There are two main uses of groundwater in Pattee Canyon:  drinking water wells and septic systems.  Notice that wells take the water from the same place that septic systems return the water.

Wells pump groundwater to the surface and those near the creek may drain water from the creek, lowering the amount of water in the creek.  Groundwater flows underground into the creek, keeping the flow relatively high, even during the drier seasons. 

Septic Systems

Septic systems are on-site disposal systems for household sewage. Waste treatment is accomplished with the aid of natural bacteria that decompose human waste products into environmentally acceptable components - mainly water; gasses and undigested material called sludge.  

What are the different types of  septic systems?

Seepage systems, otherwise known as cesspools, are an older, less commonly used type of septic system. They are constructed by digging a pit approximately five feet in diameter and lining it with concrete rings. The bottom of the rings are filled with rocks. Waste is pumped from the residence into the system, where solid waste is trapped on top of the rocks and biologically broken down by  microorganisms, and the effluent is then allowed to seep down into the underlying soil.

Most systems installed today are drainage systems, otherwise known as leach fields. These consist of a tank that traps solid waste.  Perforated pipes are then laid down in the trenches and covered with dirt. Effluent water from the tank is allowed to leach out of the holes in the pipes while the solids are carried to a cement holding tank for decomposition.

In the Pattee Creek drainage system, there are 62 homes with septic systems. All but nine have been inspected. Of these 62 systems, 47 are new and the other 15 have been restored. Of the 47 new systems, 31 are drainage-type and 16 are seepage. Of the15 restored systems, seven are drainage and eight are seepage.  

Why do we need to understand about septic systems?

If improperly constructed or maintained, septic systems can contribute nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter and disease-causing bacteria and viruses to both our ground and surface waters. These pollutants cause a public health concern, especially for children. Nitrogen has been shown to cause a serious form of anemia in infants, otherwise known as "blue baby syndrome". Allowing pathogens such as viruses or bacteria to enter our drinking water supply would be detrimental to human health. Biological waste materials in streams can increase the growth of the microorganisms that feed upon such waste, and their metabolic activity reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, harming aquatic life.

Overview of Problems Associated with Sewage  

Another problem impacting the watershed is the construction of inadequate sewage systems for some of the residents in Pattee Canyon. The inadequate disposal of sewage is a major contributor to non-point source pollution. Fecal bacteria in human and non-human waste can cause disease and illness in humans. It is important to properly treat sewage in order to prevent the spread of disease. The growing human population makes this difficult because the more people we have on the planet the more waste accumulates, demanding adequate sewage treatment facilities in order to prevent disease-causing bacteria from entering the water supply.

The older sewage systems found in Pattee Canyon were adequate when there were not as many people living there. Now that the population of residents has grown, so has the amount of human waste. The older systems are porous containers that leech sewage back into the ground water almost immediately, not giving the waste enough time to break down and become safe for discharge. These older systems are referred to as seepage or cesspools and drainage or leach fields. Now when a new resident moves into Pattee Canyon, there is a law that requires them to replace older seepage and drainage systems with newer septic systems. A modern, well-maintained septic system does not allow sewage back into the ground water until it has been fully treated. In Pattee Canyon the problem is not so much overpopulation but the type of sewage systems being utilized.

Things to remember:

1. Regular inspection of septic systems by a qualified professional is required, at least during change of property ownership..

2. Regular pumping of sludge is required approximately every 2-5 years. Frequency can vary depending upon such variables as tank size, family size, and garbage disposal use.

3. Garbage disposals add significant load to a septic system and will increase the amount of times that maintenance is required. Limiting garbage disposal use is therefore recommended.

4. A well designed system can handle a reasonable amount of household chemicals such as drain cleaners, laundry detergent and bleach, but you should avoid putting in chemicals that are toxic to the vital bacteria such as paint thinner, solvents or insecticides. Cooking fat and grease should also be avoided.  These chemicals interfere with the system's ability to treat waste and may result in groundwater contamination.

Why do systems fail?

If the liquid effluent cannot soak into the surrounding soil, sewage may back up into the house or puddle on the surface of the ground. These are obvious indicators of a failing system. Unfortunately, a system can also fail by allowing sewage to leave the system too rapidly before it is treated.  This is not so obvious.  The first indication may come when well water nearby is found to be contaminated or a nearby creek blooms with algae.  Causes may be related to soil, that is too fine or too coarse, tree root damage to pipes or tanks, or an elevated water table due to unusually wet conditions. In any case, a professional should be contacted immediately for inspection and repair.

Pattee Creek has tested positive for Coliform bacteria. These organisms are not disease-causing in and of themselves but they are often found where disease causing organisms thrive. It is imperative for the residents of Pattee Canyon to have adequate sewage treatment facilities that do not leak waste back into the stream before it has been fully treated. Sewage systems are difficult to change quickly but the gradual transition has begun with the cooperation of the community in Pattee Canyon and the passage of the law that requires new residents to change any antiquated sewage systems if they are already present on their property.