PB84-196229
Characterization of Soil
Disposal System Leachates
Rice Univ.,  Houston, TX
Prepared for


Municipal Environmental Research  Lab,
Cincinnati, OH
May 84
                      U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                    National Technical Information Service
                                  NTTS

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                                                 EPA-600/2-84-101
                                                 May 1984
 CHARACTERIZATION OF SOIL DISPOSAL SYSTEM LEACHATES
                         by
                    Mason Tomson
                    Carol Curran
                     J.M. King
                     Helen Wang
                     Joe Dauchy
                   Virginia Gordy
                     B.H. Ward
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
                  Rice University
               Houston, Texas  77251
        Cooperative Agreement No. CR-806931
                  Project Officers

                  Ronald F. Lewis
            Wastewater Research Division
    Municipal  Environmental Research Laboratory
              Cincinnatij Ohio  45268

                  Marion R. Scalf
  Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
               Ada, Oklahoma  74820
    MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
         OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
        U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
              CINCINNATI, OHIO  45268

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                                  TECHNICAL RLPORT DATA
                                           K /*» rr\ rnt t\ !<** co''
 fUPOMT NO.
  FPA-6QQ/2-84-101
              iCNf S ACCISSIQN MO.
                 P3KA   19
 TITLI AMO lUKTITLl

 CHARACTERIZATION OF SOIL DISPOSAL  SYSTEM LEACHATES
        6 Ptff'ORMINO ORGANIZATION COO*
 AUTMOMlS)
 Mason Tooson, Carol  Curran,  J.  M.  King,  Helen Wang,
 Joe Daucbv,  Virzinia Gordv.  C.  H.  Ward	
                                                          • PERFORMING ORGANIZATION R»PO«T N(
         mPORT OATC
           May 1984
 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAM( ANO AOOMCSS
  Dope,  of Environmental Science  &  Engineering
  Rice University
  P.O. Box 1892
  Houston. Texas 77251
                                                           Id rMOGMAM CUCMmNT NO.
        M. CONTRACT/CHANT NO.

          CR-806931
2. SPONSORING AGtNCY NAMC ANO AOORISS
  Municipal Environmental  Research Laboratory-  Cin.,  OH
  Office of Research and Development
  U.S.  Environn«ntal Protection  Agency
  Cincinnati, Ohio
        13. TYPg Of REPORT ANO P1MIOO COVtHCC
          Final. 1980-1983
        14 SPONSORING AOINCY COOC

          TPA/600/14
II. »Uf LlMtNTAMY NOUS

   Project Officer:   Ronald F.  Lewis, (513) 684-7644  and :;arion s> Scalf (9]3)743_23C3
It.
      In the present study, ground water from a  total  of  ten septic tank systems around
 the  country has been sampled and analyzed for inorganic  ions,  bacteria, viruses, and
 chromatographable trace level organics (C-TLOs).  Generally,  the distribution box at
 each site was sampled and taken to be input to  the  soil  adsorption field.  The primary I
 emphasis of the work has been C-TLOs.  From preliminary  studies, twenty-two C-TLOs werel
 targeted for quantitation.  These 22 compounds  included:   chloroform, tricHoroethvleneJ
 toluene, dichlorobenzenes, naphthalene, skatole,  p(l,l,3,3-tetrame  ylbutyl)phenol,    1
 benzophenone, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, several of which are priori;y pollutants.
 Concentration of the 22 target compounds varied  from  a high of '-'300 ug .'.~~L in the dis-
 tribution boxes to a high of i!5 ug 1~  in the  ground water wells.  Typical concentra-.
 tions in the distribution boxes and ground water  samples were  <1 ug 1   and <0.1 ug 1
 respectively, indicating generally >90% removal of  C-TLOs within a few tens of feet.
17.
                                • f V WOMO9 ANO OOCUMCNT ANALYSIS
                  DISCRIPTOMS
                                              b lOCNTiriCMS/OPCN CNOIO Tf MM«  C. COSATI
         Septic tanks
         Ground water
         Contamination
         Organics
Septic tanks
Municipal waste water
10.
    Release to public.
                                              19 SCCUMlTY CLASS  (••*. 4-77)   »M«VI«U«

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                                  DISCLAIMER

      Although the information described in this article has been funded
wholly or in part by the United State Environmental Protection Agency through
the cooperative agreement number CR 806931 to the National Center for Ground
Water Research and by subcontract to the Department of Environmental Science
and Engineering of Rice University, it has not been subjected to the Agency's
required peer and administrative review and therefore does not necessarily
reflect the views of the Agency and no offical endorsement should be inferred.
Neither does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use.
                                     U

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                            FOREWORD

     The Environmental Protection Agency was created because
of increasing public and government concern about the dangers
of pollution to the health and welfare of the American people.
The complexity of the environment and the interplay between
its components require a concentrated and integrated attack on
the problem.

     Research and development is that necessary first step in
problem solution, and it involves defining the problem, measur-
ing its impact, and searching for solutions.  The Municipal
Environmental Research Laboratory develops new and improved
technology and systems for the prevention, treatment, and man-
agement of wastewater and solid and hazardous waste pollutant
discharges from municipal and community sources, for the pres-
ervation and treatment of public drinking water supplies, and
to minimize the adverse economic, social, health, and aesthet-
ic effects of pollution.  This publication is one of the prod-
ucts of that research; a most vital communications link between
the researcher and the user community.
                                Francis T. Mayo, Director
                                Municipal Environmental Research
                                Laboratory
                              111

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                                    ABSTRACT

     About 30% of Americans use septic tanks to treat their domestic waste.   As
the trend to move back to less populated areas continues, the percentage of
septic tank users Is likely to Increase.  Previously, little attention has been
given to the Impact of septic tanks on ground water.  Almost no attention has
been directed to the extent of ground water contamination by chromatographtable
trace level organlcs (C-TLOs), such as pesticides, plastlcizers, organic solvents,
and neutral chlorinated hydrocarbons.

     In the present study, ground water from a total of ten septic tank systems
around the country has been sampled and analyzed for Inorganic ions, bacteria,
viruses, and C-TLOs.  Generally, the distribution box at each site was sampled
and taken to be input to the soil adsorption field.  The primary emphasis of
the work has been C-TLOs.  From preliminary studies, twenty-two C-TLOs were
targeted for quantisation.  These 22 compounds included:  chloroform, trichloro-
ethylene, toluene, dichlorobenzenes, naphthalene, skatole, (p(l,l,3,3-tetra-
methyl-butyl)phenol, benzophenone, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthai ate, severl of
which are priority pollutants.  The most thorough analysis was performed on
samples from a site at Speonk, New York, where about one hundred people in
three apartment buildings discharge waste water into a common sandy soil adsorp-
tion system.

     Concentration of the 22 target compounds varied from a high of ~300 ug  I'1
In the distribution boxes to a high of -15 gg I"1 in the ground water wells.
Typical concentrations 1n the distribution boxes and ground water samples were
<1 ug 1~* and <0.1 pg I"1, respectively, indicating generally >90% removal of
C-TLOs within a few tens of feet.  This potential for chemical pollution, as
well as nuisance factors (taste and smell) due to C-TLO ground water contamina-
tion from septic tanks, has been demonstrated.  The concern should be greatest
in areas with sandy soil where poor C-TLO retardation and adsorption are expected.
                                     iv

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                            CONTENTS

Foreword	ill

Abstract	iv

Figures	vi

Tables	vii

Acknowledgment 	  viii

   1.  Introduction  	   1

   2.  Conclusions   	   6

   3.  Recommendations 	   7

   4.  Methods	   9

   5.  Septic Tank Systems Studied 	  12

       a.  Site #1, Speonk, New York	13
       b.  Site #2, Cisco Grove, California	24
       c.  Site #3, Sun Valley, Nevada	32
       d.  Site #4, Stinson Beach, California	41
       e.  Site #5, Penwaugh, Texas	47
       f.  Site #6, Aldine KOA Campground, Houston, Texas. .  54
       g.  Site #7, Pearland, Texas, Mobile Home Park  ...  58
       h.  Site #8, Lawrence, Kansas, Single Family Dwell-
             ing Septic Tank System	61
       i.  Site #9, Southern Bible College, Houston, Texas .  65
       j.  Site #10, Stellacoom, Washington	66

   6.  Discussion and Summary of C-TLOs Found in Septic
       Tank  Systems	67

References	75

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                            FIGURES
Number                                                      Page
   1     Schematic of an on-site septic tank system	2
   2     Distribution of on-site septic systems, by
         state (Otis e_t al., 1977), along with locations
         where samples were obtained for C-TLOs analysis
         in this study	5
   3     Pictorial summary of laboratory procedures used
         to sample and analyze C-TLOs associated with
         septic tank systems	10
   4     Schematic of Speonk, New York, site	14
   5     GC traces from samples obtained from Speonk,
         New York	16
   6     Diagram of leach field at Cisco Grove, Cali-
         fornia	25
   7     GC traces from samples obtained from Cisco
         Grove, California 	 27
   8a    Nap showing location of monitoring wells and
         example of septic tank system in Sun Valley,
         Nevada	33
   8b    Diagram of static water levels in Sun Valley,
         Nevada	34
   9     GC traces from samples obtained from Sun Valley,
         Nevada	37
  10     Map of Stinson Beach, California, showing moni-
         toring well sites	42
  11     GC traces from samples obtained from Stinson
         Beach, California 	 45
  12     Schematic of Penwaugh, Texas, site	48
  13     GC traces from samples obtained from Penwaugh,
         Texas	51
  14     Diagram of Aldine, Texas, site	55
  15     GC traces from samples obtained from Aldine,
         Texas	56
                               vi

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                         FIGURES (Cont.)

