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    septicsmart
       U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                                                                                     CASE
     University of Minnesota Onsite  Sewage
     Treatment Program
     Launched in the 1970s, the Onsite Sewage Treatment
     Program is administered by the University of Minnesota's
     Water Resources Center within the College of Food,
     Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences.
     The program targets both septic system professionals and
     homeowners. Beyond its popular workshops, the program's
     biggest outreach tool is the Septic System Owners Guide, a
     32-page comprehensive guide to septic systems that covers
     everything from what septic systems are to how to properly
     maintain them. Available nationwide, the guide has already
     sold more than 100,000 copies.

     PROGRAM ELEMENTS
     Through a variety of modestly priced training and education
     sessions, the program provides certification and continuing
     education training for some 2,000 septic system
     professionals a year.
     Free, two-hour educational workshops are provided for
     homeowners. Topics covered include the basics of septic
     systems (including what they are and are not) how they
     work, proper maintenance, and what should and should not
     go down drains and toilets.
     The workshops include a field trip with a septic professional
     to evaluate and pump a septic tank, which spurs increased
     engagement and enables homeowners to discuss best
     practices in the field.
     Attendees each receive a free
     copy of the Septic System
     Owners Guide, provided
     through Minnesota Clean
     Water Legacy grants. Online
     resources, such as fact sheets,
     are available for homeowners
     as well, regardless of
     attendance.
   GOALS & OBJECTIVES
   The Onsite Sewage Treatment Program seeks to
   protect public health and the environment by
   improving wastewater treatment through
   research-based education and outreach for
   homeowners, small communities, professionals
   and policy-makers.
   Homeowner workshops are designed to inform
   participants about the need to properly maintain
   their septic systems, from regular pumping to
   what's acceptable—and unacceptable—to put
   down drains and toilets. Proper maintenance
   ultimately leads to cleaner waterways and
   groundwater.
County homeowners that attended the workshops are given
a permit discount when applying for new septic system
installation.

PROMOTION
Advertising tactics for the Onsite Sewage Treatment
Program include online advertising, radio ads, and print
materials, including fliers and county-customized brochures.
In addition to paid advertising, program managers regularly
update the program's website and procure press coverage,
such as radio interviews and local newspaper articles with
relevant outreach advertising running alongside news
articles.
                                                                                www.epa.gov/septicsmart  | page 1

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  University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program
          Workshop participants evaluate a septic system for sludge.
  OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
  Program funding continues to be challenge and, because of
  this, workshop frequency as well as staff count have
  decreased over the years.
  Onsite Sewage Treatment Program management
  recommends that organizations seeking to launch similar
  programs first get to know their audiences, then plan the
  curriculum according to their needs and questions.
  Providing permit discounts helped overcome the challenge
  of homeowners who did not want to attend workshops.
  Program managers also recommend teaming with industry
  partners—including regulators at the state and local level,
  septic professionals in the field, property owners, and state
  and out-of-state colleges and universities—which both
  bolsters and expands education efforts.
PARTNERSHIPS
Since septic system requirements differ statewide,
partnerships have become an important element of the
outreach initiative. As such, partnerships have been
established with local counties, including Rice, Chisago, and
Douglas counties. These local partners help identify area-
specific issues that should be covered in workshops.
In addition, partnering with the Minnesota Pollution  Control
Agency aided in education efforts because, "having those
who write the rules and enforcement on a state-wide level
reaffirms to participants that the training is accurate."
      RESULTS
      Area water quality has improved since launching the education program, and workshops have proven that "people who own
      septic systems are hungry for information on how to best take care of them," with participants reporting a plethora of
      misinformation about septic systems circulating amongst homeowners from various sources.
      Visit http://septic.umn.edu/index.htm for additional information on the program's workshops and resources.
                    FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
                                           ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT PROGRAM:

                       Please contact Sarah Heger, at: (612) 625-7243 or sheger@umn.edu.
                            ONSITE  SEWAGE
                        TREATMENT PROGRAM

                        UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
                           Driven to Discover
www.epa.gov/septicsmart
                                                                                   EPA-832-F-12-036 I November 2012
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