Today, Anne Arundel County launched the “Our wAAter Program” to reduce costs associated with converting up to 200 private septic tanks per year to the County sewer system. 

In many cases even the best septic systems can release higher levels of pollutants than local water reclamation facilities. The new initiative from Anne Arundel County will encourage more residents to seek connections for their properties, leading to better water quality and environmental outcomes.

“Converting from private septic tanks to the County sewer system will help our residents experience improved water quality, while allowing us to better control pollutants impacting the Bay,” County Executive Steuart Pittman said. “Residents with private septic systems should take this innovative opportunity to lower their cost of connecting to the County system – it helps you improve your water, and helps the County protect our environment.”

Our wAAter is the Anne Arundel Clean Water Program, established to provide long-term benefits to protect local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay while sustaining groundwater supplies and enhancing water resiliency. The program strategy integrates five initiatives: wastewater treatment enhancements, septic-to sewer connections, groundwater resiliency, stormwater improvements, and small system upgrades.

How do septic systems impact public health and water quality?

• More than 40,000 properties in Anne Arundel County use on-site septic systems to treat residential wastewater, which can significantly pollute water under certain conditions.
• In dense subdivisions located close to the water, even properly operating septic systems can release up to eight times more pollutants into the Bay than the County’s water reclamation facilities.
• When systems do not operate properly or are too close to private drinking water wells, contaminants from the wastewater may even reach drinking water.

For more information, visit the program page.