Earthworm populations in septic system filter fields and potential effects on wastewater renovation

Abstract

Wastewater renovation in septic-system filter fields can be affected by preferential flow through soil macropores. Anecic earthworm species make deep vertical burrows that may reduce renovation by acting as preferential flow paths that decrease effluent contact with the soil matrix. On the other hand, endogeic earthworms make largely horizontal burrows that may enhance wastewater renovation by distributing the effluent over a larger area. Additionally, the moist, nutrient-rich environment in filter fields may increase earthworm populations by enhancing their survival. Therefore, our objectives were to determine earthworm numbers and biomass with distance from soil treatment trenches, and identify species present to estimate potential effects on wastewater renovation. Five septic systems were investigated. At each site, earthworm populations were measured using formalin extraction at 10 locations along each of three 7-m long transects perpendicular to the trenches. There were an average of 6.4 times more earthworms and 5.4 times more earthworm biomass within 1 m of the trench than in the background (3.5–7.0 m from the trenches) in 13 of the 15 transects. This suggests that earthworms may have a significant effect on the movement of effluent. Because only epigeic and endogeic species were observed, the potential for reduced renovation and groundwater contamination at these sites is likely low. This may not be the case in areas with large numbers of anecic earthworms.