by Andrea Albertin | Oct 18, 2024
Private well system in Florida. Image: UF/IFAS, C. Wofford
UF/IFAS Extension and Mississippi State University are offering a workshop about the fundamentals of private well and onsite wastewater systems (septic systems) on October 24, 2024 from 6-8:30 pm CST. Join us virtually or in-person at the UF/IFAS Walton County Extension Office for an informative session that will cover everything you need to know about these essential systems. Whether you’re a homeowner, realtor, or simply interested in the topic, this event is perfect for gaining valuable insights. Don’t miss out on this chance to expand your knowledge!
Training Objectives:
- Provide descriptions of the basic components of private wells.
- Explain basic private well maintenance and provide recommendations for water testing and treatment if issues are found.
- Provide descriptions of the basic components of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
- Explain how and why the different components of an onsite wastewater system exist and function.
- Explain how poorly functioning onsite systems can reduce the asset life of onsite systems and negatively impact water quality.
- Describe the impact inadequate treatment and discharge can have on nearby private wells and groundwater.
- Discuss private well and septic system best practices after flooding.
Date and Time: 10-24-2024 @ 06:00 PM (CDT) to 10-24-2024 @ 08:30 PM (CDT)
In-Person Location: University of Florida/IFAS Walton County, Walton County Extension Office; 732 N 9th St, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433
Trainers: Dr. Jason Barrett, Associate Extension Professor and the Associate Director, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute at Mississippi State University, Dr. Laura Tiu, Marine Science Extension Agent, Walton County and Dr. Andrea Albertin, Regional Water Resources Extension Agent, University of Florida
Who Should Attend:
- Residents with private wells and onsite wastewater systems can benefit from the concepts covered in this presentation.
- Owners or managers of septic tanks, on-lot wastewater systems, and private wells.
- Municipalities and county officials overseeing local septic programs and decentralized wastewater systems.
- Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) professionals.
- Professionals in water quality and wastewater management, including engineers, planners, and environmental consultants.
- Anyone seeking resources or guidance related to private wells, decentralized wastewater systems, and septic tank management.
Please contact the Walton County Extension Office (850) 892-8172 if you have any questions about the event.
by Rick O'Connor | Oct 4, 2024
One of the top concerns with residents in our communities is water quality. Surveys I have conducted with the public support this statement. One of the top concerns with water quality in the coastal areas is health advisories. These are issued when concentrations of selected fecal bacteria are too high.
In coastal areas, the selected bacteria are Enterococcus. It is important to note that Enterococcus bacteria are found in the digestive systems of birds and mammals. So, its presence does not automatically mean there is human waste in the water. However, there are pathogens associated with bird and mammal waste humans should be concerned about. And very high concentrations are most likely due to human waste. Science is working on additional methods to confirm high levels of Enterococcus are human. It is assumed that these will one day be used.
Enterococcus bacteria are used in coastal waters due to their ability to tolerate higher salinity. Some species, such as E. coli, that are used in freshwater systems die in saline ones. This suggests that the waste is not there, when in fact it is. It is also important to know that Enterococcus bacteria in themselves are not health concern for us. They are in our digestive tracts. But their presence in the water indicates that waste is present and there are pathogens in this waste that are of concern – hence the advisories issued.
In this series we will look at three methods we can use to help reduce human waste from entering our local waterways. Those are (1) maintaining your septic system, (2) converting your septic system to sewer, and (3) maintaining your sewer lines. We will begin with maintaining your septic system.
Septic systems have been used in rural and suburban communities where sewer systems have not been available for decades. Even today, the growth of new neighborhoods is outpacing the sewer infrastructure to support them. Many of these new communities are using septic systems. If properly placed and maintained, septic systems can work well. But many are not placed in good locations, and most are not maintained.
