Backyard cleanup

Our view: What would you say if offered $10,000 to upgrade your home's septic system? More must answer yes to a proposal too good to be refused — for the Chesapeake Bay's sake

October 6, 2008

For those who monitor the health of the Chesapeake Bay, here's the latest discouraging water quality indicator: 340.

That's the paltry number of eligible Maryland homeowners who have chosen to upgrade their septic systems with nitrogen-removal technology under a 2-year-old, state-funded program that underwrites 100 percent of the costs up to $10,000 each.

The bottom line? The Maryland Department of the Environment can't seem to give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to help correct a serious water quality problem in this state. It has the money to finance at least twice as many systems as have been upgraded so far.

It may not be a subject for delicate ears, but septic systems are a serious pollution threat. There are more than 400,000 of them in the state, and even when they are working properly (and failing systems are common enough), they discharge a significant amount of nitrogen into the groundwater.

Scientists estimate that septic systems are responsible for at least 9 percent of all the polluting nitrogen going into the Chesapeake Bay. It's a particularly vexing problem near the shoreline, where nutrient runoff is far more likely to cause problems.

The state's so-called flush tax has provided the funds not only to clean up large-scale wastewater treatment plants across the state but for these septic upgrades in environmentally sensitive areas as well. So far, only Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's counties have required that new or replacement septic systems near the waterfront include nitrogen-removal technology.

The remaining counties should follow suit. Some homeowners may be reluctant to participate voluntarily, in part because the work may uncover other problems with their septic system that the state subsidy won't cover.

But the efficacy of the nitrogen removal is clear. Experts calculate it reduces nitrogen runoff from septic systems by 50 percent. That should be incentive enough for waterfront property owners who surely benefit when their river or creek is spared smelly algae blooms and massive fish kills.

Septic owners interested in participating ought to check out the department's Web site ( www.mde.state.md.us) or call 410-537-4195 for more information. A free septic upgrade is not something to be taken lightly, especially considering how much it can benefit the Chesapeake Bay.