FOCUS AREA | SANITARY SEWER USE & EXPANSION

Simply put, wastewater is all the water that goes down our drains and toilets. To protect the lake, we must make sure that our wastewater is managed properly. 

Most of the homes and businesses around the lake use septic tanks. These underground tanks capture and hold the wastewater, allowing solid material to settle in the tank. The water from many (not all) of these septic tanks is collected through a series of pipes and transferred to one of the three wastewater treatment systems around the lake. The treatment systems are lagoons that allow the wastewater to further settle. The treated water may then evaporate and/or slowly seep out of the lagoons. The Lake Poinsett Sanitary District began building these lagoon treatment systems in 1989, and work on the systems continues to this day. 

The three wastewater treatment systems are located near Arlington Beach, Stone Bridge, and Pier 81. Collecting and treating wastewater in a centralized location is a major step in protecting the lake, but our work is not done. We need to finish installing the pipes and lagoons needed to serve the rest of the homes and businesses around the lake, and we need to continue investing in our existing system to maintain and improve it. 

So, the next time you turn on the tap or flush the toilet, remember that what goes down the drain can impact the lake. Understanding and properly managing our wastewater is crucial for keeping Lake Poinsett clean and healthy.