A conventional septic system is composed of a septic tank and a drainfield, where most of the wastewater treatment takes place. Image: US EPA
The system begins with the water leaving your home and entering a large tank made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene buried in the yard. The average size of these tanks is 1000 gallons, but – depending on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the house, they could be larger. Here the sewage sits. Over time the solid waste will settle on the bottom (sludge) while the fats, oils, and grease float to the surface. The liquid layer in the middle (effluent) will flow from the tank into a series of smaller perforated drainpipes that slowly discharge into a drain field. A properly designed drain field will have a layer of sand that will allow draining of the effluent to occur.
Let’s talk about how to maintain this system.
- Do not overload the system with too much water. The tank is designed for a specific number of bedrooms/bathrooms. Overusing water can fill the tank and initiate leaking before the sewage has had time to settle. Watch your water use.
- Watch what you are flushing down the drain. Fats, oils, grease, and even milk will solidify and clog the lines. There are many products that describe themselves as “flushable”. They are, but they are not biodegradable. These two will cause clogs and backups in the system. Some harsh cleaning products can harm the bacteria within the tank who are breaking down the waste – these should be avoided. Also avoid using the garbage disposal. Septic systems were designed for water and sewage, not garbage and food. Compost your food waste instead.
- Periodically have your tank pumped and inspected. This is a step that many do not follow and can lead to leaking of untreated sewage into local waterways. It is recommended that you have your septic tank pumped and inspected once every 3-5 years. There are several businesses in your area who do this type of work. They can also provide advice on how to better maintain your specific system.
- Protect your drain field. Do not drive over this area of your lawn. Vehicles can compact the porous soil needed for efficient percolation and possible crack pipes. Planting trees and shrubs in this area can introduce roots into the lines, plant shallow root plants only. Design your landscape so that rainwater does not flow over the drain field during storms. The draining of your system is designed to be a slow process, allowing both physical and biological treatment of the waste to occur before reaching any water source. Rain and flooding conditions impede this from happening.
Developing a septic maintenance plan for your property can help reduce the number of health advisories your community will see. For more information contact your county health department or extension office.
by Thomas Derbes II | Jun 21, 2024
In Part 1 of The Estuary’s Natural Filtration System article, we discussed the major contributors to natural filtration inside of the estuary. These examples included oysters, marsh plants, and seagrasses. In Part 2, we will discuss the smaller filter-feeding organisms including tunicates, barnacles, clams, and anemones.
Tunicates
Pleated Sea Squirt – Photo Credit: Don Levitan, PH.D. FSU
Tunicates, also known as sea squirts, are very interesting marine invertebrates and can be easily confused for a sponge. There are many different types of tunicates in the estuaries and can be either solitary or colonial. You might’ve seen these at an aquarium attached to different substrates, and when removed from the water, their name sea squirt comes into play. Tunicates have a defense mechanism to shoot out the water inside their body in hopes of being released by any predator.
Tunicates are filter feeders and intake water through their inhalant siphons and expel waste and filtered water through their exhalant siphons. Tunicates can filter out phytoplankton, algae, detritus, and other suspended nutrients. The tunicate produces a mucus that catches these nutrients as it passes through, and the mucus is then conveyed to the intestine where it is digested and absorbed.
An invader to the Gulf of Mexico, the Pleated Sea Squirt (Styela plicata), hitched rides on the hulls of ships and found the Gulf of Mexico waters very favorable. You can sometimes spot these organisms on ropes that have been submerged for a long period of time in salty waters. Even though they are non-native, these sea squirts can filter, on average, 19 gallons of water per day.
Barnacles
Barnacles along the seashore is a common site for many.
Photo: NOAA
One organism that seems ubiquitous worldwide is the barnacle (Genus Semibalanus and Genus Lepas). The Genus Semibalanus contains the common encrusting barnacle we are accustomed to seeing in our waterways along pilings, submerged rocks, and even other animals (turtles, whales, crabs, and oysters). The Genus Lepas contains Gooseneck Barnacles and can be seen attached to flotsam, floating organic debris, and other hard surfaces and have a stalk that attaches them to their substrate. Interesting fact, certain gooseneck barnacle species are eaten in different parts of the world.
