EPA’s Septic System Outreach Toolkit
Across the country, local environmental groups, health departments, and governments face challenges posed by improperly maintained and failing septic systems. EPA assists these local agencies in promoting homeowner education and awareness.
The Outreach Toolkit contains materials targeted to homeowners that can be downloaded from this web site and printed. These materials show how many organizations have launched successful homeowner education programs.
Articles
- “What Happens After the Flush?“: Septic systems vs wastewater treatment facilities
- NHDES Septic Fact sheet and Homeowner’s guide to Septic System Maintenance
- FAQs provided by Puget Sound Starts Here. Questions encompass septic system failure, everyday household use, drain fields and inspection, and pumping questions.
- Septic System Failure: Signs, common reasons and prevention
- National Environmental Services Center Homeowners guide to Septic Systems
- EPA’s Where Does all the dirty water go?
Outreach Materials
- Sample Septic System Survey for the Homeowner
- Washington DOH Septic Social Marketing Tools
- EPA’s Outreach Series
- EPA’s SepticSmart Week
Videos
To help people better understand the functioning of septic systems and how to care and maintain this critical component of their home, the Lake Winnipesaukee Association has sponsored several Septic Sense Seminars around the Winnipesaukee watershed; thank you to the Wolfeboro Community TV for filming one of the seminars.
You can access the video of the Septic Sense program via YouTube at the following links: Septic Sense – Part 1 ; Septic Sense – Part 2 ; Septic Sense – Part 3; and Septic Sense – Part 4.
NHDES also has videos on Septic System Management for Homeowners, Septage Management for Municipalities, and A Guide for the Septage Hauling Professional.
Resources
- Find septic designers and installers in New Hampshire at Granite State Designers and Installers
- Additional NHDES Fact Sheets
- Replacement of a failed subsurface disposal system
- Amended/Revised plans for subsurface sewage disposal systems
- Permitting of installers and designers of subsurface sewage disposal systems
- Clarification of regulation requirements for new construction & expansion of existing buildings
- Buying a home or business? Questions you should ask on sewage disposal
- Test pits and percolation tests for subsurface sewage disposal systems
- Selling developed waterfront property
- National Environmental Services Center Septic page
