MONITORING AND PLANNING FOR ONSITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL ALONG TVA RESERVOIRS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) uses various techniques to detect, quantify, and prevent water use impacts from failing septic tank–soil absorption systems (ST-SAS). Low altitude color infrared remote sensing complemented by an in-reservoir leachate detection device are used to locate ST-SAS failures along shoreline residential areas. These detection techniques, followed by a ground-truth survey and/or a water quality sampling program can quantify the severity and type of ST-SAS failures in an area. An onsite wastewater management plan, developed to assess soil suitability for various onsite sewage disposal systems, serves as a guide for proper siting and use of onsite sewage disposal systems along shorelines. Applications of these techniques along selected shorelines of TVA reservoirs are discussed.