To the Editor:
I read the following and must take issue with Mr. Gates. His ascertain that well maintained septic's harm nothing is misleading at best. Having been raised in the Clarks Landing area we moved into a new home in 1950. Within a year this system malfunctioned by surfacing and never was able to be properly repaired. The culprit is heavy clay and shallow water table. This is soil characteristics through out much of St. Mary'sCounty and causes shallow ground water contamination and a much needed public water system for development. I remember the many  homes piping their outflow to creeks and streams. Many of these still exist.

My career with Montgomery County was with environmental health designing septic systems for use in residential and commercial construction this is why I understand  the limits of septic use and the problems they present over time. Where a public system is feasible  it should be primary for development.