Ferguson, Toni-Ann

Gandylyan, Karina

Williams, Garfield

DigitalCommons@Florida International University

Florida International UniversityFIU Digital CommonsSea Level Rise Collection7-25-2014Local Septic Tanks Threatened by RisingGroundwaterToni-Ann FergusonFlorida International UniversityKarina GandylyanFlorida International UniversityGarfield WilliamsFlorida International UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/sea_level_risePart of the Communication Commons, and the Environmental Studies CommonsThis work is brought to you for free and open access by FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sea Level Rise Collection by anauthorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact dcc@fiu.edu.Recommended CitationFerguson, Toni-Ann; Gandylyan, Karina; and Williams, Garfield, "Local Septic Tanks Threatened by Rising Groundwater" (2014). SeaLevel Rise Collection. Paper 84.http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/sea_level_rise/84Local Septic TanksThreatened by RisingGroundwaterJULY 25, 2014  /  TED GUTSCHE  /  0 COMMENTSWorkers suck sewage from a MiamiGardens septic tank.But in Miami-Dade County, anything that has to do with water – andwastewater – isn’t just “another business.” Theirs is one that deals withimmediacy and can have a real impact on the health of neighborhoods, asseptic tanks are used to dispose of wastewater from toilets and “graywater,”water that comes from people’s showers and dishwashers.“We tend to be like an emergency service,”Ettrick said. “When people call us theirtoilets aren’t flushing and that’s no fun.”Septic systems use microorganisms to filterout bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing pathogens before releasing some ofthe water it holds back into theenvironment. Remaining waste needs to be collected and disposed of byprofessionals, usually once every few years to prevent damage to the systemand a possible back up of fluid into people’s homes and onto their grass.The problemRising water tables due to sea level rise is crowding out many septic tanks inMiami Gardens and across South Florida – and both city and countyofficials are looking for ways to deal with aging tanks and systemsbefore homeowners and businesses are left swimming in sewage.For people like Bowas, however, even with possible changes to area sewageproblems, he will always be in high demand – even on holidays. Smiling whileon-call at Mr. C’s on July 4, Bowas shrugged his shoulders when he said, “Ishould be home lighting up my grill right now.”Uncategorized

Local Septic Tanks Threatened by Rising Groundwater

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