Sewage Handbook

Save The River originally produced this handbook as part of the Kingfisher Water Quality Program, which in 1984 surveyed sewage disposal methods of riverfront property owners and investigated problem areas of sewage disposal in the 1000 Islands region. In 1988-89 Save The River received a grant from the New York State Department of State Coastal Management Program to expand the Kingfisher program. This initiated free on-site sewage disposal system surveys for riverfront property owners, to pinpoint sewage disposal problems, help devise cost-effective solutions for property owners, and eliminate direct discharge to the river.

Under the auspices of the Department of State grant, the handbook “Save The River! It’s Not a Sewer” published in 1989 outlined the changing environmental concerns, regulations and sewage disposal options (since 1984) that led to the Kingfisher “septic system surveys” program. Local and state laws, recommendations, technology and costs continue to change and necessitate revisions to the handbook. A 2004 mini-grant from the Jefferson County Water Quality Coordinating Committee provided support for another update and reprint.

The specific manufacturers and products listed here represent a sample of the options available to property owners, and are in no way endorsed by Save The River. Save The River would like to thank the many people who contributed time and effort to the reproduction of this booklet and to the Kingfisher Water Quality Program over the years. Call Save The River at (315) 686-2010, stop in or write us at 409 Riverside Dr., Clayton, NY 13624 for more information on sewage disposal methods.

The Handbook

• Who needs this handbook?
• Why worry about sewage in your water?
• Site Conditions
• Sewage Treatment Systems
  • Anaerobic Tanks
  • Alternative Locations for a Septic System
  • How to Check a Septic Tank
  • Aerobic Tanks
  • Holding Tanks
• Effluent Disposal Systems
  • Leach Field
  • Sand Filter
  • Other Systems
• Alternative Toilets
  • Composting Toilets
  • Small Composting Toilets
  • Incinerating Toilets
  • Water Conservation Toilets
• Greywater Disposal Systems
• Glossary

Acknowledgements

Originally published in 1984 as a revision of the Alternative On-Site Systems Handbook, prepared by the Madison County Planning Department in 1978. Revised and reprinted in 1989, 1995 and 2004 by Save The River, Inc. This handbook was prepared for the New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization, with financial assistance from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provided under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, November 1989. Federal Grant No. NA-82-AA-D- CZ068. Save The River would like to thank Hilary Grimes-Casey, Bill Grater, Tom Boxberger, Ryan Palmer, Ann Rice, Shirley Carpenter, Mark Green and Brian Wohnsiedler, who spent many hours reviewing this booklet prior to publication, Joyce Cattelane for desktop publishing, and Susie Wood for graphic design help.

Funded in part by the Jefferson County Water Quality Coordinating Committee.

• Download the Sewage Handbook – A Guide for Shoreline Residents in the 1000 Islands Region.