Maintaining your Septic System

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern Proper design and maintenance of your septic system is important in ensuring it functions properly and will not end up costing you and the environment. Improperly treated wastewater may contain bacteria, viruses, phosphorus, and nitrogen. If this gets into the ground water or nearby water body, it can get into drinking water and also have devastating consequences for aquatic ecosystems.    Choosing and Designing your Septic ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern The loss of biodiversity in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems has been a growing issue for freshwater communities. Run-off from improperly installed or unmaintained septic systems are one of the ways that untreated wastewater gets into freshwater bodies. Things like cracks in the tank can also cause nutrients from the wastewater to leach into the soil, which can lead to highly undesirable changes in local ecosystem structure and ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern Our septic systems are often something that are out of sight and out of mind. Some people may not even know what a septic system is, especially if you live in a city or town that has a wastewater treatment plant. No matter where you live, we should all be thinking about where our wastewater goes when we flush.  Where is Untreated Wastewater Going? If you live in an area that is connected to a municipal sewer system, the water that is ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern A septic system that is not properly installed or old and failing can have devastating consequences for freshwater ecosystems, so take time to learn how to properly install and care for your septic system. Installing or replacing your septic system can look like a daunting and expensive task so here are a few tips you can use when funding, designing, and installing your septic system.  Funding There are many great funding options ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern Despite its name, blue-green algae is not actually algae - it is a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria that lives in fresh and marine water. Most species of cyanobacteria are unicellular and photosynthetic, meaning they use sunlight to produce their own food. Blue-green algae can reproduce rapidly in warm, slow-moving, nutrient rich environments. In the right conditions, these bacteria will rapidly reproduce and cause a bloom, spreading ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern Each summer, harmful algae blooms are at the forefront of local news around the country. The danger to humans, pets, and livestock have increased public awareness but these blooms also have a profound ecological impact. Could buffer zones play a role in combating these algae blooms? Toxic algae blooms of most species of cyanobacteria thrive in warm, calm, high nutrient environments. With the increase of global temperatures due to climate ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Change Resiliency Intern Reports of blue-green algae in the Great Lakes have bloomed in the last decade. The increased public awareness has shed a light on the issue of eutrophication on freshwater lakes. However, there are other factors involved in the growth of algae like invasive species, overfishing, and food web alterations, all often caused by human activities (Pick, 2016). Canada is home to the largest concentration of freshwater lakes in the world, and ... Read More