Protecting the Salt Pond

At the BVI Humane Society, our mission goes beyond caring for animals. We also have a responsibility to protect the beautiful natural environment around our shelter, including the nearby salt pond and the wildlife that depends on it.

That is why our new shelter was designed with a dedicated septic and soak away system to manage wastewater safely, responsibly, and separately from the surrounding environment.

Our Septic & Soak Away System

The shelter uses separate systems for human and animal waste. This allows us to manage wastewater more carefully and helps prevent unnecessary pressure on one single system.

Wastewater first enters the septic tank, where solids settle and naturally begin to break down. The treated effluent then moves into the soak away field, where it is slowly dispersed underground through a specially designed drainage system.

As the water moves through the gravel and soil layers, it is filtered naturally before reaching the wider environment.

Designed to Protect the Salt Pond

Our wastewater does not flow directly into the salt pond. Instead, it is treated through our engineered 6-chamber septic and soak away system before being safely returned to the ground.

Our soak away field

After leaving the septic tank, the treated wastewater enters the soak away field through perforated pipes. The soak away is constructed in layers: a bed of coarse sand at the bottom, a layer of small gravel surrounding the distribution pipes, and larger rocks above to provide drainage, stability, and air circulation. As the water slowly filters through these natural materials and the surrounding soil, remaining impurities are removed by physical filtration and naturally occurring microorganisms.

This gradual filtration process allows the water to be absorbed safely into the ground rather than flowing directly into nearby waterways. By keeping wastewater underground and allowing nature to complete the final stage of treatment, our system helps protect the nearby salt pond from contamination and supports the health of the birds, plants, marine life, and other wildlife that depend on this unique ecosystem.

Safer Cleaning Products for Animals and the Environment

A shelter must be kept extremely clean, but the products used matter. Instead of relying on harsh chlorine bleach as our main cleaning method, we use products that are effective, animal-safe, and more environmentally responsible.

For general cleaning, we use Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products, which are plant-derived and biodegradable.

We use RESCUE One-Step Disinfectant Cleaner & Deodorizer for kennels, cat rooms, quarantine areas, medical spaces, litter box areas, and other animal housing areas. This product is specifically made for veterinary use, animal shelters, pet foster homes, kennels, and other animal care environments.

Why is RESCUE Better Than Chlorine?

Traditional chlorine bleach can produce strong fumes, leave harsh chemical residues, irritate animals and people, and contribute chlorine compounds to the wastewater stream.

RESCUE uses Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide® technology, which disinfects against many common shelter pathogens while breaking down into water and oxygen after use.

This makes it a better choice for our shelter because it:

• Provides professional-level disinfection.
• Is safer for animals, staff, and volunteers when used correctly.
• Produces fewer harsh fumes and odors.
• Is less corrosive to surfaces and equipment.
• Breaks down into environmentally friendly by-products.
• Helps reduce the risk of chlorine-based chemicals entering the wastewater system.

Clean Shelter, Protected Habitat

By combining a properly designed septic and soak away system with carefully chosen cleaning products, we are able to maintain the high hygiene standards required in an animal shelter while also protecting the surrounding environment.

Our goal is simple: a clean, safe shelter for our animals, and a protected salt pond for the birds, wildlife, and natural beauty around us.