Analysis of Septic-Tank Density for Four Communities in Iron County, Utah - Newcastle, Kanarraville, Summit, and Paragonah

Abstract

Iron County is a semi-rural area in southwestern Utah that is experiencing an increase in residential development. Although much of the development is on community sewer systems, many subdivisions use septic tank soil-absorption systems for wastewater disposal. Many of these septic-tank systems overlie the basin-fill deposits that compose the principal aquifer for the area. The purpose of our study is to provide tools for waterresource management and land-use planning. In this study we (1) characterize the water quality of four areas in Iron County (Newcastle, Kanarraville, Summit, and Paragonah) with emphasis on nutrients, and (2) provide a mass-balance analysis based on numbers of septic-tank systems, groundwater flow available for mixing, and baseline nitrate concentrations, and thereby recommend appropriate septic-system density requirements to limit water-quality degradation. We collected 57 groundwater samples and three surface water samples across the four study areas to establish baseline nitrate concentrations. The baseline nitrate concentrations for Newcastle, Kanarraville, Summit, and Paragonah are 1.51 mg/L, 1.42 mg/L, 2.2 mg/L, and 1.76 mg/L, respectively. We employed a mass-balance approach to determine septic-tank densities using existing septic systems and baseline nitrate concentrations for each region. Nitrogen in the form of nitrate is one of the principal indicators of pollution from septic tank soil-absorption systems. To provide recommended septic-system densities, we used a mass-balance approach in which the nitrogen mass from projected additional septic tanks is added to the current nitrogen mass and then diluted with groundwater flow available for mixing plus the water added by the septic-tank systems themselves. We used an allowable degradation of 1 mg/L with respect to nitrate. Groundwater flow volume available for mixing was calculated from existing hydrogeologic data. We used data from aquifer tests compiled from drinking water source protection documents to derive hydraulic conductivity from reported transmissivities. Potentiometric surface maps from existing publications and datasets were used to determine groundwater flow directions and hydraulic gradients. Our results using the mass balance approach indicate that the most appropriate recommended maximum septic-tank densities in Newcastle, Kanarraville, Summit, and Paragonah are 23 acres per system, 7 acres per system, 5 acres per system, and 11 acres per system, respectively. These recommendations are based on hydrogeologic parameters used to estimate groundwater flow volume. Public valley-wide sewer systems may be a better alternative to septic-tank systems where feasible.