How Sewage and Drinking Water Mix

One of the most common types of human waste is sewage. Whether we have our own septic system or use a municipal system, all of our sewage waste represents contamination of water and land. Substances that wash down our sinks, baths, showers, and toilets can contain pathogenic and toxic chemicals found in every day household products. Cleaning agents, solvents, paints, discarded prescription drugs, floor polishes, pesticide and herbicide residues on some foods, bug poisons and repellants, and certain personal care products are but a few types of toxic wastes that we may unconsciously dispose of that end up as sewage waste. We must individually try to avoid such waste disposal practices, and avoid the use of such products as well.

Industrial, hospital, and business wastes can include substances that adds to this monumental toxic sewage problem. These substances range the gamut from dry cleaning chemicals to potent disinfectants. The eventual destination of many of these wastes is the sewage treatment plant whose task is to attempt to remove toxic and pathogenic substance from the sewage wastes before the treated wastes return to water and land.

In Green Bay, for example, the municipal sewage treatment plant typically processes about 35 million gallons of sewage a day from the sewer lines that connect to homes, hospitals, businesses, and factories. Following treatment, designed to remove most of the bacteria, the liquid outflow (about 33 million gallons a day) is disposed of by discharging directly into the Bay of Green Bay. Most of the city of Green Bay’s drinking water comes from Green Bay water. Semi-liquid sludge wastes, derived from the sewage treatment, are incinerated (a toxin producing process), and the ashes (containing toxic residues) are stored in landfills, often near the shores of the bay. Green Bay is by no means unique. Most cities in the world process sewage similarly.

The city of Green Bay, like other cities bordering or close to the Great Lakes, utilizes Great Lakes water as the primary source of drinking water. Under such conditions, the mixing of treated sewage waste and treated drinking water is virtually inevitable since the treated liquid sewage outflow goes directly into Great Lakes water as well. Communities depending upon ground water for drinking water, rather than surface waters, contend with the same problems. Treated sewage wastes discharged into lakes, rivers, and oceans contain toxic chemicals and bacterial/viral agents that are not removable by present sewage treatments systems. Sewage sludge that is incinerated, spread on land to decompose, or used for fertilizer also contains remnant bacteria and toxic chemicals. Many toxic chemicals are very stable and even when they decompose their by-products are sometimes toxic and often carcinogenic. Why are we surprised when beach closings are required because of bacteria laden lake water or when boiling drinking water alerts occur in affected communities?

This is precisely why EPA regulates sewage treatment wastes as well as drinking water. As previously described in the March article, “The Drinking Water Dilemma”, the EPA regulations governing the quality of drinking water are inadequate and do not assure safe water. The EPA regulations pertaining to sewage wastes are even less stringent than EPA drinking water regulations. Toxic chemicals (mostly manmade), found in sewage are not regulated by the EPA at all. Disease-causing bacteria found in human and animal excrements are regulated, but sewage treatments do not eliminate all of them. Neither sewage treatment nor drinking water treatment technologies have kept pace with the increasing production and use of manmade toxic chemicals, via growing populations, high density land-developments, and increasing industrial waste. The reality is that neither drinking water treatments nor sewage treatments that are in use today are capable of sufficiently removing myriad toxic chemicals and pathogens. Our well- being, and the health of generations to come are jeopardized.

Private well owners are equally at risk. Wells are usually located close to septic systems. This is a potentially serious drinking water contamination threat. If your well is not sufficiently deep and encased, sewage waste from your septic system can infiltrate ground water and contaminate your drinking water. The particular soil conditions that are prevalent on your property will determine whether the wastes from your septic field can contaminate your well water. Certain types of soil effectively scrub and retain contaminants more effectively than other (soil) types, and prevent infiltration of toxic wastes into the water from your well. The proximity to neighboring septic fields is another important factor. Every well represents a special case, and must be individually evaluated, and tested (on a regular time schedule) to determine the safety of the well water. There are no regulations in Wisconsin that pertain to water from privately owned wells. The safety of your water depends primarily upon your actions. Happily, your well water may be superior to most municipal water if you live in a rural area where neither industrial, agricultural, or animal operations are nearby.

If you live near industrial operations or power plants that create toxic wastes, that are not adequately contained, the potential likelihood of water contamination increases. Similarly, if you live near agricultural, dairy, or various animal operations the probability of bacterial and chemical contamination can become very acute. Toxic landfills and waste depositories also increase water contamination. You must stay informed about what takes place around you to try to prevent toxic contamination. [This may require individual activism to mobilize people in your community to protect your water quality from contamination caused by irresponsible actions and insufficient government controls.]

Foods are also at risk from the contaminated treated sewage water used for agricultural irrigation, as allowed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is a common practice in California and elsewhere where water supplies are in short supply and/or costly. Why are we surprised when E.coli or other pathogens are found in various leafy vegetables and other foods and cause widespread illness and sometimes death?

The fish swimming in contaminated Great Lakes water are another source of food that contains manmade toxic chemicals derived from water in which they swim. Mercury (methyl mercury) from coal burning power plants, and PCB’s from previous paper mill operations are contained in fish caught in Green Bay and the Fox River waters. Wisconsin DNR advisories warn us that we should restrict our consumption of such fish. Unfortunately, we along with the fish and animal life are also recipients of these same disease-causing toxins.

Sewage wastes represent a growing threat to drinking water quality and food safety as developments, populations, industrial production, and use of manmade toxic chemicals increases. Substantial improvements in both water and sewage treatment technology must be developed and implemented soon to prevent escalating contamination of drinking water supplies and recreational waters. Unfortunately, this need seems to be largely unrecognized by governments and politicians, and the imperative improvements of sewage and water treatments are seldom, if ever, on a politician’s agenda or government’s priorities. The illnesses, cancers, miscarriages, birth defects, and deaths caused because of inadequate water and waste treatments are incalculable, and intolerable. They are also preventable if we take action.

Our well-being and the health of newborn children depend upon our actions. We can individually help by avoiding the use of products containing toxic chemicals and use instead natural non-toxic products. We must awaken politicians and governments to the essential need to expand regulations and to improve technology for the treatment of drinking water and sewage waste. These are essential priorities. We must demand that toxin-free drinking water is a basic human right for everybody.

Zalman P. Saperstein has an MS and BS in Interdisciplinary Engineering from UCLA and was involved in research and development. He is the author of A Drinker’s Guide to Pure Water — Is Your Water Safe?
For more information, visit: www.safewaterguide.com.