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Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments: On-Site Sewage Facilities

Texas AgriLife Extension has conducted multiple projects to implement management measures from the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments including septic system remediation, education and outreach, and the development of an updated inventory of septic systems.

Map of Texas with outline of the coastal zone boundary.

Project Area

Water Bodies: All Texas coastal waters

Location: Texas Coastal Zone

Background

Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of the Coastal Management Act requires states and territories with federally approved Coastal Zone Management Programs to develop and implement a coastal nonpoint source (NPS) control program. The program is unique in that it establishes a set of management measures for states to use in addressing polluted runoff.

One of the management measures required under CZARA involves inspection of new and operating septic systems in the Coastal Zone (CZ). As failing septic systems can contribute contaminants to coastal watersheds, inspecting systems at a specified frequency, determining their operational status, and maintaining proper operation is crucial in reducing the volume of contaminants that enter the watershed.

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Project Descriptions

Texas AgriLife Extension has implemented activities with this multiphase project to reduce overall loading of contaminants from septic systems in Galveston County and other counties in the Texas CZ (Section 6217 jurisdictional areas). Project personnel have identified areas of chronic septic system failure and developed a list of targeted sites for removing septage from anaerobic systems.
During each phase, homeowners received free instruction on the proper operation and maintenance of septic system. Guidance was developed for conducting visual evaluations of anaerobic septic system, and the project's staff taught local health-department personnel how to conduct visual inspections.

In Phase I (2010 - 2015), 63 septic systems were inspected and 59 were pumped out. A total of 20 failing systems were replaced.

In Phase II (2012 - 2016), ten septic systems were inspected and 4,692 gallons of septage were pumped out. Four critically failing systems were replaced with aerobic treatment units. In addition, an inventory of septic systems was developed for three counties of the Texas CZ. This information, in combination with GPS data gathered during Phase I, was used to map critical locations for potential septic system issues in the Texas CZ.

Phase III (2017 - 2019) involved updating the inventory of septic systems in selected counties of the Texas CZ by adding information about the septic systems and environmental conditions to help predict which areas have a higher potential for impacts from malfunctioning systems. The project helped homeowners in close proximity (1,000 feet) to Double Bayou and its tributaries with free septic system inspection and pump-out services offered under other projects in the area.

Phase IV (2018 - 2021) maintained and updated the septic inventory, and expanded the outreach, education, and inspection services to San Bernard River watershed residents.

Phase V (2019 - 2021) maintained and updated the existing septic inventory, and conducted outreach, education, and inspection services to Chocolate Bayou watershed residents.

In Phase VI (2020 - 2025), Texas AgriLife Extension is further enhancing a method of automated septic system data entry to the existing inventory database and is continuing outreach, education, and septic system inspection services to San Bernard River watershed residents.

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For More Information

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension On-Site Sewage Facility web page

To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682  or email us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.

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