@help4septic

Free resources for decentralized/onsite wastewater professionals in the US, its territories, and tribes. Headquartered at @UofIllinois, partnered with @RCAPinc.

 Champaign-Urbana
decentralizedwastewater.org/
Joined September 2024
  • Tweets684
  • Following99
  • Followers22
304Media
Happy Mega-Conference week to those at this year’s Onsite Wastewater Mega-Conference in Colorado! While our program is not attending this year, we wish safe travels and a wonderful time to all attendees.
The promotional graphic for the 2026 Onsite Wastewater Mega-Conference, held in Westminster, Colorado from October 25-28.

ALT The promotional graphic for the 2026 Onsite Wastewater Mega-Conference, held in Westminster, Colorado from October 25-28.

1
1
2
We are looking forward to seeing photos, reading about the highlights, and checking out the conference presentations when they become available!
1
1
1
If you were also unable to attend this year, be sure to mark down October 17-20, 2027, for next year’s conference, which will be held in Columbus, Georgia. Find any information you need about this year’s conference or upcoming ones at NOWRA’s website: nowra.org/conference/mega-co…
2
3
Did you know that NOWRA has recently updated their Homeowner’s Onsite System Guide and Record Keeping Folder with new graphics and information? The folder features basic information about onsite systems and tips to keep onsite systems maintained and functioning.
Logo of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.

ALT Logo of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.

1
2
8
Homeowners can also use it to record vital system information and track any maintenance or repairs! If you want to distribute this handy tool to homeowners you work with, the document can be downloaded as a PDF, or printed copies can also be ordered from NOWRA.
1
2
9
Download the PDF at this link: nowra.org/Customer-Content/w… Order copies from NOWRA using this form: nowra.org/Customer-Content/w… #SepticSystems #SepticTanks #SepticMaintenance #SepticGuide #RecordKeeping #OnsiteWastewater
2
8
It’s getting close to that time of year where septic systems in cold winter climates ought to be prepared for the season ahead! According to the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center, the basic precautions to protect a septic system ahead of the winter include ⬇️
A septic system surrounded by snow during the winter.

ALT A septic system surrounded by snow during the winter.

1
2
10
... winterizing pipes, minding the furnace, pumping the septic tank, maintaining vegetative cover over the soil treatment area, and protecting the soil treatment cover from additional weight!
1
2
5
Read more from UMN at their seasonal septic system maintenance webpage: septic.umn.edu/seasonal-care #SepticSystems #SepticTanks #SepticMaintenance #WinterMaintenance #Winterizing #WinterPrep
2
2
October’s From the Trenches newsletter was distributed yesterday! In this edition, we feature the news of the USDA providing funding for rural water, our recent collabs with water specialist Gary Hawkins, the announcement of Private Well Conference 2027 in Asheville, and more.
Banner for "From the Trenches: A Decentralized Wastewater.org Newsletter."

ALT Banner for "From the Trenches: A Decentralized Wastewater.org Newsletter."

1
2
7
See the newsletter at our online archive here: wateroperator.activehosted.c… #DecentralizedWastewater #SepticTanks #SepticSystems #RuralWater #PrivateWellCon #SepticNews #SepticEducation

DecentralizedWastewater.org | October 2026

From the Trenches...

wateroperator.activehosted.com
2
2
For Tap Talk’s 89th episode last week, we were pleased to welcome on Gary Hawkins, a water resource management specialist at the University of Georgia Extension (@UGAExtension)!
The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #89, featuring a photo of guest Gary Hawkins; and a quote from Gary: "I think the big message is, let's do these things and have fun learning about them. But we need to make sure that this big stomach that's in your backyard doesn't get upset and really pollute the environment.".

ALT The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #89, featuring a photo of guest Gary Hawkins; and a quote from Gary: "I think the big message is, let's do these things and have fun learning about them. But we need to make sure that this big stomach that's in your backyard doesn't get upset and really pollute the environment.".

1
2
5
more replies
In this episode, he dives deep with Steve and Jennifer on how he has built creative and engaging methods of delivering needed onsite wastewater education.
1
2
1
Listen at the Tap Talk website, linked here, or find the show on audio platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Audible. Find the episode on our website: drinkingwaterpodcast.org/tt0…
2
6
We hope that all the homeowners you service are still being #SepticSmart, even in October! To help spread the SepticSmart word, be sure to check out Part 2 of our blog post covering the SepticSmart Quick Tips. Follow this link to get to our blog! ⬇️ decentralizedwastewater.org/…
The program logo for the SepticSmart program at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

ALT The program logo for the SepticSmart program at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

2
7
Last week on Tap Talk, our team welcomed back Dr. Amie Shei of @THFCentralMA, and we were also joined by Jenna Day of @RCAP_Solutions! Amie and Jenna shared what’s happened with their efforts to advocate for statewide regulations on private well water quality in Massachusetts.
The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #88, featuring photos of guests Jenna Day and Amie Shei; and a quote from Jenna Day: "They just assume that in small rural communities, the air is clean, the water is clean. But we know from our testing that that is not always true.".

ALT The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #88, featuring photos of guests Jenna Day and Amie Shei; and a quote from Jenna Day: "They just assume that in small rural communities, the air is clean, the water is clean. But we know from our testing that that is not always true.".

1
2
21
We first had Dr. Shei on the show in episode TT041. They explained to Jennifer & Steve how sampling hundreds of wells grew into a statewide coalition, a funded MassDEP study, and a bill that would require private well testing when a property is sold.
1
2
5
Listen at the Tap Talk website, linked here, or find the show on audio platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Audible. Find the episode on our website: drinkingwaterpodcast.org/tt0… #PrivateWells #WellWater #TapTalk #WellAdvocacy #WellTesting
1
8
Were you able to make it to the “Onsite Wastewater Systems: Uses, Basics, and Advanced Systems” webinar that our sister program PrivateWellClass.org hosted on September 24? If not, don’t worry — the video recording is posted on YouTube and is freely available to view!
The front cover slide of the PrivateWellClass.org webinar presentation "Onsite Wastewater Systems: Uses, Basics, and Advanced Systems."

ALT The front cover slide of the PrivateWellClass.org webinar presentation "Onsite Wastewater Systems: Uses, Basics, and Advanced Systems."

1
2
26
This webinar covered onsite wastewater system management, types of onsite systems and their specific uses, how these systems work, and the new lesson in the Private Well Class homeowner course on onsite systems.
1
2
6
Head to the Private Well Class website to find the video recording: privatewellclass.org/webinar… #OnsiteWastewater #DecentralizedWastewater #SepticSystems #WastewaterManagement #GroundwaterProtection
2
3
Load more