This image from a textbook shows the internal structure of a barnacle. Notice the shrimplike animal on its back with extendable appendages (cirri) for feeding.
Image: Robert Barnes Invertebrate Zoology.
Barnacles have over 2,100 species, are closely related to crabs and lobsters, and are a part of the subphylum Crustacea. At first glance, you might not think a barnacle is closely related to crabs, but when you remove the hard plates surrounding it, the body looks very similar to a crab. Barnacles also have life cycle stages that are similar to crabs; the nauplius and cyprid developmental stages. Inside of the hard plates is an organism with large feather-like appendages called cirri. When covered by water, the barnacles will extend their cirri into the water and trap microscopic particles like detritus, algae, and zooplankton. Barnacles are at the mercy of tides and currents, which makes quantifying their filtering ability difficult.
Hard Clams
Clams of North Florida – UF/IFAS Shellfish
Even though not as abundant in the Florida Panhandle as they were in the 1970’s – 1980’s, hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria and M. campechiensis) can still be found in the sand along the shoreline and near seagrass beds. These clams are also known as Quahogs and are in the family Veneridae, commonly known as the Venus clam family, and contain over 500 living species. Most of the clams in the family Veneridae are edible and Quahogs are the types of clams you would see in a clam chowder or clam bake.
Being the only bivalve on this list does not make it any less important than the oyster or scallop on Part 1’s list. In fact, a full-grown adult Southern Quahog clam can filter upwards of 20 gallons of water per day and have a lifespan of up to 30 years. Clams also live a much different lifestyle than their oyster and scallop cousins. Clams spend the majority of their life under the sand. Their movement under the sand helps aerate and mix the soil, which can sometimes stimulate seagrass growth.
Right outside the Florida Panhandle and in the Big Bend area, Quahog clams are commercially farmed in Cedar Key. Southern Quahog clams are also being used for restoration work in South Florida. Clams are being bred in a hatchery and their “seed” are being released into Sarasota Bay to help tackle the Red Tide (Karenia brevis) issue. According to the project’s website, they have added over 2 million clams since 2016, and the clams are filtering over 20 million gallons of seawater daily.
Anemones
Tube-Dwelling Anemone Under Dissection Scope – UF/IFAS Shellfish
Anemones are beautiful Cnidarians resembling an upside-down, attached jellyfish, which couldn’t be closer to the truth. The phylum Cnidaria contains over 11,000 species of aquatic animals including corals, hydroids, sea anemones, and, you guessed it, jellyfish. Anemones come in many different shapes and sizes, but the common estuary anemones include the tube-dwelling anemone (Ceriantheopsis americana) and the tricolor anemone (Calliactis tricolor), also known as the hitchhiking anemone. If you have ever owned a saltwater aquarium, you might have run into the pest anemone Aiptasia (Aiptasia sp.).
Anemones filter feed with their tentacles by catching plankton, detritus, and other nutrients as the tide and current flows. The tentacles of the anemone are lined with cnidocytes that contain small amounts of poison that will stun or paralyze the prey. The cnidae are triggered to release when an organism touches the tentacles. If the anemone is successful in immobilizing the prey, the anemone will guide the prey to their mouth with the tentacles. Just like the barnacle, anemones are at the mercy of the tides and currents, and filtration rates are hard to calculate. However, if you ever see an anemone with food around, they move those tentacles to and from their mouths quickly and constantly!
In Parting
As you can see, there are many different natural filters in our estuary. Healthy, efficiently filtering estuaries are very important for the local community and the quality of the waters we love and enjoy. For more information on our watersheds and estuaries and how to protect them, visit Sea Grant’s Guide To Estuary-Friendly Living.
by Andrea Albertin | Jun 7, 2024
Flooding due to heavy rains can cause septic systems to fail. Image: B. White NASA. Public Domain
About 30% of households in Florida rely on septic systems to treat and dispose of household wastewater. This includes all water from bathrooms and kitchens, and laundry machines.