Number                                                     Page

  16     Diagram of Pearland,  Texas,  site	59

  17     GC traces from samples obtained  from Pearland,
         Texas	60

  18     Diagrams of Lawrence, Kansas, site	62

  19     GC traces from samples obtained  from Lawrence,
         Kansas	63

  20     Plot of the logarithm of C-TLO concentrations
         (ng i~l) and conductance (ymhos  cm"*) vs the
         logarithm of distance for selected compounds
         found in the ground water at Speonk, New York. .  . 69
                               VII

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                             TABLES
Number                                                      Page
  1      Water Characteristics, Speonk, New York,
         July 7-11, 1981	15
  2      Speonk, New York, Trace Organics (wg/1)  	 23
  3      Characteristics of Water at Cisco Grove,
         California (June 1-2, 1981) 	 26
  4      Cisco Grove, California, Trace" Organics  (ug/1). .  . 30
  5      Characteristics of Water at Sun Valley, Nevada  .  . 35
  6      Sun Valley, Nevada, Trace Organics (wg/1) 	 36
  7      Characteristics of Water at Stinson Beach,
         California	43
  8      Stinson Beach, California, Trace Organics (wg/1).  . 44
  9      Characteristics of Water at Penwaugh, Texas,
         January 22, 1981	49
 10      Summary of C-TLOs Found at Penwaugh, Texas,
         Site; Sampling:  January 23, 1981	50
 11      Onsite Chemical Analyses of Water and Waste Water
         from Home Septic Tank System, Lawrence, Kansas,
         May 8, 1981	64
 12      Major Uses of C-TLOs Targeted for Study	68
 13      Summary of C-TLO concentrations (wg/1) found at
         four primary septic tank system sites 	 70
 14      Compounds Identified by Reverse Ion Search in Water
         Samples from Speonk, New York, Site	72
                              Vlll

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                         ACKNOWLEDGMENT

     This is to acknowledge the continuous support and en-
couragement given by the personnel at Municipal Environmental
Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio, and by W. J. Dunlap,
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, Ada, Okla-
homa.  Portions of this work were supported by EPA Grant
No. CR-806931, National Center for Ground Water Research Sub-
contract No. 6931-6, and EPA Grant No. R-805292.  Additionally,
the continuous support by C. P. Gerba for the virology analysis
is acknowledged.  The manuscript was prepared by Suzette Pruit,
and that is gratefully appreciated.
                               IX

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                           SECTION 1

                         INTRODUCTION
GENERAL STATEMENT

     About 30% of Americans use septic tanks to treat their
residential waste water (Dunlap, 1977).  Salvato (1982, p. 379)
lists the following six criteria that an excreta, sewage, or
wastewater disposal system should meet:
        /
     1.  Prevention of pollution of water supplies and contam-
         ination of shellfish intended for human consumption.
     2.  Prevention of pollution of bathing and recreational
         areas.
     3.  Prevention of nuisance, unsightliness, and unpleasant
         odors.
     4.  Prevention of human wastes coming into contact with
         man, animals, and foods or being exposed on the ground
         surface accessible to children and pets.
     5.  Prevention of fly and mosquito breeding; exclusion
         of rodents and other animals.
     6.  Strict adherence to standards for ground water and
         surface waters; compliance with local regulations
         governing wastewater disposal and water pollution
         control.

A typical septic tank and soil absorption lateral field is
shown in Figure 1.  The actual septic tank itself is generally
sized to hold one to two days of liquid waste and one to sev-
eral years of solid waste.  Most solids are removed in the
septic tank, but little BOD removal takes place.  The leach
field acts to absorb and remove BOD, pathogens, and inorganic
minerals.  If solids pass into the leach field, they tend to
plug the soil.  For a thorough discussion of various overall
septic tank designs, details of designs, and background on
their operation and failure, the following references should
be consulted:  Salvato, 1982; Otis e_t £.1., 1977; Scalf, Dunlap,
and Kreissl, 1977; Chanlett, 1979; and Imhoff and Fair, 1940.

     The following criteria are generally considered when
permitting a septic tank system design:

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                                                   ABSORPTION
                                                     FIELD
                                                     TILE
                                                    DRAINAGE
                                                     LINES
Figure 1.   Schematic of an on-site septic tank system (Scalf et
           al.,  1977).  (For further  details and drawings,  see
           Salvato, 1980, pp. 399 and 421.)

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     1.  A percolation test is run which determines the allow-
         able infiltration rate (gal/ft2/day) for sizing the
         lateral field.
     2.  Some estimate of the expected daily flow is made.  For
         residential waste often this is based upon the number
         of bedrooms in the house(s) or 150 gal/day/bedroom
         (USPHS, 1976).  For commercial facilities, generally
         some formula based upon experience is used.
     3.  The horizontal distance to the nearest drinking water
         well from any point in the leach field is generally
         required to be 100 ft or greater.
     4.  Finally, most states have some requirement on the
         distance from the bottom of the lateral trench to
         the top of the ground water table or to the top of
         a clay or rock strata.  Generally, this vertical dis-
         tance is from 18 to 48 in or greater.

Despite these considerations, it is estimated that only half
of the septic tank systems perform satisfactorily for their
fifteen to twenty year design life (Scalf, Dunlap, Kreissl,
1977).  The most common manifestation of septic tank system
failure is the appearance of moisture at the soil surface
associated with the leach field.  This is generally caused
either, first, by crusting or clogging of the soil surface in-
side the leach field trenches or, second, by a seasonally high
water table.  As a consequence, as long as a septic tank sys-
tem receives water and allows it to percolate downward, the
system is generally assumed to be working.

     Ground water contamination is rarely assessed as a problem
with septic tank systems.  The primary focus of this research
has been on ground water pollution by septic tank effluents.
In 1977 USEPA in a report to Congress classified subsurface
soil absorption systems (septic systems) as Category I ground
water pollution sources because they discharge directly into
the ground water (USEPA, 1977).  Salvato (1982, pp. 175-181)
has reviewed the literature on microorganism and chemical
pollution movement in ground water.  In one study of a sandy
soil shallow aquifer (Stiles et al., 1927) coliform bacteria
were shown to travel 232 ft and chemical pollution (uranin dye)
moved 450 ft in about 2-1/2 years; furthermore, the pollution
did not disperse in the aquifer, but remained concentrated at
the surface near the water table.  In that same study chromate
was found to travel 1000 ft in only three years, and wells
2000 ft away from a garbage dump were contaminated.  Addition-
ally, if a well is pumping in the area, ground water flow will
generally tend to be in the direction of the well.  This
"cone of influence" often extends out 400 to 1000 ft from a
well and causes accelerated ground water and pollution move-
ment toward the well.  Bacteria die off with depth in unsat-
urated soil, but increase in number once the water table is
approached.  From these observations it is clear that septic

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tank systems are potentially a major source of ground water
pollution and that current design practice, such as the 100
ft separation distance to a water well, may be inadequate.

     As noted by Salvato (1982, p. 181) and Scalf e_t al. (1977,
p. 25), very little is known about the fate of chromatographable
trace level organics (C-TLOs) such as chlorinated hydrocarbons,
aromatics, or phthalate esters in ground water below septic tank
systems.  Many of these compounds are either solvents or syn-
thesized organics.  Often these compounds, such as phthalate
plasticizers, are chosen by industry personnel for their stabil-
ity and resistance to degradation.

     The overall objective of this research has been to deter-
mine if potentially harmful C-TLOs are being systematically
added to ground water by septic tank systems, and if so, which
compounds or compound classes are present at what concentration
levels and to what extent they might migrate in the subsurface.
Domestic septic tank systems were our primary focus and when
possible, we studied larger systems used by several homes.
Finding larger septic tank systems which we could obtain per-
mission to sample and which had appropriate monitoring wells
was rather tedious.  In total, ten systems, some single family,
were sampled; the locations of these ten systems are indicated
on the map in Figure 2.  Two of the ten, Speonk, New York, and
Cisco Grove, California, were particularly well suited for study
and produced the most definitive information of the potential
migration of C-TLOs in ground water beneath septic tanks.
Data related to C-TLOs from each of these ten systems will be
presented, but emphasis will be placed on the two mentioned
above.

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       10
 Stellacoom
Stir,son  4
 Beach
           Percent of
           households using
           septic tanks
                      Over 35 percent
                                    I'rnwatij'Ji
                                  •6 A hi ine
                                   7 I'i'.ir I ;ini)
                                  gSoul hern  HiMc'  Ct>! I
           Y///////A  25 to 35 percent
           [         |  Lew than 25 percent
                                                                      Speonk

ilsco/ Grove
  i/«3  Sun
      Vallrfy
Figure 2.   Distribution of on-site  septic  systems, by  state
             (Otis  et al.,  1977), along with locations where
             samples were obtained for C-TLOs analysis in this
             study.

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                      SECTION 2

                     CONCLUSIONS
1.  Many domestic septic tank effluents contain more than
    a hundred chromatographable trace level organics in
    the ug I"1 range with potential impact upon the ground
    water.  Many of these C-TLOs can be accounted for by
    products in a normal household.

2.  In sandy soils significant C-TLO compounds may be
    detected up to 200 ft away from the leach field,
    although at greater than 90% removal.   A few tens of
    feet (~50 ft) is probably not sufficient for signifi-
    cant C-TLO removal.

3.  C-TLOs may only travel a few feet in heavy clay soils.

4.  Several classes of C-TLOs can be identified which
    together account for most C-TLOs which persist in
    ground water:

    a.  chlorinated hydrocarbons
    b.  plasticizers
    c.  antioxidants
    d.  aromatic solvents
    e.  bicyclo compounds such as borneol

5.  Both viruses and coliforms are generally removed in a
    few tens of feet in sandy soils and more quickly in clays.

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                           SECTION 3

                        RECOMMENDATIONS
A.   Possible Actions

     1.  Consider C-TLOs in septic tank siting studies and
         permitting.  If there is a significant industrial
         input to the septic tank system, consideration of
         C-TLOs may be even more important.

     2.  Consider soil type when siting septic tank systems.
         Sandy soils with low clay and organic content may
         allow C-TLOs to travel long distances virtually
         unattenuated.  Furthermore, if drinking water wells
         are located downdip from septic tank systems, prob-
         lems of taste and odor may present a nuisance at
         levels far below analytical detection limits.

     3.  Consider variations in annual rainfall which may
         cause a rapid ground water movement.  This will be a
         particular problem in sandy soils.

     4.  Consider the use of indicator C-TLOs which could be
         followed by capillary GC alone.  This could make
         routine monitoring for C-TLOs much more feasible.

     5.  Consider using a rapid laboratory test to assess the
         potential for C-TLO and microbial migration in the
         ground water beneath septic tank leach fields.  Soil
         from each site or group of sites to be permitted could
         potentially be screened in this manner.  This could
         be an extension of or a replacement for the present
         percolation test.  Promising research along this line
         of study is being conducted at Rice University.

B.   Possible Studies

     1.  Study a few systems more thoroughly in both space and
         time.  This might be done for a clay, loam, and sandy
         soil.  It would be useful to map where the leach
         field plume goes once it interacts with the top of
         the saturated aquifer:  does it stay on top, disperse,
         form a mound, sink, etc.?  C-TLOs probably persist

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    for longer times and distances than microbes, but
    both should be examined.

2.  Enough data on the specific fate of C-TLOs should be
    collected to perform a reasonable (± 20%) mass balance.
    It is generally assumed that if some C-TLO decreases
    in concentration that the decrease is due to either
    microbial degradation or to adsorption, but this has
    not been verified.

3.  The strategy of combining the waste water from sev-
    eral houses into one septic tank system vs separate
    systems should be examined as to how the alternative
    strategies affect ground water.

4.  The fate of trace metals such as Cd2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, Zn2+,
    and Pb2+ should be followed in sandy soils, where ex-
    change interactions are probably minimal.

5.  Finally, most septic tanks are used to treat domestic
    effluents.  It is likely that if certain household
    products were found to be the major source of C-TLOs,
    alternative products could be used, thus reducing the
    C-TLO levels in ground water.

