Many people want to know if water conservation is really necessary with household wastewater, if they have their own septic system.
Logic prevails that wastewater recharges the groundwater after being processed by the septic tank.
Well, yes and no according to Dr. Jack Watson Extension Water Quality Specialist with The University of Arizona. In general, individual septic tanks can contribute to groundwater recharge. However, the amount from a single system is so small that the potential contribution is insignificant. If you have a cluster of septic systems, the wastewater could impact groundwater. Some systems use plants to take up water and utilize the nutrients.