(AGENPARL) – lun 16 settembre 2024 Issued: Sep 16, 2024 (10:00am EDT)
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EPA’s 12th Annual SepticSmart Week: Do Your Part, Be SepticSmart!
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is joining states,
Tribes and local partners in celebrating SepticSmart Week from Sept. 16-20 and
to provide homeowners and renters with information about protecting public
health and properly maintaining septic systems. This weeklong, nationwide
public education campaign is helpful for the one-fifth of U.S. households that
use onsite septic systems or small community cluster septic systems to treat
their wastewater.
“In small towns and rural communities across the country, septic systems are
essential to safely managing wastewater. Being ‘SepticSmart’ helps keep
these systems maintained to safeguard our families and neighbors from the
health risks associated with exposure to untreated wastewater,” said EPA
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “SepticSmart Week
reminds us that proactively maintaining these systems saves money and plays a
vital role in protecting the health of our communities and the
environment.” 
EPA and its partners are making educational resources available to homeowners,
local organizations, and government leaders to explain how septic systems work
and how to properly maintain them. Maintaining septic systems is critical to
protecting public health and ecosystems in small and rural towns across the
country. By being SepticSmart, homeowners can also avoid thousands of dollars
in unnecessary repairs, while protecting local water quality. 
To promote SepticSmart Week 2024, EPA encourages organizations and individuals
to create public awareness about the event and share helpful tips, such as:
Think at the Sink! What goes down the drain has a big impact on your septic
system. Fats, grease, and solids can clog a system’s pipes and drain field.
Don’t Overload the Commode! A toilet is not a trash can. Disposable diapers
and wipes, feminine hygiene products, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, and cat
litter can damage a septic system. 
Don’t Strain Your Drain! Use water efficiently and stagger use of
water-based appliances. Too much water use at once can overload a system that
hasn’t been pumped recently.
Shield Your Field! Tree and shrub roots, cars, and livestock can damage your
septic drain field.
Keep It Clean! Contamination can occur when a septic system leaks from
improper maintenance. Be sure your drinking water is safe to drink by testing
it regularly.
Protect It and Inspect It! Regular septic system maintenance can save
homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs, and it protects public health. 
Pump Your Tank! Ensure your septic tank is pumped at regular intervals as
recommended by a professional and/or local permitting authority. 
SepticSmart week also provides a valuable platform to highlight career
opportunities in the water workforce. Decentralized systems need maintenance,
and a skilled workforce is crucial to keeping residents safe and healthy.
According to recent estimates, nearly one-third of the water sector workforce
is eligible to retire in the?next 10 years. EPA will spotlight the variety
of positions and people that keep water infrastructure functioning properly,
in addition to providing an infographic that highlights the benefits of
working in this sector. Learn more about?SepticSmart Week.?
Background
More than one-fifth of U.S. households use an individual onsite (septic)
system or small community cluster septic system to treat their wastewater.
These systems treat and dispose of relatively small volumes of wastewater and
include a wide range of individual and cluster treatment options to process
household and commercial sewage. These systems go by such names as septic,
decentralized wastewater treatment, cluster, package plants, on-lot,
individual sewage disposal, and private sewage. Onsite systems provide a
cost-effective, long-term option for treating wastewater, particularly in
sparsely populated areas. When properly installed, operated, and maintained,
these systems help protect public health, preserve valuable water resources,
and maintain a community’s economic vitality.
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