Breanna Ameigh, West Nile Virus Coordinator, BCCD
Everyone loves summer and fall and what these gorgeous seasons have to offer. Alas, every year, colder months arrive along with heating bills, heavy coats, and at least one person who says “at least the mosquitoes will be gone” as an optimistic note. Though they will return in the spring, it feels like my battle with mosquitoes has been won – for now. As the West Nile Virus Coordinator, my entire job is a war on mosquitoes that I fight, physically, between April and October. In the off season, I try to prepare for the next season and educate anyone who will listen about what they can do to rid their properties of potential mosquito habitats. Who wouldn’t want less mosquitoes at their house? I’ve never been to a cookout and thought they didn’t have enough biting, disease-ridden mosquitoes. Now that those little monsters are finally starting to leave us alone, let’s go over what we did this mosquito season. 

Kevin Brown, Ag Resource Specialist, BCCD
I don’t think we are in an area where the majority of homeowners go nuts about fertilizing their lawns, but we all know there are places that do.  For those of you that do, listen up.  For those who are in competition with your neighbors on who has the nicest lawn, “they” are finally starting to crack down on you for applying too much fertilizer.  

A reprint from Penn State Extension, Faith Kibuye, Extension Program Specialist, Water Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/septic-system-basics
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The drain field is also known as a leach field or absorption area. This is where the partially treated wastewater or septic effluent is disposed of for further treatment. It comprises of a network of perforated pipes laid on aggregate materials and a suitable soil layer. Once laid, the pipes are covered with additional aggregate material, geotextile material, and backfill soil. These pipes receive septic effluent through the distribution box and uniformly disperse to the underlying aggregate layer allowing it percolate through the suitable soil layers.

A reprint from Penn State Extension.
Faith Kibuye, Extension Program Specialist, Water Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/septic-system-basics
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How the septic tank treats wastewater
Once wastewater flows into the first chamber of the septic tank, the treatment process begins. Solids separate and settle to the bottom of the tank while the oils and greases float to the top. There is no oxygen in septic tanks; therefore, naturally occurring bacteria that function without oxygen (or anaerobic bacteria) break down the solids. This breakdown process is known as anaerobic digestion. Over time, the solids form a layer of sludge at the bottom, the oils and greases form a layer of scum at the top, and partially treated wastewater stays in the middle.

We have all had those conversations- why don’t they teach that in school?  We can fill in the blanks, but one that amazes me that no one teaches is how a septic system works.  This is a fact of life for anyone that lives outside of the city water/sewer system.  At home, you always waited until there was a problem and then dealt with it then.  I think people think that it is something that is self-sufficient (until something actually breaks) and will continue to run on its own indefinitely.  It is NOT!  I say this down here all the time “Everything takes maintenance!”  This is no exception.  If you know how it works, and you maintain it, you can save yourself a LOT of aggravation.  This will take 3 weeks to publish the full article, but here we go.

A reprint from Penn State Extension, Faith Kibuye, Extension Program Specialist, Water Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/septic-system-basics