1. On-site wastewater treatment system repairs
Brian Devine
Animas River Community Forum
June 13th 2019

2. Wastewater disposal vs treatment
Organic compounds (C-H-O…)
Nutrient compounds (N, P…)
Fats, oils, grease
Suspended solids
Pathogens
Treatment is a relatively new invention!

3. Treatment components Septic tank (solids, organics, FOG)
Aeration tank (solids, organics***, FOG)
Higher-level treatment (solids, organics***, nitrogen***, FOG)
Soil treatment area (organics, pathogens)
Lagoon (organics? Pathogens?)
ALL COMPONENTS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE

4. Wastewater in the San Juan Basin
Until 2003 most systems were designed for disposal or short-term treatment
19,000 permits issued from 1967 to 2019
Unpermitted pre-1967 systems
Overused, undermaintained, uninspected

5. Transfer of Title Inspections
Requires third-party inspection of most existing OWTS at time of property sale
Exceptions… recent systems, non-arms-length transactions, ongoing projects
Functional criteria for acceptance
NOT necessary to bring system to 2019 standards
May NOT pose a risk to public health
Repairs must be completed by seller or buyer

6. Transfer of Title in 2019
About 195 TRT applications (passed inspections OR agreements for buyers to repair)
50% increase in repair permit applications
Vast majority are aerator and/or tank replacements
Slight increase in alteration permit applications
Most commonly to accommodate illegally added bedrooms/dwellings
About 85% compliance in Q based on Assessor sale records

7. What we know Human-derived e. coli exist in the Animas River
Groundwater generally flows from the valley into the river
Nutrient pollution is associated with algal blooms in the Animas
Nitrate and nitrite levels in Animas Valley wells are generally safe

8. What we don’t know
How much of nutrient pollution in Animas is OWTS-derived?
How much pathogenic pollution in Animas is OWTS-derived?
What benefits to water quality will we see as systems are repaired and replaced?
How will state OWTS regulations look in the future?
What about pharmaceuticals and other persistent pollutants?