The Environmental Impact of Sewer System Damage and Repair Solutions 

Modern plumbing systems are one of the most important human inventions. Even though we don’t think about them often, plumbing systems are a major reason our lives are so radically different from people who lived a little over a hundred years ago.

For instance, your city’s water supply system is why you no longer wake up early, bucket in hand, to walk long distances to a nearby stream or hand-dug well. It is also why you don’t have to ration water out of a small drum in the corner of your tiny kitchen.

As KRS Holdings a property management company says modern plumbing systems also let you have a toilet alongside the living room, bedrooms and kitchen. Yet you never worry about the gross sight of human waste or sewage odors in your house because the plumbing system automatically removes all the waste.

But despite their obvious benefits, modern plumbing systems, especially sewer systems, are not always a blessing. When in good condition, they provide immeasurable benefits. However, if the system is broken for any reason, it can inflict massive damage on the environment.

Given the growing awareness of how artificial solutions impact natural environments, this post explains how a damaged sewer system in your home or city can harm nature. It also describes how a chosen sewer repair method can become an environmental problem.

Environmental impact of sewer systems

Even in good condition and working according to design, sewer systems still threaten the environment in two principal ways.

1. Depletion of natural water resources

Every day in our homes and offices, we flush huge volumes of water into the sewers. An average family uses 300 gallons of water a day. 70% of which is used indoors and ultimately finds its way into the sewers. That constitutes a huge drain on natural systems.

2. Effect on water bodies

Regardless of how home or municipal sewer systems work, the wastewater they generate eventually ends up in the ocean or seeps into groundwater. Even when it is treated, this water can cause massive disruptions within these natural environments.

Environmental impact of damaged sewer systems

However, the real environmental impact of sewer systems happens when the line is damaged. In their proper state sewer systems can separate their content from the environment. That allows wastewater to be treated before it is released into nature, reducing its impact.

A damaged sewer line does not permit this. Instead, it leaks sewage into its surrounding areas, causing the following problems:

1. Chemicals leaching into the soil

Apart from human waste, sewage contains numerous dangerous chemicals that can harm humans and wildlife if they find their way into the soil. These include pesticides, herbicides, hormones, medications, paints and solvents.

2. Destruction of delicate ecosystems

Natural ecosystems are fragile and easily damaged by minor imbalances. For example, algae blooms caused by sewage entering local rivers or streams kill aquatic flora and fauna by cutting off the oxygen supply they need to survive. 

3. Contamination of drinking water

A leading factor in the spread of waterborne diseases is contamination of drinking water sources by damaged sewer lines. That happens when sewage from damaged pipes enters nearby water pipes or leeches into groundwater.

4. Soil degradation

A broken sewer line will leak nutrient-rich water and harmful chemicals into the soil. On one hand, these nutrients will help nearby plants to grow. At the same time, however, the toxins in wastewater will harm crops, destroy soil ecosystems and degrade the soil.

Environmental impact of sewer repair solutions

The environmental impact of sewer systems is not limited to the harm caused by damaged sewer lines, but it also extends to the methods used to fix that damaged sewer line. Some sewer repair methods actually inflict additional burdens on the environment. That can include any or all of the following:

1. Large carbon footprint

Sewer repair methods that involve soil excavation leave a significant carbon footprint. Massive carbon emissions and the release of harmful greenhouse gases follow the use of heavy equipment required for such operations. Trenchless methods that don’t involve heavy machinery are better in this regard.

2. Damage to surrounding environments

Sewer repair methods that require digging also cause damage to soils, living organisms and plants. That is why they are known as invasive sewer repair methods. Non-invasive sewer methods allow sewer lines to be replaced with minimal disruption of the surrounding area.

3. Large quantities of waste

Soils, rocks and debris from replacing damaged sewer lines often end up in landfills, worsening existing waste disposal and environmental issues. Sewer repair methods that do not create a lot of waste are more sustainable and preferable.

4. Short-lived repairs

In addition to the above problems, the solution provided by some sewer repair methods is short-lived. Because the solutions don’t last long, repairs have to be done often, allowing the damage to the environment to be repeated.

Conclusion

You may be asking, What is the point of all this information? 

Proper stewardship of natural resources is everyone’s responsibility. Part of that means:

• You should encourage responsible use of water by installing water-efficient plumbing systems.
• Engaging in preventive maintenance of your sewer system to help safeguard nature.
• When fixing sewer line problems, think beyond the monetary costs of the solutions you use.