Septic Program

 Upper Chester Watershed Septic System Information Sessions

Chester River Association will be holding a series of septic system information workshops for homeowners in the Upper Chester watershed.  The first workshop will be held March 12, 2011, from 10am - 12pm and will provide the latest information about the Bay Restoration Fund and how qualified homeowners can take advantage of a Bay Restoration Fund grant to upgrade their septic system so it reduces nitrogen from its effluent.  The workshop will be held at the home of Arthur and Virginia Leoard, who have installed a Best Available Technology Biological Nutrient Removal (BAT BNR) system in their septic system.  Click HERE for more information.

Is your septic system in need of repair?

Do you want to reduce your pollution contribution to the Chester River?

Then you may be eligible to receive a free septic system repair & upgrade!

The Chester River Association, Kent County, and the State of Maryland have made limited funds available to repair failing septic systems for homeowners in the Critical Area of the middle portion of the Chester River (1000 ft. from tidal water within the area approximately between Chestertown & Kennedyville).

Once repaired, these systems will receive an upgrade with Best Available Technology that reduces nitrogen pollution from entering our river paid for by the Bay Restoration Fund.

For more information or to be considered for this program contact:
Jennifer Hicks, Chester River Association (410) 708-7891

Click Here to see our program information sheet

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Septic Systems in the Chester River Watershed:
As a primarily rural community, the Chester River watershed has approximately 60% of homes on septic systems - generating ten times the nitrogen in the Chester River as the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Maryland Department of the Environment estimates that in our watershed as much as 10% of the nitrogen loading to the Chester River comes from septic systems.  In addition, a high percentage of these septic systems are adjacent to tidal and non-tidal waterways.  Additionally, failing septics exacerbate the problem associated with high fecal coliform counts in the Chester River.  Click Here to see CRA's septic information sheet.

Septic Education & Outreach:
In the spring of 2007, CRA hired Jennifer Hicks part-time as a septic specialist to increase CRA's work in septic system education and outreach.  A primary focus of the septic program has been getting homeowners to retrofit existing septic systems in Kent and Queen Anne's Counties using the Bay Restoration Fund.  Since June 2007, the CRA septic program has held ten Bay Restoration Fund information seminars in both Queen Anne's and Kent Counties engaging over 100 households.  As of December 2009, over 75 septic system upgrades have been completed in Kent County and over 130 in Queen Anne's County.

In October 2007, CRA placed a full page ad in the three local papers entitled "Is Your Home Septic System Hurting the Chester River?"  This was an opportunity to shine light on the little known impact septic systems have on the Chester River watershed and ways to reverse the impact.

Pushing for Mandatory Septic Upgrades:
Another focus of the septic program has been to pass legislation requiring BAT BNR septics for many of the homes in the watershed.  CRA began in Queen Anne's County in April 2007 with a presentation to the full Board of Commissioners about the importance of mandating BAT BNR's for all new homes in the Critical Area (land within 1000 ft. from tidal water).  CRA worked with the county staff to educate them and get the proper wording and implementation process for legislation that reflects this action and in November 2007, the legislation was proposed and passed by the Commissioners subject to public comment.  While realtors, builders and developers opposed the legislation, CRA mounted a write in campaign amoung our Queen Anne's County members.  As a result, the legislation passed into law on December 11 by a unanimous vote of the Commissioners.  We understand that it was the first legislation of its kind in Maryland.

In January 2009, with the help of our lobbyist, CRA sponsored and provided testimony for legislation that would require all new homes statewide to install BAT BNR septic systems.  The bill, SB554/HB176 Chesapeake Bay Nitrogen Reduction Act of 2009, required BAT BNR's in all new homes and upgrades for failing septics in the Critical Area.  It passed the state legislature and was signed into law on May 21, 2009 with an effective date of October 1, 2009.

For more information about CRA's septic program contact:
Jennifer Hicks - (410) 708-7891 or jhicks@chesterriverassociation.org