Conventional septic systems are made up of a septic tank (a watertight container buried in the ground) and a drain field, or leach field. The septic tank’s job is to separate out solids (which settle on the bottom as sludge), from oils and grease, which float to the top and form a scum layer. Bacteria break down the solids (the organic matter) in the tank. The liquid wastewater or effluent, which is in the middle layer of the tank, flows out through pipes into the drain field and underlying soil, where most of the treatment takes placeDuring floods or heavy rains, the soil around the septic tank and in the drainfield become saturated, or water-logged, and the effluent from the septic tank can’t properly drain though the soil. Special care needs to be taken with your septic system during and after a flood or heavy rains.
Diagram of a conventional septic system. Courtesy of the Leon County Public Works Department.
What should you do after flooding occurs?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers these guidelines:
- If your water supply comes from a private well, have it tested for bacteria (total coliform bacteria and E. coli) to make sure it’s safe for consumption, which includes drinking, brushing teeth and cooking. Contact your local County Health Department for testing information. Use an alternate water source or boil your water (bring it to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute) before using it.
- Relieve pressure on the septic system by using it less or not at all until floodwaters recede and the soil has drained. For your septic system to work properly, water needs to drain freely in the drainfield. Under flooded conditions, water can’t drain properly and can back up in your system. Remember that in most homes all water sent down the pipes goes into the septic system. Clean up floodwater in the house without dumping it into the sinks or toilet.
- Avoid digging around the septic tank and drainfield while the soil is water logged. Don’t drive heavy vehicles or equipment over the drainfield. By using heavy equipment or working under water-logged conditions, you can compact the soil in your drainfield, and water won’t be able to drain properly.
- Don’t open or pump out the septic tank if the soil is still saturated. Silt and mud can get into the tank if it is opened and can end up in the drainfield, reducing its drainage capability. Pumping under these conditions can cause a tank to pop out of the ground.
- If you suspect your system has been damage, have the tank inspected and serviced by a professional. How can you tell if your system is damaged? Signs include: settling, wastewater backs up into household drains, the soil in the drain field remains soggy and never fully drains, a foul odor persists around the tank and drain field.
- Keep rainwater drainage systems away from the septic drainfield. As a preventive measure, make sure that water from roof gutters doesn’t drain into your septic drainfield – this adds an additional source of water that the drainfield has to manage.
More information on septic systems and maintenance, can be found on the UF/IFAS septic system website.
By taking special care with your septic system after flooding, you can contribute to the health of your household, community and environment.
by Ray Bodrey | Jun 3, 2024
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension & Florida Sea Grant faculty are reintroducing their acclaimed “Panhandle Outdoors LIVE!” series on St. Joseph Bay. This ecosystem is home to some of the richest concentrations of flora and fauna on the Northern Gulf Coast. This area supports an amazing diversity of fish, aquatic invertebrates, turtles and other species of the marsh and pine flatwoods. Come learn about the important roles of ecosystem!
Registration fee is $40. You must pre-register to attend.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/panhandle-outdoors-live-st-joseph-bay-by-land-sea-tickets-906983109897
or use the QR code:
Meals: Lunch, drinks & snacks provided (you may bring your own)
Attire: outdoor wear, water shoes, bug spray and sunscreen
*If afternoon rain is in forecast, outdoor activities may be switched to the morning schedule
Held at the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve Lodge: 3915 State Road 30-A, Port St. Joe
| 8:30 – 8:35 Welcome & Introduction – Ray Bodrey, Gulf County Extension (5 min) |
| 8:35 – 9:20 Diamondback Terrapin Ecology – Rick O’Connor, Escambia County Extension |
| 9:20 – 10:05 Exploring Snakes, Lizards & the Cuban Tree Frog – Erik Lovestrand, Franklin County Extension |
| 10:05 – 10:15 Break |
| 10:15 – 11:00 The Bay Scallop & Habitat – Ray Bodrey, Gulf County Extension |
| 11:00 – 11:45 The Hard Structures: Artificial Reefs & Derelict Vessel Program – Scott Jackson, Bay County Extension |
| 11:45 – Noon Question & Answer Session – All Agents |
| Noon – 1:00 Pizza & Salad! |
| 1:00 – 1:20 Introduction to the Buffer & History – Buffer Preserve Staff |
| 1:20 – 2:20 Tram Tour – Buffer Preserve Staff |
| 2:20 – 2:30 Break |
| 2:30 – 3:00 A Walk in the Mangroves – All Agents |
| 3:00 – 3:15 Wrap up & Adjourn – All |
by Thomas Derbes II | May 10, 2024
The Panhandle of Florida is home to many estuaries along the coast, from the Escambia Bay System in the west to the Apalachicola Bay System in the east. These estuaries are very important and are the intersection where rivers (fed from their respective watersheds) meet the Gulf of Mexico and contain many different organisms that help filter the waters before they reach the Gulf. These organisms include oysters, marsh plants, seagrasses, scallops, tunicates, and other invertebrates. In this two-part article, we will explore marsh plants, seagrasses, oysters, and scallops.
