle on your lawn rather than lead directly to our 6 garden with deep-rooted native plants and on pavement. waterways grasses designed to capture rainwater runoff 9 and stop the water from reaching the storm “All drains lead to sewer system. Tell a friend or neighbor about how to prevent the ocean…” Reduce household hazardous wastes. If you stormwater pollution and get involved in your already have them at home, dispose of them 10 community’s programs. 7 properly. Take advantage of our Amnesty Days, Don’t forget held twice a year, where you can drop off your about the HazMobile hazardous waste. – our Mobile Hazardous Waste Collection Vehicle! Shop wisely! Buy products labeled biodegradable, non-toxic, non- phosphorus or water soluble.

More Tips on protecting water quality:

Scoop the Poop Rain Barrels Pet waste may not be the largest or most toxic pollutant in urban waterways, Lawn and garden irrigation make up nearly 40% of total household water use in the but it is one of the many little sources that add up to a big problem. Pollutants summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most – during from improperly disposed of pet waste may be washed into storm drains by rain. periods of drought, to water plants, wash your car and for other uses. It provides an Pet waste contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth and carries ample supply of free “soft water” that contains no chlorine, lime or calcium. diseases which make water unsafe for swimming or drinking. Martin County has A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the a Pooper Scooper law but enforcement is a challenge. peak summer months. Saving water not only helps the environment, it also saves you Here are some things you can do to be part of the solution to pet poop pollution: money and energy. Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of • Flush it down the toilet, put it in the trash or bury it in the yard (at least 5 inches runoff to the river and estuary. A typical half inch of rain will easily fill a 55 gallon deep, away from vegetable gardens, water wells and water bodies). barrel. Connecting a soaker hose to your barrel is a great way to water shallow • Manure storage should be at least 200 feet away from water bodies. rooted plants.