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                           SECTION 4

                            METHODS


COD, TOC, AND INORGANICS ANALYSES

     The following analyses were generally performed on each
water sample in the field except as noted:  total and free
Cl2; conductivity, chloride, fluoride, iron, sulfate, sul-
fide, hardness, alkalinity, pH, NH£, NO^, NO^, inorganic
and organic phosphate; COD; TOC; and DO.  Most of the para-
meters were measured using a portable Hach kit, DR/EL-4.  COD
was measured in the field using a portable heating block and
premixed ampules (Hach 21258).  TOC was measured in the labo-
ratory using a OI 600 TOC Analyzer.  DO was measured with a
YSI (51B meter) probe.  TOC samples were stored on ice in low
head-space screw-cap vials until analysis.  Due to instrumental
problems, many of the TOC analyses were discarded.

MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSES

     Analysis for viruses was performed by C. P. Gerba, Baylor
College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.  For virus analysis gen-
erally 5 gal., for sewage, or 100 gal, for ground water, of
water was passed through either a positively charged 1-MDS
filter or a neg-atively charged Filterite filter in the field.
Work up was done according to the procedures of Gerba et al.
(1980).  Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci
were determined either by local personnel at each site or by
the Houston Public Health Service according to Standard Methods
(1980).

SOIL ANALYSIS

     All soil analyses were performed by Harris Labs, Lincoln,
Nebraska.

CHROMATOGRAPHABLE-TRACE LEVEL ORGANICS (C-TLOs)

     C-TLOs were analyzed using well documented procedures of
separation, concentration, and chromatography (Tomson et al.,
1981; Dunlap, 1977; and Junk, 1974).  A pictorial summary of
the collection and analysis procedure is presented in Figure 3.
Generally, 5 to 20 1 of water was slowly (~30 ml/min) pumped

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                                            Scrip Organlcs
                                             from Resin,
                                            IS mi eth«r,
                                                twice
Conpreased N.

   Resin      Collection
                        Flow control
                          45 ml/mln
        Pump

       (20 to 100  1
        water)
                                                                          ether
                                                                          12"
                                                                          Condenser
                                                                          Vlgreaux
                                                                          Column
                                               Extract
                                             (30 mi ether
                                              solution)
                                                     Hoe Place

                                                    Concentrate
                                                (0.1 to J..O n/ethar)
                              EXPLAIN
                                                fUJL
                                                 Prelim. Gas Chromatogri
                                                          (CC)
                    Computer
                   Suggested
                    Identity
                    of Peak"
 GC Confirmation
 by injecting a
 sample of purs
 material for
  acn peak
                  fragment sal. wt.

                  Mass Spectrum
                   of each peak
Reconstructed total ion chrooatogram
from mass spectrum of gas chromoto-
graph effluent (CC/MS)
Figure 3.   Pictorial  suiranary of  laboratory procedures  used to
              sample  and analyze C-TLOs  associated  with septic
              tank systems.
                                      10

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(MasterFlex pump) through a Teflon resin column containing 8 ml
of XAD-2 (Rohm and Haas) amberlite macroreticular resin.  The
resin columns were then capped and stored on ice in a bag con-
taining activated charcoal for shipment to the laboratory at
Rice University for workup.  The C-TLOs were stripped from the
resin column with about 40 ml of methylene chloride.  The methyl-
ene chloride solution was then concentrated to either 1 or 0.1 ml
by evaporation.  Generally, the same day the sample was concen-
trated, a gas chromatographic trace was obtained using a Tracor
560 GC, FID, and either a 6 ft 2 mm ID OV-17 packed column or
a 50 m SP 2100 capillary column.  GC spectra were recorded on a
Spectra Physics 4100 integrating computer.  Several portions
(~10 ul ea) of each sample were then put into surface deacti-
vated melting point tubes and the ends melted closed.  These
small samples were either stored at -40°C for future examination
or used for GC-MS analysis (Finnigan 4000).  One set of samples
had to be stored several months before GC-MS analysis, but spot
GC trace checks confirmed little alteration of the stored sam-
ples.  To illustrate by visual comparison, the GC traces for the
Speonk, New York, tap water sample run at the time of collection
and two years later are reproduced and are virtually identical
(see Speonk, New York, section).  By preliminary research and
previous experience, a suite of 22 compounds was chosen for
quantitation on the GC/MS by reverse-ion search against a pre-
pared standard containing each at 20 ppm.  An internal spike of
Ds-naphthalene was added to each sample.  For visual comparison,
a "scaling factor" defined as

     Scaling Factor = (GC-attenuation)(ml in final concentrate)
                    iGC-injection volume)(volume pumpedTHfield)

was calculated for each field sample and normalized to the small-
est value for that site (set equal to one).  This relative scal-
ing factor is included on each field sample GC-trace and the
peaks should be multiplied by that factor for visual comparison.

FIELD SAMPLING

     Resin column blanks were taken on each field trip and
treated the same as the sample resin column, except no water
was passed through them.  These resin columns were then re-
turned to the laboratory and treated as the other samples.
Both GC and GC/MS analyses were performed on these extracts.
If a target compound appeared in the blank at any detectable
concentration, it has been noted in the reported data and less
importance given that compound in all subsequent interpretation.
A large ethylacetate contamination peak appears at about 4 min
in each chromatogram and is a systematic consequence of the
laboratory procedure.
                               11

-------
                           SECTION 5

                  SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS STUDIED

OVERVIEW

     In general ten septic tank systems were examined in vary-
ing degrees of thoroughness.  For most of the systems, data on
microbes, inorganics, and C-TLOs were obtained.  Most of the
bacteria and virus data were obtained either from Dr. C. P.
Gerba (  University of Arizona,      Tucson, Arizona) or by local
personnel and are so noted on each system.  Inorganic data for
waste water characterization was generally determined by Rice
University personnel on site at the time of sample collection.
The primary objective of this work was to characterize the
C-TLOs from septic tank systems which might impact upon ground
water.  Basically, three types of C-TLO data were obtained:

     1.  The chromatographic trace of the extracted ground
         water.
     2.  Reverse  ion search and quantification for 22 target
         C-TLOs commonly encountered in ground waters.
     3.  A computer library search of the remaining peaks
         in the GC/MS reconstructed total ion chromatogram.

When available for a site, results of the first two types
are presented in  this section; a brief and edited summary of
the general library search will be presented in the next
section of this report.  The presentation order of sites is
essentially from  those with most to those with least informa-
tion.  In all cases, more thorough documentation of each site
is referenced and all supporting GC/MS data is stored both
on paper and on computer disk for future reference.
                               12

-------
SITE 11, SPEONK, NEW YORK

Background

     Speonk, New York, is located near Brookhaven National Labs
on the southeastern shore of Long Island.  Top soil in the area
is a sandy loam.  The water table is generally about 25 ft in
sandy gravel material producing high permeability for ground
water movement.  Vaughn (1980, 1981) at Brookhaven National
Labs was responsible for having most of the monitoring wells
installed and has done extensive study of the migration of
bacteria and viruses in the ground water beneath the site.
The area hydraulic gradient is estimated at 7.3 ft per mile.
The site was designed in 1967 for a six apartment building
complex with 80 units; to date, only three building and 40
units are built (see Figure 4).  The septic tank system con-
sists of a 15,000 gal septic tank, three distribution pools
(150 ft3 ea) and 40 leach pools (175 ft3 ea).  Each leach pool
is 7 ft high with a base at 9-10 ft below grade.  A 12 ft un-
saturated zone was thought to exist below each leach pool.
The overall direction of ground water movement is S 40° W (Fig-
ure 4), but due to slight mounding and the small water table
slope, well #1—intended as a control well—has also been
contaminated.  Monitoring wells generally consisted of a 2 in
ID steel pipe with a 3 ft screen at 5 to 6 ft below the water
table.  The drinking water well for the apartment complex is
about 220 ft south of the septic tank and is screened at 63 ft
below grade.

Results and Discussion

     Water quality measurements for sample wells, distribu-
tion box, and tap water are presented in Table 1.  The virus
and coliform analyses indicate normally excellent removal of
microorganisms.  Vaughn (1980, 1981) reported generally
similar removals of microbes but sporadically high coliform
and viral counts in some of the monitoring wells.  For example,
only once did he observe any viruses in the 50 ft well (9.06
PFU/gal on 4/7/80) and only once on 5/17/80 he measured 0.01
PFU/gal in the tap water.  No PCs were found in either the
tap water, 198 ft, 150 ft, 100 ft, 50 ft, or 10 ft wells.

     Most of the inorganic analyses were performed in the
field and may be subject to larger error than otherwise, but
similar overall results were reported by Vaughn (1980, 1981)
for the conductivity and nitrate.  The unexpectedly high DO
values probably reflect a well aerated sandy soil with little
microbial activity and are consistent with the generally in-
creasing NOj and NO^ levels with distance.

     A chromatographic summary of the presence of C-TLOs is
presented in Figure 5 and the concentrations of the 22 tar-

                               13

-------
   QQQQQQQQ
                Disc. Pools
ppppppop
 pbbbbbbb
                    15,000 gal.
                    Septic tank
Figure 4. Schematic of Speonk, New York, site,
                 14

-------
                             TABLE 1.   WATER CHARACTERISTICS, SP80NK. H. T.. JULY 7-11.  1981*

Parameter
Well Depth (ft)
Water depth (ft)
Sample volume (1)
Total Chlorine
Free Chlorine
Conductivity (pathos/en)
Hardness
Alkalinity
PH
NH4
N03
N02 0
P04
Organic P
COD
DO
Temp. CO
Virus Plaques In BGM cells
Total Collforms per 100 ml
Fecal Collforms per 100 ml
Dlat.
Box
(0)


6.5
0
0.02
750
29
168
6.51
30.5
0
.003
1.25
0.59
175
3.5
25




11
(?)


