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1. New Law to Protect Environment
and Human Health from Septic Systems
By Dan Moser, IANR News and Publishing
Sharon Skipton, UNL Extension Educator
Jan Hygnstrom, UNL Extension Project Manager
And Wayne Woldt, UNL Environmental Engineer
A new state law that requires those working with septic
systems and other residential onsite wastewater treatment
systems such as lagoons to be trained and certified will
help protect the environment and public health. There's
concern that failing septic systems are having a negative
impact on the environment and creating potentially harmful
health conditions. Legislative Bill 94 will ensure those
in the industry have and demonstrate the knowledge base
necessary to minimize dangers.
Adopted by the Nebraska Legislature in March and signed
by the governor, LB 94 requires certification and training
for individuals that work in the private on-site wastewater
treatment industry. It also creates a registration system
for private facilities. Currently, the people installing
septic systems aren't regulated by the state, so anyone
who wants to can start a business, although some counties
have a certification system in place. While the design
and installation of on-site systems is currently regulated
under Title 124, this bill will ensure that everyone in
the industry understands those regulations and is playing
on a level field.
The certification and registration regulations of the
Private On-site Wastewater Treatment System Contractors
Certification and System Registration Act will go into
effect January 1, 2004. Installers, pumpers, inspectors,
site evaluators and layout specialists currently working
in the industry are eligible to obtain a temporary or
provisional certificate that will be good through 2005.
By that time, a system will be in place for showing competency
and receiving a permanent certificate. No one will be
grandfathered in and anyone new to the industry will have
to pass the test. The new regulations also require that
industry professionals attend continuing education programs.
As of January 1, 2004 homeowners will not be allowed to
install their own systems unless they have received a
provisional certificate.
The impact of LB 94 will be felt throughout Nebraska.
While we often think of septic systems being in rural
areas, septic systems are very much an urban issue. Acreage
development in urban areas can result in systems being
highly concentrated, sometimes in environmentally vulnerable
areas. Poorly designed and installed systems may allow
viruses and bacteria to contaminate soil, groundwater
and nearby surface water. People and animals that come
into contact with contamination may experience health
problems.
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will
enforce the law and will work with an advisory board to
establish the certification standards and requirements.
The Nebraska On-site Wastewater Association, an organization
of industry professionals led by president Stan Ortmeier,
championed the bill.
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2. New Web Site Offers Onsite Wastewater
Information
By Sharon Skipton, UNL Extension Educator
And Jan Hygnstrom, UNL Extension Project Manager
More and more people prefer to get information via the
web. And, it's no wonder. Web-learners can access information
easily, at times convenient for them. With this in mind,
the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension has posted
a new onsite wastewater treatment website. The site has
two self-guided lessons, one on septic systems and one
on residential lagoons. In addition, it links to twelve
Extension publications about onsite wastewater treatment.
All University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension information
is unbiased and supported with sound science/research.
To view the site, go to On-Site
Wastewater Treatment website.
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3. U.S. Laundering Practices
Can Strain A Septic System
By Sharon Skipton, UNL Extension Educator
And Jan Hygnstrom, UNL Extension Project Manager
Americans own more clothes and change them more frequently
than other cultures. Often, we consider an item dirty
after one wearing. In fact, in the U.S., one-quarter ton
of dirty clothing is generated by one person each year.
This means more washing , which equals more water use.
Guidelines for septic system maintenance stress the importance
of conserving water and spreading out water usage. Doing
otherwise will strain the system, and could contribute
to system failure.
Add to this fact that our laundry habits are quite different
from our European counterparts. The average U.S. washing
machine uses 16 gallons of water, while the average European
machine uses four gallons. While European machines use
less water, they have a longer wash cycle - 90 minutes,
as opposed to U.S. machines, which average 35-minutes
per cycle. These differences are attributed to American
consumers' preference for top-loading machines. In Europe,
front loaders are the washing machine of choice, while
in the U.S., they currently account for only 10 percent
of new machine sales and two percent of all machines.
What can you do if you use a septic system? Wash no more
than one load of laundry, two if necessary, per day. Use
chlorine bleach in the wash cycle no more than once per
week. Consider a front-loading washing machine when your
current machine needs to be replaced. Although at present
front-loading machines are more expensive, they use less
water and less energy than top-loading machines. In addition,
they remove more water from clothing in the spin cycle,
reducing the amount of dryer time required.
For more information see the NebGuide
G1424 "Residential On-site Wastewater Treatment: Septic
System and Drainfield Maintenance."
Portions of this article were taken from "Cleanliness
Facts", Soap and Detergent Association, September/October,
2002.
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4. Why Maintain Your Septic System?
By Sharon Skipton, UNL Extension Educator
And Jan Hygnstrom, UNL Extension Project Manager
Out of sight and out of mind - does this describe your
relationship with your septic system? If you are like
most homeowners, you probably never give much thought
to what happens to what goes down your drain. But if you
rely on a septic system to treat and dispose of your household
wastewater, what you don't know can hurt you. Proper operation
and maintenance of your septic system can have a significant
impact on how well it works and how long it lasts, and
septic system maintenance is the responsibility of the
homeowner.
