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Situation: In the continental United States, approximately 25% of households rely on onsite wastewatertreatment systems, commonly referred to as “septic systems.” In Island regions and less developed areas, a much larger portion of the population may rely on septic systems for domestic wastewater treatment. To protect surface waters and groundwater, best available practices and standards for septic system design, installation and management need to be implemented to ensure that wastewater can be safely treated.
NESCI Response: The New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center (NEOWTC) is the hub for wastewater treatment innovation for the USDA/NIFA Northeast States and Caribbean Islands (NESCI) Regional Water Center. NEOWT promotes research, development, and education in decentralized wastewater technology and management.
NEOWTC educates a wide variety of wastewater practitioners, policy makers, and the public on septic system issues. Primary goals include (1) safeguarding public health, (2) protecting water quality and (3) encouraging sustainable development in the NESCI region. NEOWTC works closely with the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT) to develop and deliver state-of-the-art educational curricula including workshops, hands-on practical training sessions and award-winning technical manuals. As a means to facilitate hands-on experiential training, NEOWTC wrote or co-authored numerous training manuals, fact sheets and web-based modules. Two Consortium flagship publications co-authored by NEOWTC staff – Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Operation and Maintenance Service Provider Program and Analyzing Wastewater Treatment Systems − were awarded the prestigious “Blue Ribbon Award” for outstanding educational materials by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. These documents are used throughout the United States as national standardized training texts.
By prioritizing needs assessment and technology transfer, NEOWTC developed “best available practice” wastewater treatment designs appropriate for a range of geological and environmental conditions found throughout the NESCI region. Since 2004, NEOWTC developed and delivered 245 workshops and training sessions to more than 8,600 individuals throughout the NESCI region. Nearly 550 onsite wastewater system inspectors and service providers were trained, tested and registered by NEOWTC during this period. In March 2010, a 5-year comprehensive training program administered in partnership with the NEOWTC and the University of the Virgin Islands was launched with the goal of preparing Virgin Island wastewater practitioners for licensure. Successful implementation of this training plan will raise the knowledge level of local wastewater practitioners and help build the capacity of local governments to comprehensively manage septic systems to preserve and protect water quality and biodiversity in these increasingly-fragile island ecosystems.
In 2010, NEOWTC received funding for a Multi-State Hatch Project, “Design, Assessment and Management of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change”. Researchers from 13 Land Grant institutions within and outside of the NESCI region will work together to produce new septic system best management practices, with an eye toward addressing challenges associated with climate change.
On the Ground Results: The NEOWTC brings alternative wastewater treatment systems to the attentionofcommunities, professionals and regulators throughout the region. Thousands of professionals have been trained and certified by the NEOWTC – consequently applying their knowledge and skills at the local level. With assistance from the NEOWTC, local wastewater management plans were developed and local ordinances changed. For instance, after the NEOWTC training and partnering, Puerto Rico conducted hearings in Fall 2010 for the first time regulations for individual household waste disposal systems. NEOWTC efforts are reflected both regionally and nationally by the improvement and protection of water quality from wastewater contamination.
