Septics: Dilution is the Solution to Pollution?

By Amy Dain
May 6th, 2008

Do you wonder sometimes about the connection between affordable housing and sewage disposal? Land is expensive around here, so if you want to see affordable housing built, you need to allow it on small lots. But leaching fields for septic systems generally take up a lot of land.

As one health official told Pioneer’s researchers, “dilution is the solution to pollution”, meaning the more land you have for a septic system, the more the dirty effluent get diluted before polluting our water supplies. The flip side is, the more land used for housing, the less open space preserved.

Can you put a septic system on a small lot? Can affordable housing be built in communities with no sewers? According to Pioneer’s survey, 53 of the 187 communities within 50 miles of Boston have no homes on sewer. Many more have sewers in just a small part of town.

Pioneer is looking to do more research on the topic (alternative technologies, shared systems, Title 5, local regs, etc.). If you have thoughts on the topic, do let me know. In the meantime, join me at CHAPA’s June 9 event on the challenges and opportunities of building affordable housing where there are no sewers.

Also, check out this conference in Vermont on sewage solutions for small communities.