20
0.25
0.03
140
29
2
5.42
0
3.0
0.24
0.017
0.20
22
4.5
17



Well
13
(10)
29
4
15
0.26
0.06
1550
69
326
6.24
44
0
0.002
0.53
0
45
7
17
0
3
<3
Number (Distance
19
(5)
34
8
16
0.20
0
1550
101
325
6.31
48
0.6
0
1.12
0.13
117
7
18
1**
240
24.5
112
(35)
30
6
16.5
0.40
0.07
1250
56
260
6.25
40
0
0.008
0
0.07
85
6.4
17



from Diet
113
(50)
32
8
20
0
0
950
63
125
5.81
10.7
3.0
0.510
1.98
0
55
5
16
0
<3
<3
. Box in
115
(100)
24
3
17.5
0
0.02
400
66
53
5.79
1.03
7.8
0.460
0.06
0.58
15
5
17
0
<3
<3
ft)
«15B
(100)
32
8
20
0.025
0
40
14
8
6.60
0
1.0
0.015
0.37
0.24
29
6
16




116
(198)
32
9
20
0.060
0.04
200
57
56
6.08
0.45
5.5
0.250
0
0.10
0
6
15.5
0
<3
<3
Tap
Water
(220)
40

- -
- -
	
200
- -
38
- -
- -
- -
- -
— —
— —
- -
6.6
25




*  Unless otherwise specified,  concentrations are in mg/1




** Identified as Coxsackle B3.   55 gal samples were passed  through  a  positively  charged  1-HDS filter.

-------
                             Scaling
                             factor - 3.8
      (a) Speonk - Well  »9, 5  ft fro* Sewage
                             Scaling
                             factor - 4.0
  50    100   150   200   250 (hold)
             leap.  Prograa *C
  (b) Speonk - Well »3, 10 ft fro. Sewage
                         Scaling
                         factor - 3.2

  (c)  Speonk - Well «10. 35 ft fro* Sewage

                         Scaling
                         factor -1.5
50    100   150   200   250 (hold)
               leap.  Prograa *C
  (d) Speonk - Well /13. 50 ft from Sewage
Figure  5.    GC  traces  from samples  obtained  from  Speonk,  New  York,

-------
                                   Scaling
                                   factor -  1.2
      (e)Speonk - Well #15A, 100 ft from Sewage
                                   Scaling
                                   factor *• 6.1
  50    100    150  200    250 (hold)
                     Temp.  Program  °C

  (f)Speonk - Well #15B,  100  ft lateral from Sewage


Figure 5.   (continued)
                           17

-------
oo
                                                                               Scaling
                                                                               factor -  1.0
            50
100
150
 200         250  (hold)

Temp.  Program °C
                            (g)Speonk - Well  116, 198 ft from Sewage
       Figure  5.    (continued)

-------
                                       Scaling
                                       factor - 3.0
       A  B
            (h) Speonk - Control Well #1
                                       Scaling
                                       factor - 18.6
  50    100   150    200   250  (hold)
                    Temp. Program °C

        (i)Speonk  -  Distribution Box Sewage


Figure 5.   (continued)
                          19

-------
                                          Scaling factor • 1.0
                 i i
   (I) Speonk - Tap Water
                             1
                                          Scaling factor  -1.0
  (k)  Speonk - Tap  Water
      (run approx.  2 yrs later using stored sample)
Figure 5.   (continued)
                          20

-------
                    (1)  Speonk  -  Standard
                    (m) Speonk - Resin Column Blank
   50    100   150   200  250(hold)
                   Temp. Program °C
Figure 5.   (continued)
                        21

-------
get compounds from GC/MS reverse ion search quantisation are
presented in Table 2.  For the Resin Column Blank in addition
to the large ethylacetate peak at 4 min, there are four addi-
tional sizeable peaks at 17.03, 18.96, 21.45, and 30.29 min.
These impurities do not systematically appear in subsequent
spectra nor do they occur in the GC/MS reconstructed total ion
chromatograms and hence may have been an impurity on that par-
ticular column at that time; another resin blank GC trace
did not show these impurities.

     From the GC-traces and the data in Table 2, three obser-
vations can be made:

     1.  There is a large number of C-TLOs in the sewage at
         the 0.1 to several ugl"1 level which could poten-
         tially impact on ground water quality.
     2.  Within a few tens of feet most of the compounds
         present in the sewage have disappeared to below
         detection limits.
     3.  The drinking water well at 220 ft from the distri-
         bution box has been impacted by the C-TLOs from the
         sewage leach field.  It is interesting to note that
         conversations with several of the apartment residents
         revealed that most of the occupants used bottled
         water for drinking because of the objectionable
         taste of the well water.
                               22

-------
                                      TABLE 2.   SPEONK,  NEW YORK,  TRACE ORGANICS (Ug/1)

Well Number (Distance from


Compound*
Chloroform
Carbon tetrachlorlde
Trlchloroechylene
Toluene*
Tetrachloroethylene
Chlorobenzene
m-Xylene*
Bromobenzene
m-Dlchlorobenzene
p-Dlchlorobenzene
i\j o-Dichlorobenzene
LJ Acetophenone
Naphthalene*
Skatole
o-Phenylphenol
Dlethylphthalate
Z(Methylthlo)-
benzothlazole
(1,1,3 ,-3-Tet ramethyl-
butyDphenol
Benzophenone
Butylbenzene eulf onamlde
Dlbutylphthalate*
bls(2-Ethylhexyl)-
phthalate*
Dlst.
Box
(0)
0.52
- -
1.60
330
0.61
- -
0.43
0.028
O.OAS
4.6
— —
	
0.71
0.81
0.24
1.60

0.16

1.70
0.19
- -
0.160

0.37

H
(?)
0.14
0.39
	
2.10
0.1S
- -
0.11
0.00088
- -
0.0049
— —
	
0.0330
- -
- -
0.023

- -

- -
- -
- -
0.032

0.36

19
(5)
0.00017
- -
0.0039
- -
0.169
- -
0.094
- -
- -
0.208
— —
	
0.833
0.023
0.0046
1.16

0.080

0.033
0.0013
	
0.039

0.384

010
(15)
0.031
0.39
	
17
0.10
- -
	
- -
- -
0.078
— —
	
0.030
0.022
0.18
0.144

0.094

0.0056
0.0060
	
0.103

0.023
Dlst. Box in

113
(50)
0.036
- -
0.0065
9.9
0.18
- -
0.020
- -
- -
0.11
— -
0.021
0.032
- -
0.17
0.18

0.067

0.34
0.015
	
0.077

0.040
ft)

115
(100)
0.24
- -
0.0040
15
1.0
- -
0.29
- -
- -
0.053
— —
0.071
0.20
- -
	
0.16

0.12

- -
- -
	
0.070

0.050


116
(200)
0.023
0.00045
0.0025
2.6
0.25
- -
0.074
- -
- -
0.025
— —
0.017
0.018
- -
	
0.0560

0.0029

- -
- -
	
0.029

0.055

Tap
Water**
(220)




0.130







0.015
0.003

0.025

0.040



0.009


0.34

*Compounds found In the blank




**Tap water concentrations were determined by GC peak areas  against  standards  (see  text)

-------
SITE #2, CISCO GROVE, CALIFORNIA

Background

     Cisco Grove, California, is located on the western slopes
of the Sierra Nevada mountains off Highway 80 about 50 mi east
of Reno, Nevada.  The septic tank system studied on June 4, 1981,
was at the Thousand Trails campsite on the northern bank of the
South Fork of the Yuba River at the Cisco Grove exit off High-
way 80.  The soils in the area are sandy and highly permeable
with less than 10 min in~l percolation rates, and bedrock is at
15 to 25 ft.  The campground is designed primarily for recrea-
tional vehicles; there are 144 camp sites, three bath houses,
one lodge, one store, an office, and a seven unit motel.  Waste
water volume is estimated at 10,800 gpd in season.  A 30,000
gpd extended aeration activated sludge package plant was in-
stalled in 1972.  Effluent from the treatment plant clarifier
is pumped to the leach field as shown in Figure 6.  The trenches
of the leach field are 3 ft deep or about 2 ft above seasonably
high ground water table.

Results and Discussion

     Inorganic, coliform, and virus data are presented in
Table 3.  From all indications well #2 at 50 ft from the leach
field is quite contaminated.  Metcalf and Eddy Inc. (personal
communication) found similar nitrate contamination in well 12.
The combination of such a shallow water table (~5 ft) and the
occurrence of coliform and fecal coliform bacteria are of con-
cern and may indicate a potential problem if surface wetting
or breakthrough ever occurs.

     Chromatographable data are indicated by the GC traces in
Figure 7 and the 22 target compounds in Table 4.  Three general
observations can be made from these data:

     1.  The secondary sewage effluent contains a number of
         C-TLO compounds at the ugl'1 and less level.  The
         general absence of trihaloraethanes is probably be-
         cause the chlorinator of the package plant was not
         being used.  Similar low levels of C-TLOs have been
         previously found in secondary treatment effluents in
         the Houston, Texas, area by the authors (unpublished
         results).
     2.  Well #2 at 50 ft from the leach field had the largest
         concentrations of C-TLOs.  Still, most C-TLOs were re-
         moved to less than 0.02 pgl'l, probably of no present
         health significance.
     3.  Well Nos. 1, 3, and 4, which were either updip from
         the ground water flow or further from the initial
         infiltrate, showed virtually no contamination.  It is
         strongly suspected that the direction of ground water

                               24

-------
                           Road
                             M^M

                             Well /'3
                                             *  Elev. 5635
             Reserve Area
             "RB"  4800 S.F.
                                              I  I I  I I I
                                                 I  I I
                                               Bed  BJ j

                                                 I  I M
           Reserve Area
           "RA" 4800 S.F.
                                   I I
                             U I I  I I
                             nil  i
                             llMM
                                                  4" PVC
                                                  tight line
                                             Large, 6-hole
                                             baffled dist. box
Forced line  from
treatment plant
              *  Elev.
      Road
                                                                  Well
OBSERVATION  WELL NOTES:
1.  Drill/Auger to  15' minimum.
2.  Install  slotted 4" dia. PVC
    pipe to  15' min. depth.
    Construct  locking cap.
3.  Backfill around PVC pipe with
    drain gravel with -seal at
    ground level to prevent
    surface  infiltration.
                                             2-4"  gate
                                             valves  with
                                             key
                                                        Scale  1" = 50'
Figure  6.   Diagram of leach field at Cisco Grove,  California
                                    ?5

-------
          TABLE 3.  CHARACTERISTICS OP WATER AT CISCO GROVE, CALIFORNIA
                                (June 1-2, 1981)*

Well No.
Parameter
Well Depth (ft)
Water Depth (ft)
Flush Volume (gal)
Diameter (in)
Total Chlorine**
Conductivity
(umohas/cm)
Alkalinity
PH
KH3
N03
N02
P04
D.O.
Temp.(°C)
Virus, PFU
Coliforms, To-
tal per 100 ml
Coliforms, Fe-
cal per 100 ml
1
14
5.5
100
4
0.03
85
34
6.16
0.22
0.40
0.007
0.50
6.8
10
	
<100
<100
2
12
5
100
4
0.05
160
68
6.38
0.55
1.00
0.009
0.65
2.9
10
0
3400
200
3 4
13.2 14
7.5 10
100 100
6.5 6.5
- - 0.02
35
11
- - 5.91
- - 0.20
- - 0.30
- - 0.007
- - 0.46
5.6 6.0
10 10
0
<100 100
<100 <100
Dlst.
Tap Lake Box


	 	 	

0.05 0.02 0.02
120 20 550
63 14
7.43 7.30 7.74
0.17 0.15
0.30 0.30 1.20
0.007 0.010 0.010
1.30 0.27 0.46
4.5 9.0 2.2
12 14
	 	 	
	 	 	
- _ 	 	

*Unless otherwise specified, all measurements in mg/1.

