Re - Septic Savvy

Gray Merriam, PhD., DSc. | Jun 19, 2019

The Frontenac News report on the “Septic Savvy Seminar” held in North Frontenac was discouraging. The critical role of septic systems in conserving water quality in the lakes was never made clear. That role is prevention of nutrients from entering the lake from septic systems. The discussion of “pollution” and the reference to E. coli apparently was considered the primary role of septic systems. E. coli is a very large number of bacteria only s few of which are damaging to humans. As Gord Mitchell pointed out, many E. coli come from all kinds of vertebrates and do not indicate the functional state of septic systems. 

Gray Merriam, PhD., DSc.
Prof Emeritus, 
Landscape Ecologist