Title:Long-term Transformation and Fate of Nitrogen in Mound-type Soil Absorption Systems for Septic Tank Effluent

Background/Need: The potential for groundwater contamination by fixed nitrogen forms originating from septic tank soil absorption systems is a widespread and growing concern. This concern is exacerbated by significant difficulties and uncertainties in predicting the transformations and fate of nitrogen in any given soil-based wastewater infiltration system. Monitoring to evaluate the extent to which various domestic on-site wastewater treatment systems comply with state groundwater quality standards and to reduce the difficulty and uncertainty in estimating long-term nitrogen transformations and fate in soil-based private wastewater treatment systems is important as a guide to regulatory control.