**These values are probably at the detection limit of the field method.


                                      26

-------
                          (a) Cisco Grove - Distribution Line Sewage
100        150
                     200
                                250 (hold)
                                        Temp. Program °C
Figure  7.   GC traces from  sample obtained from Cisco Grove,  California

-------
NJ
00
                                          )  Cl»co Grove - Monitoring Well II

                                                Scaling factor • 1.0
                                         (c) Cisco Grove - Monitoring Well 12

                                               Scaling factor - 1.0
                        150       200       250 (hold)
                                                                                      /4L-
                                                   Temp. Progran *C
               Figure  7.   (continued)

-------
  \t
                            (d) Cisco Grove - Monitoring Well 13

                                  Scaling factor - 5.0
 I—
100
                           (e) Cisco Grove - Monitoring Hell 14

                                  Scaling factor - 1.0
          150        200        250 (hold)

                                       Temp. Program *C
Figure 7.    (continued)

-------
              TABLE 4.  CISCO GROVE, CALIFORNIA, TRACE ORCANICS (yg/1)
Compound
Sewage
Well
Well 02
Well
Chloroform



Carbon tetrachlorlde



Trichloroethylene



Toluene*



Tetrachloroethylene




Chlorobenzene



•-Xylene*



Broaobenzene



n-Dlchlorobenzene



p-Olchlorobenzene



o-Dlchlorobenzene
 0.166
 0.0473
0.0369
 0.915
*Conpound found in Che blank
                              0.0009




                              0.0008
                 0.375
                0.0105



                0.0007
               0.275
               0.372
Acetophenone
Naphthalene*
Slcacole
o-Phenylphenol
Dlethylphthalate
2(MeChylthio)benzothiazole
4(l,l,3,3-Tetramethyl-
butyl) phenol
Benzophenone
Butylbenzene aulfonamlde
Dlbutylphthalate*
bia(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate*
0.0474
0.0577
0.0520
0.0252
0.0238
0.230
0.0539
0.0460
0.0439
0.0449
6.80
0.0102
0.0231 0.0143


0.0348 0.0101

0.0006
0.0015

0.0108 0.0793
0.844 1.39

0.0111


0.0139




0.0160
5.44

                                     30

-------
         flow was toward well #2 and that these other wells
         were probably not impacted at all.  It would have
         been useful to have had additional monitoring wells
         in the direction of well #2 but further from the
         leach field.

     In general, the effluent from the treatment plant appears
to be of excellent quality except for fecal coliforms, and
the soil adsorption system is probably sufficient.  Chlorine
could be added to the effluent to kill FCs, but this would
probably produce additional chlorinated compounds.
                               31

-------
SITE #3, SUN VALLEY, NEVADA

Background

     Sun Valley is a deteriorated residential valley area 10 mi
north of Reno, Nevada, consisting of 5000 trailer houses and a
few permanent buildings.  Hater has been imported since 1967,
and sewage infiltration, primarily from septic tanks, is a
major source of ground water recharge.  In some areas sewage
is within 2 ft of the surface and may already be forming pools
in places.  Drainage ditches along roadways receive sewage ex-
filtration, and salt incrustations were noted.  The top 10 in
of soil is a brown sandy loam over a sandy clay loam at 10 to
30 in, which is over a sandy, gravelly loam down to several feet.
The infiltration rate varies with depth:  0-10 in (2-20 in/hr);
10-30 in (0.06-0.6 in/hr); and 30-75 in (0.6-6 in/hr).  Since
1967, 10,000 acre-feet of water has been pumped into the valley
causing the water table to rise, as much as 50 feet in some
areas.  Sample location points from June 5, 1981, are indicated
in Figure 8a.  The increase in area from 1967 to 1981 wherein the
water table is less than 10 feet is depicted in Figure 8b.

Results and Discussion

     Inorganic and microbiological data are summarized in
Table 5.  From the high nitrate and conductivity levels and
from the smell of samples, it is concluded that the shallow
ground water in this general area is from recharge.  The ab-
sence of coliforms or viruses is surprising, but due to in-
strumental problems, the virus datum may be in error.

     The C-TLO data is summarized for the 22 target compounds
in Table 6 and by GC-chromatographic traces in Figure 9.  The
presence of numerous compounds in the septic tank liquor in-
dicates the potential for contamination of the ground water
over the entire area.  These data support the following obser-
vations:

     1.  As can be seen from columns 1 and 2, Table 6, most
         of the target compounds found in the septic tank
         were also found in the ditch about 30 ft away, and
         many are of similar concentration.
     2.  The concentrations in wells #2 and #4 were generally
         lower by about a factor of 5 to 10.
     3.  The general absence of the more volatile chlorinated
         hydrocarbons in either the sewage or the monitoring
         wells is probably due to a lack of chlorination.

     In general, it appears that at least the top of the
ground water in this whole area is contaminated with septic
tank effluent.  In places the effluent is freely standing in
open ditches and may present a health risk.  The impact of a

                               32

-------
                 (-1
                 a
                 
-1




             Figure  8a.
Map showing location  of monitoring

wells  and example of  septic tank

system in Sun Valley,  Nevada.
                                 33

-------
                              Static Water level
                                  Prior to 1967 - 10 ft or less
                              •T;J  November 1980 - February 1981 - 5 ft

                              CG - Collection gallery

                              1 in. - 2,000 ft.
Figure  8b.  Diagram of  static water levels  in Sun  Valley,
             Nevada.
                              34

-------
            TABLE 5.   CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER AT SUN VALLEY,  NEVADA*

Well No.
Parameter
Well Depth (ft)
Water Depth (ft)
Diameter (In)
Flush Volume (gal)
Alkalinity
P04
N03
N02
NH4
Total Chlorine
Conductivity
(u mhos/ cm)
pB
Virus, PFU/100 ml
Conforms, Total
per 100 ml
Conforms, Fecal
per 100 ml
Bacteria other
than coliforms
1
13
11
2
50
276
0.27
0.70
0.005
0
0
1100
7.68
0
<100
<100

~ ••
2
10
5.5
2
35
333
0.20
0.20
0.002
0.85
0.40
3500
7.75
- -
<100
<100

•• •"
3
8
4
2
45
353
0.26
0.80
0.17
0
0.04
2200
8.03
	
	
<100

~ ~
4
15.3
13.5
2
50
356
0.90
1.50
0.005
0
0.06
3200
7.68
- -
<100
<100

**
Ditch
- -
- -
- -
	
325
0.45
1.30
0.25
0
0.002
1500
7.85
- -
<100
<100

**
Septic
Tank
- -
- -
- -
- -
670
1.00
2.50
0.045
1.50
0
1500
7.53
- -
	
	

•• «

*A11 measurements in mg/1,  unless otherwise specified




**0vergrowth - coliforms present
                                    35

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                  TABLE 6.  SUN VALLEY,  NEVADA. TRACE ORGANICS (ug/1)

Compound
Chloroform
Carbon tecrachloride
Trlchloroethylene
Toluene*
Tetrachloroechylene
Chlorobenxene
m-Xylene*
Bromo benzene
nr-Di chl or obenzene
p-Dlchlorobenzene
o-Dlchlorobenzene
Acetophenone
Naphthalene*
Skatole
o— Phenylphenol
Dlethylphthalate
2(Methylthio)benzoehiazole
(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)-
phenol
Benzophenone
BuCylbenzene aulfonamlde
Dibutylphthalate*
bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate*
Sewage


0.0368
2.83
0.0997
0.0357
0.203
0.0433

0.144
0.0244
0.0846
0.347
5.14
2.19
0.419
0.0919
0.200
0.0522
0.0662
0.223
1.71
Ditch Well 92
0.0020

0.0010
0.139 0.0322
0.228 0.0469
0.0623 0.0097
0.0670 0.0074
0.0541 0.0072
0.0485
0.0326 0.0028
0.0272 0.0041
0.0009
0.0095 0.0399


0.0331 0.0083




0.0640 0.0189
3.46 3.37
Well *4



0.0537
0.0576
0.0345
0.0853
0.0116
0.0629
0.0477
0.0067
0.0155
0.0072


0.102
0.0045
0.0022
0.0242
0.0261
0.0556
5.12

*Coapounds found in the blank
                                        36

-------
                                         Scaling
                                         factor = 2.9
          (a)  Sun Valley - Ditch Sample
      £ I
      V
                                         Scaling
                                         factor = 33.3
   50    100   150  200   250  (hold)
                  Temp. Program "C

      (b)   Sun Valley - Septic  Tank Sewage
Figure 9.  GC  traces  from samples obtained from
            Sun Valley,  Nevada.
                        37

-------
00
                                                  (e) Sun Valley - Monitoring Well  11




                                                       Scaling factor •  1.0
                                                 (d)  Sun Valley - Monitoring Hell 12




                                                      Scaling factor =1.0
                                                                       «<
                   100
                              150
                                         200       250 (hold)
                                                           Temp.  Prograo  *C
                    Figure 9.    (continued)

-------
                           (e)  Sun Valley Monitoring Well »3




                                Scaling factor - 1.0
                                -/—rf-A-r
                           (f) Sun  Valley Monitoring Well It,




                               Scaling factor - 1.0
       150        200
                           250 (hold)
                                    Temp. Prograa 'C
Figure  9.    (continued)

-------
large rain to mobilize shallow septic tank effluent contami-
nants may be of serious concern.  The general problem appears
to be a direct consequence of the importing to the valley water
for domestic use in excess of that which can infiltrate into
the ground water and flow as ground water out of the basin.
David Carlson at William E. Nork, Inc., a Reno, Nevada, con-
sulting firm, has studied the hydrology of the area and the
possibility of collecting and pumping the excess ground water
out of the valley.
                               40

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SITE #4, STINSON BKACH, CALIFORNIA

Background

     Stinson Beach is a small resort town about 20 mi northwest
of San Francisco with a permanent population of 1416  (1975),
which may swell to 30,000 on a summer weekend.  Stinson Beach
lies next to the San Andreas fault and is said to have the
"finest public beaches in northern California" (Wilson et al.,
1979).  The community of Stinson Beach is located along the
beach and on nearby mountain slopes.  The soil type varies
from sandy along the beach to clay silts on the upper slopes.
The overall permeability varies from 6 to 45 gpd/ft^, and the
ground water gradient varies from 0.2 ft/ft in the upper slopes
to 0.05 ft/ft along the beach.

     In 1975 the Stinson Beach County Water District  (SBCWD)
conducted an extensive study of the efficiency of onsite waste
disposal, as part of a 201 Construction Grant Program Facilities
Planning study.  A subsequent house-to-house study in 1977
showed that 34 to 43% of the septic tank systems had  failed,
mostly due to faulty construction and maintenance.  Model
legislation designed by the SBCWD was passed by the state of
California to allow SBCWD personnel to conduct inspections on
private property of onsite disposal systems.  These inspections
are conducted biennially.  Approximately 70% of the original
failing systems have been corrected, as of 1981.  Both Olivieri
et al., 1981, and Wilson et al., 1979, have thoroughly reviewed
THis site and concluded tKat on-site septic tank systems can
work efficiently if properly managed and are less expensive
per capita than a centralized sewerage system.

