Microplastic Filtration: The Hidden Challenge Threatening Suffolk County’s Groundwater Through Modern Septic Systems
As environmental consciousness grows, Suffolk County homeowners face an emerging threat that’s silently infiltrating their groundwater: microplastics. The presence of microplastic was consistent with other parameters, including phosphate, chloride and triclosan, suggesting septic effluent as a source. These tiny plastic particles, smaller than 5 millimeters, are increasingly being detected in groundwater systems worldwide, with MPs can enter aquifers through multiple pathways including surface runoff, atmospheric deposition, septic leakage, and the degradation of plastic infrastructure, especially in regions with permeable soils and poor waste management.
The Suffolk County Challenge: A Perfect Storm for Contamination
Suffolk County faces unique vulnerabilities when it comes to microplastic contamination. Since Long Island is built on sandy soil, contaminants easily seep into the sole source aquifer. The region’s heavy reliance on onsite septic systems compounds this problem. The Suffolk County Wastewater Plan, adopted in July 2020, estimated that there are 365,000 residential onsite sewage disposal systems installed in Suffolk County, of which 252,530 are estimated to consist of cesspools only.
Traditional septic systems weren’t designed to handle microplastics. Without a filter to catch the particles leaving the washing machine, lint, microplastics, hair, and other particulate flow straight into the septic tank with the wastewater, where the mixture can clog pre-filters and require frequent maintenance. The microplastics, due to their very small size, slip through and reach the drain field.
How Microplastics Enter Your Septic System
The primary source of microplastics in residential septic systems comes from everyday household activities. Washing machines release up to 1.5 million microfibers in their wastewater every load, and without a filter those fibers flow straight into your septic system. Polyester fibers are shed when clothing is washed, and make their way into the septic system with laundry water. From there they can potentially leach through soils with wastewater effluent, ultimately ending up in the groundwater.
Once in the septic system, these particles create multiple problems. Microplastics and some lint clumps enter the drain field with the wastewater. As the water and particles flow through the drain field, lint clumps can clog the soil pores, which can cause costly repairs and sewage backup into your home. The microplastics then leach into the soil through the drain field’s soil pores.
The Path to Groundwater Contamination
The journey from septic system to groundwater is alarmingly direct in Suffolk County. As the microplastics leach through the soil, they make their way through the ground, approaching your well water. As they descend, they can begin to break down into smaller and smaller pieces, which can be uncatchable by home water filters. This process is particularly concerning because This microplastic filled sludge becomes a pathway for plastics to move out into the drain field as the septic tank process continues, where they can seep into soil and groundwater.
Advanced Filtration Solutions for Modern Septic Systems
Fortunately, innovative solutions are emerging to address this challenge. Municipal water and wastewater treatment plants primarily rely on physical processes such as filtration and sedimentation to remove microplastics. However, advanced treatment methods like membrane filtration, including microfiltration and ultrafiltration, are increasingly being employed to capture smaller microplastic particles.
Several filtration approaches show promise:
- Sand Filtration: It relies on the physical trapping of microplastics as water passes through layers of sand or other porous materials.
- Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are systems that combine biological treatment with membrane filtration (usually MF and UF). MBRs provide superior MP removal efficiency compared to other treatment methods used in water and wastewater treatment and provide MP removal efficiency of over 99%
- Coagulation and Flocculation — Coagulation involves adding chemical coagulants to water to destabilize colloidal particles, including microplastics, by neutralizing their surface charges. When coagulants are added to water, they form insoluble precipitates called flocs, which trap suspended particles, including microplastics, and facilitate their removal through additional processes such as sedimentation or filtration.
Prevention: The First Line of Defense
The most effective approach to protecting Suffolk County’s groundwater is prevention at the source. A quality filter can reduce the frequency of maintenance needed and prevent microplastics from entering the soil. By trapping fibers, lint, and other particulates before they reach the tank, you reduce buildup that stresses the drain field. CLEANR’s washing machine filter captures more than 90 percent of these microplastics right at the source, keeping them out of your tank, your drain field, and your yard.
Professional Septic Services: Your Partner in Protection
Given the complexity of microplastic contamination, working with experienced professionals is crucial. For homeowners seeking reliable septic system services Suffolk County, NY, companies like AAA Dependable Cesspool understand the unique challenges facing Long Island residents. AAA Dependable cesspool is a local, full service, professional Sewer and Drain Cleaning Company, and the premier Suffolk County, NY cesspool service. We’re the family-owned septic company Suffolk County trusts for honest work and fair prices.
We understand Long Island soil conditions and regulations better than out-of-town companies. Three generations serving Suffolk County – your satisfaction protects our local reputation. This local expertise is invaluable when implementing microplastic filtration solutions that comply with Suffolk County’s evolving environmental regulations.
The Economic and Environmental Stakes
The cost of inaction extends far beyond individual septic systems. Once microplastics and contaminants are in the groundwater, they are nearly impossible to remove without expensive treatment systems. For homeowners, this makes reducing the amount of microplastics entering your septic system one of the most effective ways to protect the safety and quality of your well water.
Suffolk County has recognized the urgency of this issue, with Of the $30 million announced, two-thirds, or $20 million, will go directly to Suffolk County to help protect its sole source aquifer and surrounding waterbodies. These investments support the transition to advanced septic systems and filtration technologies.
Looking Forward: A Comprehensive Approach
Protecting Suffolk County’s groundwater from microplastic contamination requires a multi-faceted approach combining source reduction, advanced filtration, and professional maintenance. Combining filtration methods or integrating them into existing treatment systems can enhance the efficiency of microplastic removal. However, it’s important to consider factors such as cost, energy requirements, maintenance, and the specific characteristics of the water source when selecting the most suitable filtration method. While a multifaceted approach to microplastic removal can help significantly reduce levels of this contaminant in water, complete removal remains a challenge, and further research and innovation are needed.
As Suffolk County continues to grapple with this emerging contaminant, homeowners who take proactive steps to implement microplastic filtration in their septic systems today will be protecting not only their immediate water quality but also the long-term sustainability of the region’s precious groundwater resources. The investment in advanced filtration technology and professional septic services represents both environmental stewardship and practical protection for your family’s health and property value.