. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. The search Tight clayey soils that won't absorb water plus a high water table that brings ground water al- most to the ground's surface equal lousy condi- tions for conventional septic tanks. The lousy conditions prevail over much of North Carolina's coastal counties. In fact, a recent state study indicates that approximately 90 per- cent of the coastal area is unsuitable for con- ventional septic systems. The result is many fail- ing septic systems which can pollute local wells and are implicated in the c
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. The search Tight clayey soils that won't absorb water plus a high water table that brings ground water al- most to the ground's surface equal lousy condi- tions for conventional septic tanks. The lousy conditions prevail over much of North Carolina's coastal counties. In fact, a recent state study indicates that approximately 90 per- cent of the coastal area is unsuitable for con- ventional septic systems. The result is many fail- ing septic systems which can pollute local wells and are implicated in the closing of much of the state's shellfish waters. Almost one fifth of the state's shellfishing areas are closed due to pollution and less than a tenth of the pollution can be traced directly to sewage treatment plants. Septic tanks are usually blamed for the rest of the 400,000-plus polluted acreage. Other factors such as* livestock runoff, migrating waterfowl and freshwater run- off also have an effect. Failing septic systems can also create stinking messes and public health hazards. So health de- partment officials responsible for approving small septic systems are leery of granting permits in areas with poor soil conditions. "People have property they want to develop and lots of times we have to turn them down. We hate to do this but we'd be causing a health haz- ard by approving them," says Ed Pierce, head of the Pasquotank-Perquimans-Chowan-Camden District Health Department. "I don't know what we can do for relief. That's where Dr. (Bobby) Carlile comes ; Carlile and Larry Stewart are soil scientists at North Carolina State University who—with the help of UNC Sea Grant and Agricultural Experiment Station funds—are testing alterna- tives to conventional septic systems. Their al- ternative systems are now being monitored in Perquimans and Washington counties. More test sites are being arranged for Hyde, Pender and Carteret counties. "What w
Size: 1585px × 1576px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