     The layout of Stinson Beach and points where ground water
samples were taken are in Figure 10.

Results and Discussion

     Inorganic and coliform data are presented in Table 7.  No
virus data was possible because of slow recharge of the monitor-
ing wells.  Recharge of all of the wells was slow and little con-
fidence can be placed on any of this data.  Problems  with the
Hach apparatus in the field further casts doubt upon  this data.

     Results of C-TLOs are indicated in Table 8 and Figure 11.
From Figure 11 it can be suggested that most of the C-TLOs were
removed by the soil adsorption system of the general  area.
There were no monitoring wells located for which we had access
in close proximity to individual septic tanks in the  community,
and hence, the GC traces can only be used to suggest  that the
whole area is not at present being impacted.  It would have
been useful to have monitoring wells systematically located
near one or several individual septic tank systems.

                               41

-------
  Bolinas \Lagoon
  San Andreas' Fault
                                                    Stinson
                                                    Beach
          Insert showing monitoring well sites
                      .  Bolinas 'Bay  ' '
Figure  10.
Map of  Stinston  Beach, California, showing
monitoring well  sites.

               42

-------
     TABLE 7.   CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER AT STINSON BEACH, CALIFORNIA*

Parameter
Well Depth (ft)
Water Depth (ft)
Diameter (In)
P04
Total Chlorine
N03
N02
NU4
Conductivity (iihos/cm)
PH
Well #3
10.5
2.5
3
1.0
0.002
0.5
0.065
0.30
8.5
7.63
Well #1 Well n
19 «3" 20 '8"
4.5 6
3 3
0.1
0.005
0.0
0.010
0.50
3.5 	
7.48
Coliforms, Fecal
  per 100 ml

Coliforms, Total
  per 100 ml
6


6
<4.5


<4.5
<4.5


  19
*Unless otherwise specified, all measurements in mg/1 for the indicated
 ion.  Problems with the Hach apparatus in the field may preclude use of
 some of this data.
                                    43

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   TABLE 8.  STINSON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TRACE ORGANICS (yg/1)
Compound*
Well 03
Chloroform



Carbon tetrachloride




Trlchloroethylene




Toluene*



Tetrachloroethylene




Chlorobenzene



m-Xylene*




Bromobenzene



m-Dlchlorobenzene




p-Dlchlorobenzene



o-Dlchlorobenzene




Acetophenone




Naphthalene*




Skatole



o-Phenylphenol



Diethylphthalate



2(Methylthlo)benzochiazole




(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenol




Benz ophenone



Butylbenzene sulfonamide




DlbutylphchalaCe*



bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate*
0.0924




0.0409




0.0347



0.0260




0.0261
0.0081



0.0081



0.0024
0.0728
0.0343



  1.76
'Compounds found In the blank
                               44

-------
                    n
                                         (a) Stinaon Beach - Monitoring Well 13

                                               Scaling factor - 1.0
                                                  4
Ln
(b) Stineon Beach - Septic Tank Sewage

      Scaling factor -6.7

     a
                                   200      250 (hold)

                                                  Temp. Program *C
                  Figure 11.   GC traces from  samples  obtained from  Stinson  Beach,
                                 California.

-------
                              (c)   Stinson Beach - Background Well #1
100        150         200        250
                                            Temp.  Program °C
  Figure  11.   (continued)

-------
SITE #5, PENWAUGH, TEXAS

Background

     The Penwaugh campground septic tank site is located about
8 mi west of Livingston, Texas, on the southeastern shore of
Lake Livingston.  There are about 30 permanent trailers, with
mostly retired couples, and a small motel with about 15 units,
which is used primarily in the summer months on weekends.  The
soil down to about 3.5 ft is either sandy or sandy loam with
50 to 56% sand, 30 to 36% silt, and 12-18% clay.  Below 3.5 ft
the content changes significantly to 46% sand, 32% silt, and
22% clay.

     A site plan of the campground is shown in Figure 12.
There are several rows of trailers.  Each row has a 2000 gal
holding tank and several hundred feet of drainfield pipe
around the periphery.  Several sampling trips during December,
1980, and January and February, 1981, were made to this site
to develop field procedures.  Most of the data reported herein
was from a trip made on January 22, 1981.

Results and Discussion

     Results of inorganic and microbial analyses are presented
in Table 9.  The presence of FS and the absence of FCs in Well
#2 suggest possible animal contamination down the casing; the
area around of these wells was generally wet.  The absence of
identified bacteria in the sewage may suggest that it had been
standing for several days.  The low alkalinity, hardness, ni-
trate, and conductivity in Wells #1 and #2 relative to the
sewage imply that area wide contamination is not taking place.
Since this site is adjacent to Lake Livingston, the ground
water flow is probably in the direction of Wells #2 or #3, but
it is not known.  No monitoring wells existed close to the
sewage infiltration, and therefore, the extent of potential
impact upon the ground water is difficult to assess.

     A summary of the C-TLOs present in the ground water wells
and sewage is presented in Table 10 and Figure 13.  From the
GC trace of the sewage sample (note the 200 scaling factor),
it is clear that the sewage contains large quantities of C-TLOs
which could impact upon the groundwater.  It was not possible
to sample the holding tank or the infiltration lines themselves,
and thus, it is not known how many of the sewage C-TLOs are
released to the subsurface.  From the GC traces of Well 41,
most likely to be impacted, it appears that either most of the
C-TLOs are being removed by the soil adsorption system or that
the monitoring wells are simply not in the path of the percolate
from the infiltration field.  If the percolate were to move
straight downward even when the water table is encountered,
as is possible in such a system, none of the monitoring wells

                               47

-------
    T-bed
             T-bU
                       T-bei
               batt-
              bousc ~
              Road
                     Well
  T  T  T  T   .7  T   T   f   T   f   T
   T	T
       HX         L
T	TiA    T    T i
                                                 0      16 mi
Marii la
                                                       Well /'2
                                                   Well #3
                                                             Lake
                                                             Livingston
                                  x - septic tanks sampled
Figure 12.   Schematic  of Penwaugh, Texas,  site.


                              48

-------
         TABLE 9.   CHAR/  TERISTICS  OF WATER AT PENWAUGH,  TEXAS
                             January 22,  1981

Parameter
Depth to water (ft)
Alkalinity
pH
Conductivity (iihos)
Calcium
Chlorides
Hardness
Fluoride
Iron (total)
N, ammonia
N, nitrate
N, nitrite
Phosphorus
Sulfate (mg/1)
Sulfide
Coliforms, Total
per 100 ml
Coliforms, Fecal
per 100 ml
Fecal Strep./ 100 ml
Virus, PFU/100 ml
W 1 //I
9
80
:.0
25
79
71
90
11
04
'.3
4
-
0 2
-
0. 4
0
0
0
0
Well //2
9.5
236
8.1
150
229
61
223
0.20
0.23
0.33
0.3
- -
0.40
11
0.003
10
0
50
0
Lake
Livingston

97
8.2
250
109
47
117
0.50
0.09
0.52
0.4
	
1.25
52
0.005




Dist.
Box

544
7.7
500
494
213
245
1.37
0.34
40.00 mg/1
1.6
- -
35.0
55
0.08
0
0
0
10

Comments:  Lysimeter Wa  r - 2.6 ml,  Cond. 700;  City Water - Cond. 100

                                  49

-------
     TABLE 10.  SUMMARY OF C-TLOs FOUND AT PENWAUGH, TEXAS, SITE

                     Sampling:  January 23, 1981



Compound                             Ratio Well //1/Dlst. Box


Toluene                                     6.4 x 10~5

*C2-benzene                                 1.3 x 10~2

**C2-benzene                                1.4 x 10~2

Dichlorobenzene                             8.9 x 10~2

o-Acetyltoluene                             2.3 x 10"1

2-Terpinol                                    1 x 10~3

Indole                                        4 x 10"4

Skatole                                       8 x 10~3

Dlethylphthalate                           9.76 x 10'1

DgNaphthalene                                  - -




*C2-benzene - possibly ethylbenzene

**C2~benzene (second component) - either o-toluene or
       m,p-toluene or xylene
                                50

-------
          MONITORING WELL
                                       Scaling
                                       factor =1.0
        .
i
                       !:
                  5    &
            (a)  Penwaugh - Monitoring Well #2
 T1
                                                    Scaling
                                                    factor = 200
50
 100         150          200
          Temp.  Program °C

(b) Penwaugh - Septic Tank - Sewage
                                                250 (hold)
Figure 13.
   GC traces from  samples obtained  from
   Penwaugh, Texas.
                            51

-------
                              Scaling
                              factor = 1.0
                               s
       (c)   Penwaugh - Monitoring Well #1
                              Scaling
                              factor = 1.0
                           iff	F-
   50          100         150         200

                  Temp. Program "C

      (d)    Penwaugh - Resin Column Blank
250 (hold)
Figure 13.   (continued)
                         52

-------
would be impacted.  To test this hypothesis, it would be necessary
to sample the ground water, beneath a trench line, at various
depths.
                               53

-------
SITE 16, ALDINE KOA CAMPGROUND, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Background

     The Aldine Mobile Home Village, a KOA Campground in north
Houston, was sampled on December 11, 1980.  The campground was
less than five years old and served 75 to 100 permanent resi-
dents in trailers (see Figure 14).  The waste water treatment
was by a pressurized Hutsell system.  A 350 ft deep water well
was located on the property.  The percolation rates in the area
varied from 5 to 45 min/in.  The soil was mostly a clay loam.
This was one of the earlier sites sampled in order to help
develop field sampling techniques.

