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septicsmart
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CASE
Washington State University Extension
Small Acreage Program
Funded by Clark County's Clean Water Program in
partnership with the Washington State University (WSU)
Extension—Clark County, the county's Small Acreage
Program educates residents on proper land and animal
management in order to reduce pollution entering
stormwater and surface water from residential and
agricultural properties.
Towards this effort, the Small Acreage Program conducts
four annual septic system workshops. The workshops—held
in partnership with the Clark County Public Health
Department, which oversees the county's septic systems—
educate homeowners on general septic system maintenance
and protection, as well as common systems in the county.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
Wth an emphasis on practical education, the workshops
allow participants to witness an actual septic system
inspection, and they teach residents the necessary
information to pass a certification requirement to inspect
their own gravity-fed systems. (In Clark County, gravity-fed
systems can be inspected by certified homeowners.)
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of the Small Acreage Program's
education program is to teach residents best
practices regarding rural land management, including
management of stormwater, animal waste,
wastewater that they can easily implement to save
money while increasing sustainability and protecting
groundwater and local waterways.
In addition to septic system maintenance issues, the
workshops also educate participants on the maintenance
and protection of potable water wells.
Aaron Henderson of Clark County Public Health showed
workshop participants some of the simple tools he made to do
a home inspection of a gravity-fed system.
Workshop participants learn how to protect their drinking water
with proper well and septic system maintenance.
PROMOTION
In order to cut advertising costs, the program "piggybacks"
on public health department mailings to alert septic system
owners about both their systems and upcoming workshops.
Paid advertising is limited to budget-friendly local papers
covering rural areas.
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Washington State University Small Acreage Program
Media contacts are utilized to procure local press coverage
about upcoming workshops. Printed flyers, internal and
external listservs, and website updates are also used to
publicize the outreach events.
The program also maintains a Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/smallacreageprogram) where
information on workshops and event photos are posted.
Additional informational videos and publications can be
found at the program's website:
clark.wsu.edu/horticulture/smallAcreageProgram.html
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
A successful partnership with the Clark County Health
Department has made the Small Acreage Program's septic
system education efforts low on challenges and high on
reward. Advertising is often difficult on the program's tight
budget, but, as described above, press coverage and grass
roots promotion have lessened its impact.
The Small Acreage Program management recommends that
interested organizations partner with relevant agencies when
launching a septic system education program, which will
help with costs, time commitments, and "provide good
perspective." Businesses, non-profits, and government
agencies are especially helpful with regard to providing
speakers on septic-related topics.
RESULTS
Each septic system workshop has between 25 and 55 participants, with post-workshop evaluations indicating the seminars
are an effective means of conveying useful septic system information. Of the 277 participants taking stand-alone septic
workshops from 2007 to 2011,80% increased their knowledge about protecting their septic system, 76% about keeping their
drinking water clean, and 82% about maintaining septic systems and potable water wells.
Participants taking a septic workshop as part of a larger Living on the Land series are later surveyed again to determine if
they have implemented any of the septic system best management practices detailed during the workshop. With a 77%
participant response rate, surveys completed by attendees during from 2004 to 2010 concluded that:
• 52% of respondents with septic systems inspected their system.
• 57% of households tested their wells.
• Participants shared what they learned with over 2,493 other people
• Over 82% thought the class was a good use of their Clean Water fee
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SMALL ACREAGE PROGRAM:
Please contact Doug Stienbarger, Extension Director, at:
(360) 397-6060 ext. 5742 or stiendm@wsu.edu.
http://clark.wsu.edu/horticulture/smallAcreageProgram.html
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
CLARK COUNTY EXTENSION
www.epa.gov/septicsmart
EPA-832-F-12-037 I November 2012
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