Question Septic ponds at campgrounds

[Neal]

I may not want to know the answer to this but I've seen quite often campgrounds with septic ponds with circulation pumps (fountains) in the middle. Umm, why are these ponds here and what's the purpose?

 

[Scooterfan]

You are lot smarter than I Neal, but I'm not sure those are septic ponds. I would be more inclined to think they are reservoirs (storage ponds) for irrigation water. We see many of those in our neck of the woods (used on vineyards often). There are regulations on "treatment water" and I would be surprised if settling ponds would be allowed in a campground. And yes, I am prepared to be corrected

 

[B & J T]

They could be septic ponds which is where waste goes for treatment. Treatment might be as simple as retention to let microbes break things down. The circulation pumps would help aerate the ponds keeping the bacteria happy with plenty of oxygen.

 

[sanda]

They could be septic ponds which is where waste goes for treatment. Treatment might be as simple as retention to let microbes break things down. The circulation pumps would help aerate the ponds keeping the bacteria happy with plenty of oxygen.

And also to help with evaporation. I have been in many parks with the ponds. The worst one was a state park near Lake Havasu.

 

[FLSteve]

Many smaller parks do have on-site wastewater treatment plants with effluent disposal to evaporation/percolation ponds ... but I would think they would be located at the edge or corner of the park. I have also seen fountains and bubblers in some of them to help keep the scum off the surface.

 

[Neemer]

So what you’re saying is I need to quit swimming in those ponds.

 

[Neal]

I can tell you the wind was strong yesterday and I got a spray tan!

 

[Neal]

 

[Neal]

That explains all the flies and why I got an overtemp warning for the first time on my electric fly swatter!

 

[sanda]

Try staying at a campground a quarter of a mile from a turkey farm. Talk about odors and flies.