A recent study in Nevada’s Carson Valley by the U.S. Geological Survey confirms that septic tanks are contaminating groundwater in the region with concentrations of nitrates, posing human health risks from contaminated drinking water. Conducted on a larger scale than previous investigations, the study showed that the amount of nitrate contamination is two times greater in suburban areas dominated by single-family homes with septic tanks, compared to areas that are more rural, with fewer homes on the land.
Elevated nitrate levels in groundwater are of concern due to human health risks associated with drinking contaminated water and the possibility of an overabundance of nutrients in the Carson River, leading to harmful algal blooms or fish kills. Nitrate concentrations in water from monitoring wells and from domestic wells have been increasing at a slightly higher rate since the mid-1980s and are anticipated to continue to increase in the future under current land-use practices. To estimate how high the concentrations may be in the future and evaluate possible mitigation, computer models were used to assess future nitrate concentrations with continued use and removal of septic systems, and the potential influence of domestic well-water pumping.
With the support of Nevada’s Douglas County and Carson Water Subconservancy District, USGS scientists investigated sources and transport of nitrates in the alluvial aquifer underlying the Carson Valley in Douglas County.
“Given the high number of septic tank systems in the area, the relatively shallow depth to water, and lack of natural degradation of nitrates, the concentration of nitrates in groundwater may continue to increase over time,” said USGS hydrologist and lead author Ramon Naranjo.
Residents of Carson Valley rely on groundwater from an alluvial aquifer for domestic use and agricultural irrigation. Since the 1970s, there has been an increase in population in several parts of the valley that rely on domestic wells for drinking water and septic systems for treatment of household waste. As a result, the density of septic systems in the developed areas is greater than one septic system per three acres, and the majority of the domestic wells are less than 100 feet in depth.
The study found that the continued use of septic systems for treatment of domestic waste results in ongoing loading of nitrates to the aquifer. Increasing over time, this will result in the extent of the nitrate plume in the aquifer with concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter.
The concentration of nitrates in the aquifer below Carson Valley is affected by the input from septic systems and the withdrawal by domestic well-water pumping. Results from computer models indicate that nitrate concentrations may decline if septic tank systems are removed but can remain in the aquifer more than 30 years if not pumped out. Nitrate concentrations may decline more rapidly with the removal of septic tanks and continuation of domestic pumping, but this comes with greater risks to human health due to the ongoing consumptive use of groundwater in areas with elevated nitrate concentrations.
Modeled nitrate concentrations decline at a slower rate when both septic tank systems are removed and domestic wells are abandoned, reducing the risk to human health but prolonging the persistence of nitrate in the aquifer.
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| Nitrates leach into the groundwater from septic systems, and are removed by domestic well pumping. |
Ongoing monitoring of the nitrate concentrations in groundwater and surface water, including the discharge of nitrates to the Carson River from groundwater, is needed and would help scientists to understand the current distribution and future occurrence and movement of nitrates and other effluent-related compounds in the high concentration areas.
The full USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5136, “The Distribution and Modeling of Nitrate Transport in the Carson Valley Alluvial Aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada”, by Ramon C. Naranjo, Toby L. Welborn, and Michael R. Rosen is available online.
Homeowners can help protect precious water resources by understanding how septic systems work and how to maintain them with proper and effective treatment. For more information, the EPA has extensive online resources about septic systems, and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension has published two fact sheets about septic systems (PDF) and what to do about them (PDF).
