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Homeowner Education

How can you help?

Practice Groundwater Awareness Week in your home by using the following tips:

  • Schedule your annual checkup on your water well. A properly constructed and maintained household-supply well will provide you with many years of quality service. Routine inspection of a water well system can help ensure it is operating properly, prolong its useful life, and protect your investment. Most importantly, inspections can protect your health by discovering issues that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.
  • Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet (15.24 meters) between your well and any kennels or livestock operations. Also, always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Your professional water well contractor is familiar with the applicable local codes.
  • Get your water tested anytime there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.

EPA Encourages Homeowners to Care for Their Septic Systems During SepticSmart Week

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency holds its annual SepticSmart Week in September. SepticSmart Week outreach activities encourage homeowners and communities to care for and maintain their septic systems. Nearly one-quarter of all American households depend on septic systems to treat their wastewater.

Failure to maintain a septic system can lead to back-ups and overflows. This can result in costly repairs, polluted local waterways and risks to public health and the environment.

“When homeowners protect their septic systems, it’s good for their health, their neighbors’ health, and their pocketbooks,” said Ken Kopocis, ­­­­­­Deputy Assistant Administrator in EPA’s Office of Water.

During SepticSmart Week, EPA will provide homeowners with tips for septic maintenance, including:
 

  • Protect It and Inspect It: Homeowners should generally have their system inspected every three years by a licensed contractor, and have their tank pumped when necessary, typically every three to five years. Many septic system failures occur during the winter holiday season. Therefore, EPA encourages homeowners to get their septic systems inspected and serviced now before licensed inspectors’ schedules fill up around the holidays.

  • Think at the Sink: Avoid pouring fats, grease and solids down the drain. These substances can clog a system’s pipes and drainfield.
     
  • Don’t Overload the Commode: Only put things in the drain or toilet that belong there. For example, coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts and cat litter can all clog and potentially damage septic systems. 
     
  • Don’t Strain Your Drain: Be water efficient and spread out water use. Fix plumbing leaks and install faucet aerators and water-efficient products. Spread out laundry and dishwasher loads throughout the day — too much water at once can overload a system that hasn’t been pumped recently.
     
  • Shield Your Field: Remind guests not to park or drive on a system’s drainfield, where the vehicle’s weight could damage buried pipes or disrupt underground flow.

EPA’s SepticSmart program educates homeowners about proper septic system care and maintenance all year long. In addition, it serves as an online resource for industry practitioners, local governments and community organizations, providing access to tools to educate clients and residents.  

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/septicsmart.

Click the button below to leave the FOWA website and link to US EPA Local Outreach Toolkit materials to promote homeowner education and awareness. There are downloadable/printable door hangers, postcards, and brochures available with septic tips for your customers.

Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 665
Winter Haven, FL 33882

© Copyright 2023, Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, Inc.


 

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