Marsh Plants
Marsh Plants is a broad term for a family of grasses that lines the shore and contain grasses like Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), and Gulf Cordgrass (Spartina spartinae). These plants help trap sediments before they enter the estuary and are excellent at erosion prevention. When the water encounters the plants, it slows the flow, and this allows for sediments to collect. Marsh Plants are a great tool for shoreline restoration and are a major part of the Living Shorelines Program. The roots of the plants are also very efficient at removing nutrient pollutants like excess nitrogen and phosphorus which are major influencers in eutrophication. Marsh Plants also absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and have been tabbed as “superstars of CO2 capture and storage.” (CO2 and Marsh Plants)
Marsh Grass and Oyster Reef in Apalachicola, Florida – Thomas Derbes II
Seagrasses
Seagrasses are different than Marsh Grasses (seagrasses are ALWAYS submerged underwater), but they offer some of the same ecological services as Marsh Grasses. The term seagrasses include Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum), Shoal Grass (Halodule wrightii), Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima), and Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme) to name a few. Seagrasses help maintain water clarity by trapping suspended sediments and particles with their leaves and uptake excess nutrients in their roots. Seagrasses are very efficient at capturing carbon, capturing it at rates up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. (Carbon Capture and Seagrasses) They also provide habitat for crustaceans, fish, and shellfish (which can filter the water too) and food for other organisms like turtles and manatees.
Grassbeds are also full of life, albeit small creatures.
Photo: Virginia Sea Grant
Oysters
Crassostrea virginica (or as we know them, the Eastern oyster) is a native species of oyster that is commonly found along the eastern coast of the USA, from the upper New England states all the way to the southernmost tip of Texas. Eastern oysters are prolific filter feeders and can filter between 30-50 gallons of water per day. As filter feeders, they trap nutrients like plankton and algae from the environment. In areas of high eutrophication, oysters can be very beneficial in clearing the waters by trapping and consuming the excess nutrients and sediments and depositing them on the bottom as pseudo-feces. With oyster farms popping up all over the Gulf Coast, the filtering potential of estuaries is on the rise. (Between the Hinge)
Oysters, The Powerful Filterers of the Estuary – Thomas Derbes II
Scallops
Bay Scallops (Agropecten irradians) were common along the whole Florida Gulf Coast, but their numbers have taken a recent decline and can only be found in abundance in the estuaries to the east of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City, Florida. Scallops make their home in seagrass beds and are filter feeders. While scallops do not contain the filtering potential of an oyster (scallops filter 3 gallons of water per day as an adult), they are still a key part of filtering the estuary. Just like oysters, scallops feed off of the suspended particles and plankton in the water column and deposit them as pseudo-feces on the bottom. The pseudo-feces also help provide nutrients to the seagrasses below.
Bay Scallop.
Photo: FWC
I hope you enjoyed this first article on filterers in the estuary system. While oysters are known as the filterers of the estuary, I hope this has opened your eyes to the many different filterers that call our estuary home. Stay tuned for Part 2!