Results and Discussion

     The tap water from the well had 7.0 pH, 178 mg-CaCOj I'1
alkalinity, and 448 umhos cnT1 conductivity.  The sewage had
numerous trace organics, probably at or below 1 ugl"1, but the
350 ft ground water contained no detectable C-TLOs (Figure 15).
Clearly, the sewage leachate has had no effect upon the ground
water directly below the site.  This is also an excellent example
of just how clean and free from C-TLOs pollutants virgin ground
water often is.
                                54

-------
            Water Well
              ;5
                2nd System
                    Pressurized
        hrernight
        Camping
  Long
Trailer
 Term
Space
       Drainfield
                                         O
                    Pressurized
                    Tank
                                Office
                 Drainfield
Figure 14.   Diagram of  Aldine,  Texas,  site.
                          55

-------
  •
     (a)  Aldlne-KOA - Well Water
                                 _L
     50    100   150   200   250 (hold)

               Temp.  Program 8C

 (b)   Aldine-KOA - Septic Tank Sewage


Figure 15.  GC  traces from samples obtained from
             Aldine, Texas.
                    56

-------
       (c)   Aldine-KOA - Resin Column Blank
t




V
1*i
1
•
•
•
—

2
1. Isopropylbenzene
2. Diphenyl
3. Octadecane
£


5


                             \ --- »"• /
             Temp. Program °C
       (d)  Aldine-KOA - Reference  Standard  (100 ppm)
Figure 15.   (continued)
                  57

-------
SITE #7, PEARLAND, TEXAS, MOBILE HONE PARK

Background

     This mobile home park located 4 mi southeast of Pearland,
Texas, is about 20 mi from the Gulf of Mexico.  There are 50
to 75 permanent residents.  The topography of this area is
extremely flat, and the soil is a clay "black gumbo" with a
percolation rate of 48-60 min/in.  Being high in clay content,
it tends to shrink and swell extensively upon wetting and dry-
ing, and it is probably sensitive to changes in ionic strength
of the infiltrate water, although this was not tested.  The
onsite drinking water well located 100 yards from the septic
tank pits is 125 ft/deep, probably into the upper Chicot aqui-
fer.  The drainfield for the site is located between three
pits, 14 ft deep, containing gravel and rock.  Sewage is col-
lected from individual tanks and brought to a mixing box before
addition to the three pits (Figure 16).

     Samples were collected from this site on October 28, 1980.
To sample the sewage a 2 ft deep hole was dug into the drain-
field and a few liters of water pumped into a glass jar, which
was returned to the laboratory for extraction and analysis.

Results and Discussion

     Chromatographic traces depicting C-TLOs in the tap water
and the drainfield water are presented in Figure 17.  The
ground water was apparently free from C-TLO contamination—the
peak at 8.21 min probably corresponds to the 8.31 min. peak in
the blank and is thus disregarded.  The sewage pit sample has
several C-TLOs which could potentially impact upon the Chicot
aquifer ground water, but due to the adsorptive capacity of clay
or the microbial activity, none had impacted upon the drinking
water well.  It is expected that the three 14 ft deep pits
filled with gravel have a major role in degradation of the
C-TLOs from the septic tanks.  It would be useful to sample
the pits at various depths looking for both applied C-TLOs and
probable microbial degradation products.  This system might be
thought of as a gravity feed anaerobic analog of a trickling
filter or septic tank sand filter system and could be quite
useful in other regions of the country where classical septic
tanks are not appropriate (Troyan and Norris, 1977).
                                58

-------
       Gravel Lined Pits
      	I	
          Drainfield
owner
                        Trailer Spaces
    a
water well
1 in = 100  ft,
     Figure 16.   Diagram of  Pearland,  Texas, site
                               59

-------
          (a) PearIand - Hater Well
             Temp. Program *C
         (t>) Pearland - Sewage Pic
                                                   (c)  Pearland - Resin Coluan Blank
Pi
1




tn





£ l
1 
-------
SITE #8, LAWRENCE, KANSAS, SINGLE  FAMILY  DWELLING  SEPTIC  TANK
SYSTEM

Background

     The septic tank system  for a  Kansas  University  professor's
modern brick house in a subdivision about 5 mi  south of Lawrence
was sampled.  The soil was a heavy black  clay down to  about  30
ft.  The subdivision was using unchlorinated ground  water.   This
septic tank system had been  in operation  several years with  few
problems.

     The overall layout of the lot was as shown in Figure 18a.
Numerous soil samples (marked "x"  in Figure 18a) were  taken  at
various places around the lot as well as  below  and adjacent
to the third lateral (Figure 18b).  Holes were  drilled to depth
with a one inch auger and a cleaned piece of 3/4 in  aluminum
tubing used to obtain water-saturated clay soil cores.  Water
from the lateral was obtained by augering directly into the
gravel in the trench and pumping with a peristaltic  pump.

Results and Discussion

     Inorganic analyses of the tap water  and the third lateral
grey water are presented in Table  11.  The high chlorine  value
may have been due to clothes washing.  Most other  changes were
as expected for domestic use of water.

     A chromatographic summary of  the C-TLOs in the  waste water
are presented in Figure 19.  The general  absence of  C-TLOs in
the early part of the chromatograms just  after  the solvent peak
is probably a consequence of a long residence time in  the
lateral trench before infiltrating.  Numerous attempts were
made to extract the soil cores; various dispersants, acids/
bases,  solvents, and procedures were tried with little success.
A typical soil core extract is depicted in Figure  19b.  It is
still not known if C-TLOs are in the soil.  Soil cores from
only a couple inches away from the lateral wall yielded similar
results.
                                61

-------
      N
      \
5 mi
j, Ka.
1
/
ind




u
House
/
10
Sept
c
ftn1 •)(

20
A2(J
A J
_^__


V
>' i;
Lc tanl
5
s

0'

If

1
*t


1

1
4'
li
2i
3i
12" Up  lateral
  20"-24"
   deep
   30"-34
                                                          1 cm « 25 ft
                                          1st Lateral
                    B    (a)  Site  plan
                                                 12" Down Lateral
                                                      1 cm - 6.25  in,
                                     ielow Lateral A
       (b)  Cross section of lateral line with sampling points marked by x.
  Figure  18.   Diagrams of Lawrence, Kansas,  site.
                                62

-------
   (a)  Extracted drainfield effluent from 4" auger hole
   (b)  Soil extract from below the drainfield lateral
Figure  19.   GC  traces from  samples obtained  from
             Lawrence, Kansas.
                         63

-------
TABLE 11.  ONSITE CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF WATER AND WASTE WATER
           FROM HOME SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM, LAWRENCE, KANSAS,
                           MAY 8, 1981

Parameter (units)
Temperature (°C)
PH
Nltrate-N (mg/1 N)
Ammonla-N (mg/1 N)
Nitrite-N (mg/1 N)
Alkalinity (mg/1 CaC03)
Total Chlorine (mg/1)
Hardness (mg/1 CaC03>
Total Iron (mg/1)
COD (mg/1)
Conductance (umhos/cm)
House
Fresh Water
22.5
7.30
0.7
0
0.64
336
0.07
4
0.27
21
650
Septic Effluent
3rd Lateral
23.5
7.04
1.4
10.0
0.56
489
1.50
347
3.5
97
2000
                            64

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SITE #9, SOUTHERN BIBLE COLLEGE, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Background

     Southern Bible College, located at Oates Road and U. S.
Highway 90 in northeast Houston, has a resident population
of 90-110.  The college has an administration building, a
gymnasium, a classroom building, and several permanent resi-
dent buildings.  The sewer pipes of these buildings feed into
a septic tank and then into a drainfield located to the south
approximately 100 meters.  The common septic tank and drain-
field, believed to be approximately 50 years old, are located
on Harris County maintenance camp property.  The drainfield
is located beneath a well traveled dirt road leading out of
the maintenance camp.  Due to the age of this septic system
and the fact that the drainfield lies beneath a road, there is
a high probability that it is not fully functional.

     There are three water wells in this area that have been
considered as possible sampling wells.  Two of these wells
have been excluded because of their depth.  Well #1 is located
on the Southern Bible College campus and is approximately
800-1,000 feet deep.  Well #2 is located in a nearby cemetary
south of the septic system and is 560 feet deep.  Well #3 is
located to the north of U. S. Highway 90 in a brick manufac-
turing industry; it is approximately 100-150 feet deep and is
the only existing well which could possibly be used.  For this
reason, this site has not yet been sampled.  If funds for
drilling were available, it might be an interesting site be-
cause of its age and size.
                                65

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SITE #10, STELLACOOM, WASHINGTON

Background

     Dr. Foppe DeWalle, a professor at University of Washington,
was contacted in regards to locating a septic tank system site
near Tacoma, Washington.  With his and others' assistance, a
potential site was located just south of Tacoma at Stellacoom,
Washington, at the intersection of 97th Avenue and Onyx Road.
There were no appropriate monitoring wells on the site and so
Rice University personnel visited the site to coordinate dril-
ling of one or two monitoring wells.  It was thought that the
depth to ground water was well known.  After expenditure of
several thousand dollars on drilling without hitting the water
table, the site, as a prospect, was abandoned.
                                66

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                           SECTION 6

                DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY OF C-TLOs
                  FOUND IN SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS


     Most of the 22 target compounds in this study are in
common use in a normal household.  Major uses along with
water solubility are listed in Table 12.  It is interesting
to note that the lowest water solubility reported in Table
12 is 0.4 mg I'1 for bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.  This may
imply that our analytical procedure misses compounds with a
low water solubility, or it may imply that these compounds
are removed by some portion of the septic tank system before
sampling.  Similar observations have been made in relation
to land application systems (Hutchins, 1982).  Further research
to test these notions is being conducted at Rice University.

     A summary compilation of the concentrations of target com-
pounds from the different sites is presented in Table 13 for
comparison.  The log (Cone.) vs distance has been plotted in
Figure 20 for selected compounds found at the Speonk, N.Y.,
site.  The overall trend appears to be about 1.5 log units
removal in about 220 ft, but there is considerable variation
in removal vs distance.  But when this is contrasted with the
many log units removal normally encountered with bacteria and
virus removal, the potential for potable ground water contami-
nation is clear.

     If waste water from a septic tank leach field is not break-
ing through the soil to the surface, it is generally assumed
that the septic tank system is "working."  A working system is
more easily accomplished as the permeability or percolation rate
increases.  The more sandy the soil, the higher the percolation
rate.  Unfortunately, sandy soils generally have lower specific
surface areas, lower clay content, and lower percent organic,
all of which tend to decrease the retardation of C-TLOs.  Thus,
if an error in septic tank siting is made, it will probably be
made opposite the side of ground water protection from C-TLOs.