Why maintain your system? There are three main reasons
why septic system maintenance is so important. The first
reason is money. Failing septic systems are expensive
to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is a common
cause of early system failures. The minimal amount of
preventative maintenance that septic systems require costs
very little in comparison.
The second and most important reason to maintain your
system is to protect the health of your family, your community,
and the environment. When septic systems fail, inadequately
treated household wastewater is released into the environment.
Any contact with untreated human waste can pose significant
health risks, and untreated wastewater from failing septic
systems can contaminate nearby wells, groundwater, and
drinking water sources. Chemicals improperly released
through a septic system also can pollute local water sources
and can contribute to system failures. For this reason
it is important for homeowners to educate themselves about
what should and should not be disposed of through a septic
system.
Finally, the third reason to maintain your septic system
is to protect your investment. Failed septic systems can
cause property values to decline. Sometimes real estate
sales can be delayed for these properties until systems
are repaired or replaced. Also, failed septic systems
can contribute to the pollution of local rivers and lakes
that your community uses for recreational activities.
For information on how to maintain your septic system,
see the NebGuide
G1424 "Residential On-site Wastewater Treatment: Septic
System and Drainfield Maintenance."
Article from "Pipeline", Vol. 6, No. 4, Fall 1995.
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5. Nebraska Open Burning Law
and Plastic Pesticide Containers
By Tom Dorn, UNL Extension Educator
Questions sometimes arise about open burning and what
materials can be legally burned in Nebraska. To clarify
this matter, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture has
worked with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) and the State Fire Marshal's Office in the preparation
of a news release on this topic.
In DEQ's news release, they state that the most important
rule is that only tree limbs, vegetation and non-treated
wood are permissible to burn in Nebraska. Items such as
shingles, plastics, tires, and wood that has been chemically
treated should never be burned. There is good reason for
this rule - burning such items can create toxic fumes
that contaminate the air. Nebraskans should instead seek
safe alternatives, such as recycling or sending the materials
to an approved landfill. Burying these materials on your
property is also unsafe and against the law.
Since 1980, Nebraska state statutes have placed a ban
on all bonfires, outdoor rubbish fires, and fires for
the purpose of clearing land throughout the state. This
may only be waived by the issuance of a burn permit by
the local fire chief or his/her designee. There are numerous
safety issues to be considered in the issuance of this
permit, including weather conditions and location of the
burn to ensure that the fire does not spread or cause
harm to the public. It is, therefore, essential that a
permit be sought that involves outdoor burning, excluding
cookouts and campfires.
As stated previously, only limbs, vegetation and untreated
wood are permissible to burn. Even if the proper local
and state permits have been obtained, the agency can pursue
penalties if non-permitted materials are being burned
at the site.
Since plastics may not be burned legally and since they
take up valuable space in landfills where they last almost
indefinitely, UNL Cooperative Extension in association
with the pesticide industry provides an opportunity to
recycle plastic agricultural pesticide containers. Containers
brought to this program are inspected, then stored until
they can be processed into a more compact form for shipment
to recycling centers. The plastic is used to make specific
products such as railroad ties, fork lift pallets used
in the agricultural chemical industry, parking lot tire
bumpers, etc., and do not enter the general recycled plastic
channels.
Plastic agricultural pesticide containers ranging in size
from 16 fluid ounce to five gallons jugs and 30 gallon
bulk pesticide drums can be recycled in this program.
They will be inspected before being accepted and placed
in storage. All containers must be triple rinsed or power
rinsed, with no obvious pesticide residue inside or out.
Caps and labels must be removed (except paper labels that
are one layer thick and glued to the container are acceptable).
Containers that don't meet cleanliness requirements will
not be accepted and remain the responsibility of the party
in possession. Several Extension offices and many agricultural
chemical suppliers will accept rinsed pesticide containers.
Check with your local Extension office or chemical supplier
for the recycling location nearest you.
Additional information is available from DEQ's
news release 'Open Burning: What Is And What Is Not Allowed'
or by contacting Brian McManus, Nebraska Department
of Environmental Quality, at (402)471-4223, or Ray Nance,
State Fire Marshall, at (402) 471-3183.
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6. Yard Waste Composting
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Backyard composting is the most economical way to reduce
organic materials going into the landfill while preserving
natural resources. Anything growing in your yard is potential
compost material.
Compost is nature's way of recycling by returning vital
nutrients to the soil. Compost is the end product of decomposed
organic material like food scraps, grass clippings, leaves,
and wood and brush chips. The key to a healthy compost
pile is to keep it simple.
Reduce - Landscape trimmings can be reduced through simple
changes in maintenance procedures. The "Don't Bag It"
program, for instance, promotes leaving grass clippings
on the lawn after mowing. This helps fertilize your lawn
and reduces waste. Major changes, like choosing native
or well-adapted plants, can also reduce waste.
Reuse - Yard trimmings and food scraps can be composted
at home for reuse in landscapes and gardens. Many yard
trimmings can be used as mulch to protect the soil, suppress
weeds and conserve water.
Recycling - Yard trimmings that are difficult to manage
at home can be collected and taken to a municipal landfill
for chipping or grinding and used for mulching materials.
For information on how to build and maintain a compost
pile, grasscycle, and use mulches visit these websites:
NebGuide
G810 Garden Compost
What
Is Grasscycling?
NebGuide
G1257 Mulches For The Home Landscape
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