     Finally, as was noted in the Methods section, numerous
additional C-TLOs were identified by GC/MS/DS.  A partial list
of additional compounds identified in the Speonk, New York,
ground water is reproduced in Table 14 along with a list of
wells in which each compound was identified.  For a compound

                                67

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             TABLE 12.  MAJOR USES OF C-TLOs TARGETED FOR STUDY
    Compound
Water Solubility (mg/1)
             Major Uses
 1  Chloroform


 2  Carbon tetrachloride



 3  Trichloroethylene


 4  Toluene


 5  Tetrachloroethylene
 6  Chlorobenzene

 7  m-Xylene

 8  Bromobenzene

 9  m-Dichlorobenzene

10  p-Dichlorobenzene
11  o-Dichlorobenzene
12  Acetophenone

13  Naphthalene

14  Skatole

15  o-Phenylphenol

16  Diethylphthalate

17  2(Methylthio)benzothiazole

18  (1,1,3,3-Tetramethyl-
    butyl)phenol
19  Benzophenone
20  Butylbenzene sulfonamlde
21  DibutylphChalate
22  bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate
       7950
        800
       1470
        470
    483,400,200
        448
        446

         79

         79
        154
       5420

       31.7
        700

     7040,1000
        148
        4.5
        0.4
Solvent, as cleaning agent,
  in fire extinguishers,
  in the rubber industry
Solvent, as fire extinguish-
  er, for cleaning clothes,
  Insecticide, manufacture
  of organic chemicals
Solvent, degreasing, in dry
  cleaning, manufacture
  of organic chemicals
Solvent, in manufacture of
  organic chemicals, dyes,
  explosives
Degreasing metals, as solvent
Manufacturing of organics,
  solvent
Solvent, manufacture of
  dyes, etc.
In organic syntheses, solvent,
  additive to motor oils
Solvent, manufacture of dyes,
  in organic synthesis
Insecticidal fumigant
Insecticldal fumigant
In perfumery, as catalyst in
  syntheses
As raw ingredient in organic
  syntheses
In feces, beetroot and coal
  tar
As pesticide, in rubber in-
  dustry
As solvent, fixative for per-
  fumes
Used in fungicide, pesticide
  preparations
Surfactant

In perfumery, soaps, in manu-
  facture of drugs and Insec-
  ticides
Plastlclzer
Insect repellent
In vacuum pumps
                                      68

-------
                                                                                     Tap
                                                             SO ft    100 ft   200 ft   Water
              o
              to
              I
              O
              u
              00
              0
              u
              I
              60
              o
vo
                     cond - conductance
                        1  Chloroform
                        5  Tetrachloroethylene
                        7  Xylene(s)
                       10  pd_-Benzene
                       13  Naphthalene
                                            Log Distance (ft)
                                                                      2.0
                                  14  SVatole
                                  16  Dlethylphalate
                                  17  2(methylthio)benzothiazole
                                  21  Dibutylphthalate
                                  22  Bis(2-ethylhej:yl)phthalate
             Figure 20.
Plot  of the  logarithmof C-TLO concentrations  (ng £   )  and
conductance  (pmhos cm  ) vs  the logarithm of distance for
selected compounds found in  the ground water at Speonk, New
York.   (The  position  of the  distribution box,  at 0 ft,  has
been  arbitrarily located.)

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TABLE 13.  SUMMARY OF C-TLO CONCENTRATIONS  (gg/1) FOUND AT FOUR PRIMARY SEPTIC TANK  SYSTEM  SITES

SPEONK, NEW YORK

Compound*

Chloroform
Carbon tetrachlorlde
Trlchloroethylene
Toluene*
Tetrachloroethylene
Chlorobenzene
m-Xylene*
BroBobenzene
m-Dlchlorobenzene
p-Dlchlorobenzene
o-Olchlorobenzene
Acetophenone
Naphthalene*
Skatole
o-Phenylphenol
Dlethylphthalate
2(Methylthlo)-
benzothlazole
( 1,1,3, 3-Tetranethy 1-
butyl) phenol
Benzophenone
Butylbenzene sulfon-
aalde
Dlbutylphthalate*
bie(2-Ethylhexyl)-
phthalate*
Dlst.
Box
(0 ft)
0.52
- -
1.60
330
0.61
- -
0.43
0.028
0.045
4.6
- -
	
0.71
0.81
0.24
1.60

0.16

1.70
0.19

- -
0.160

0.37

Well tl
(? ft)
0.14
0.39
	
2.10
0.15
- -
0.11
0.00088
- -
0.0049
- -
	
0.0330
- -
	
0.023

- -

- -
- -

- -
0.032

0.36

Well 19
(5 ft)
0.00017
- -
0.0039
- -
0.169
- -
0.094
- -
- -
0.208
- -
	
0.833
0.023
0.0046
1.16

0.080

0.033
0.0013

- -
0.039

0.384

Well 110
(IS ft)
0.031
0.39
	
17
0.010
- -
	
- -
- -
0.078
- -
	
0.030
0.022
0.18
0.144

0.094

0.0056
0.0060

- -
0.103

0.023

Well 113
(50 ft)
0.036
- -
0.0065
9.9
0.18
- -
0.020
- -
- -
0.11
- -
0.021
0.032
- -
0.17
0.18

0.067

0.34
0.015

- -
0.077

0.040

Well 115
(100 ft)
0.24
- -
0.0040
15
1.0
- -
0.29
- -
- -
0.053
- -
0.071
0.20
- -
	
0.16

0.12

- -
- -

- -
0.070

0.050

Well t!6
(200 ft)
0.023
0.00045
0.0025
2.6
0.25
- -
0.074
- -
- -
0.025
- -
0.017
0.018
- -
	
0.0560

0.0029

- -
- -

- -
0.029

0.055
Tap
Water*
(220 ft)
_ _
- -
	
- -
0.13
- -
	
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
0.015
0.003

0.025

0.040

- -
- -

0.009
- -

0.34

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TABLE 13.  (Continued)
                              CISCO GROVE.  CALIFORNIA
SUN VALLEY, NEVADA
STINSON BEACH.
  CALIFORNIA
Compound
Chloroform
Carbon tetrachloride
Trichloroethylcne
Toluene*
Tetrachloroethylene
Chlorobenzene
nr-Xylene*
Bromobenzene
m-Dl chlorobenzene
p-Dlchlorobenzene
o-Di chlorobenzene
Acetophenone
Naphthalene*
Skatole
o-Phenylphenol
Diethylphthalate
2(Methylthio)-
benzothlazole
(1,1,3, 3-Tet ramethyl-
butyl) phenol
Benzophenone
Butylbenzene aulfon-
amlde
Dlbutylphthalate*
bls(2-Ethylheicyl)-
phthalate*
Dlst.
Box



0.1660


0.0369


0.9152

0.0474
0.0577
0.05204
0.0252
0.0238

0.2300

0.0539
0.0460
0.0439

0.0449

6.7999
Well fl Well 12 Well 13
0
0

0.0473


0


0
0
0
0.0231 0


0.0348 0



0
0


0.0108 0

0.8439 1
.0009
.0008

0.2751


.3751 0.3720


.0105
.0007
.0102
.0143 0.0111


.0101 0.0139



.0006
.0015


.0793 0.0160

.3920 5.4410
Sewage


0.
2.
0.
0.
0.
0.

0.
0.
0.
0.
5.
2.
0.

0.

0
0.

0.
0.

1.


0368
8320
0997
0357
2030
0433

1444
0244
0846
3475
1440
1930
4191

0919

.200
0522

0662
2225

7130
Ditch



0.1394
0.2281
0.0623
0.0670
0.0541
0.0485
0.0326
0.0272

0.0095


0.0331







0.0640

3.4610
Well »2
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0


0







0

3
.0020

.0010
.0322
.0469
.0097
.0074
.0072

.0028
.0041
.0009
.0399


.0083







.0189

.3720
Well »4



0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


0

0

0
0

0
0

5



.0537
.0576
.0345
.0853
.0116
.0629
.0477
.0067
.0155
.0072


.1023

.0045

.0022
.0242

.0261
.0556

.1190
Well «4



0.0924
0.0409
0.0347
0.0260
0.0261


0.0081
0.0081
0.0024


0.0728







0.0343

1.7590

•Compounds found In the blank

-------
               TABLE 14.   COMPOUNDS IDENTIFIED BY REVERSE ION SEARCH IN
                          WATER SAMPLES FROM SPEONK,  NEW YORK, SITE
           Compound Class
Sample or Well Number
 I.  Alky1-aromatics
           Benzene
           C3~Benzene
           C^-Benzene
           (2,2-Dimethoxyethyl)benzene
           a-Ethylbenzenemethanol
           C^-phenol
           C^-Naphthalene
           1,1*-oxybis(benzene)
           C2~Naphthalene
           (l,l'-Blphenyl)-2-ol
           Methylbenzoate
           C3~Naphthalene
           (2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-
             pheny1)phenylme thanone
           Toluene
           Xylene
           Acetophenone
           Naphthalene
           o-Phenylphenol
           (1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenol
           Benzophenone
           Butylbenzene sulfonamlde
           Skatole
II.   Alkanes
           C9
           C^-cyclohexanol
           C4~cyclohexanone
           C4ester of 2-methylpropanolc add
           CIA
           hexatriacontane
           11-Decyldocosane
           pentacosane
           CB
           1,1-Diethoxye thane
           1,1' -Oxybisdecane
D,13
D,1,9,10,13
D,1,9,13
9,13
13
D,9,10,13
D,1,9,10,13,15,16
10,13
D,1,9,10,13,15,16
D
1,15,16
1

15
D,1,10,13,15,16
D,l,9,13,15,16
13,15,16
0,1,9,10,13,15,16
D,9,10,13
0,9,10,13
0,9,10,13
0,9,10,13
0,9,10
0,1,13,15,16
0,1,10,13,15,16
13,15,16
0,9,13
13
13
13,15
1,13,15,16
1,13,16
1,13
1,13,15,16
13,15
0,1,9,10,15,16
9
9
                                     72

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TABLE 14.  (Continued)
          Compound Class                           Sample or Well Number
III.  Sulfur Containing

          Isothlazole                              13
          Benzothlazole                            13
          Dlmethyldlsulfide                        D,l
          S8                                       D
          Dlethyldisulflde                         1
          2(Methylthio)benzothiazole               D,9,10,13,15,16

IV.  Blcyclo-compounds

          l-Methyl-4-(isopropyl)-7-oxa-
            blcyclol2.2.1]heptane                  13
          l,3,3-Trlmethylblcyclol2.2.1J-
            heptan-2-one                           13
          l,3,3-Trlmethylblcyclo(2.2.1]-
            heptan-2-ol                            13
          l,7,7-Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]-
            heptan-2-one                           13
          1,3,3-Trimethyl-2-oxa-bicyclo-
            [2.2.2]octane                          0,9,10
          2,6,6-Trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]-
            heptane                                10
          cis-p-menthan-4-ol                       9
          2,2-Dimethyl-3-methylenebicyclo-
            [2.2.1]heptane                         D,9

V.  Chlorinated hydrocarbons

          Chloroform                               D,1,9,10,13,15,16
          Trlchloroethylene                        0,9,13,15,16
          Carbon tetrachlorlde                     1,10,16
          Tetrachloroethylene                      D,1,9,10,13,15,16
          Chlorobenzene                            	
          (Bromobenzene)                           D,l
          o-Chlorotoluene                          D
          Dlchlorobenzene                          D,1,9,10,13,15,16

VI.  Phthalate Esters

          Diethyl phthalate                        0,1,9,10,13,15,16
          Dibutylphthalate                         D,1,9,10,13,15,16
          bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate               D,1,9,10,13,15,16
                                    73

-------
to be added to this list, the mass spec./data system identifi-
cation had to be >700 "purity" and >700 "fit".  Thus, there is
a rather high degree of certainty about the identity of most
of these compounds.  From this list, several additional com-
pounds, such as methylnaphthalene, or some of the bicyclo-
compounds, might be suggested for inclusion in future studies.
                                74

-------
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-------