Ronna Haxby, Projects Manager, Ozarks Water Watch 

As many Ozarks residents know, failing septic systems are one of the major contributors of e-coli bacteria contamination and excessive nutrient loading into our Ozarks waters.  Many older metal tanks have rusted out, and many systems weren't installed correctly or located properly to begin with. Frequently homeowners are unaware of the maintenance that is required to keep their systems working properly. Many systems haven't been pumped out for many years, if at all, resulting in clogged lateral lines and system failure.  Because the topography of the land in the Ozarks includes thin soil and karst (fractured and fissured limestone and dolomite bedrock, often with sinkholes, springs, channels and caves), if a septic system is not working properly, the effluent can run directly into streams, rivers and lakes, often miles away from the source, and can be a primary cause of the contamination of drinking water well systems.

Collapsed Metal Septic Tank - Homeowner cut sewer line to let raw sewage flow across the surface to avoid backing up in home.

Ozarks Water Watch was recently awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The purpose of this project is to improve and protect the water quality in the upper White River basin watershed in Missouri (see map below) by assisting homeowners with the cost of replacing their failing onsite septic system through a combination of grants and loans. This project was made possible through a partnership with Table Rock Lake Water Quality and the Missouri Department of Conservation who provided additional funds for project administration.

Grant Area in Green - For Larger Map, Click HERE.

The money is to be given out as half grant and half interest-free loan. The amount given is for 50% of the construction cost of replacing the failing system, not to exceed $10,000. The loan portion (up to $5,000) would be paid back to Ozarks Water Watch in monthly installments at no interest. Special consideration for 90%, but not to exceed $10,000 total reimbursement, will be made for low-income applicants at or below 150% of the 2011 Poverty Guidelines as published in the 2011 Federal Register.  This is also half grant and half interest-free loan. The money we receive back as loan payments can then be used again as a revolving fund to help other Ozarks homeowners replace their failing septic systems.

Applicants must fully complete the application and meet all regulatory requirements.  The onsite system needs to be inspected and considered failing by a licensed inspector or the county regulator. There must be 3 bids obtained from qualified licensed installers. Once the applicant chooses which installer will do the work, they must have the replacement system approved by the county regulator who will also complete an onsite observation form and issue a permit.  This must all be approved by MDNR before installation can begin.

We have made our information/application package available for download on our website. If you are interested in learning more about this project, you are invited to contact Ronna Haxby with Ozarks Water Watch at 417-739-5001 or ronna@ozarkswaterwatch.org. Please read the information in the application package fully before applying.

A Drip Irrigation Field is Installed in Imported Soil as Part of a New Advanced Onsite Wastewater Treatment System.

Our goal is to replace more than 150 failing septic systems over the next 4 years that are currently leaking effluent into our groundwater.  This will have a significant and positive impact on the quality of the water that these systems flow into, and can go a long way in protecting our water quality in the Ozarks.

Quote of the Week

"By 2025, at least 3.5 billion people - about half the world's populations - will live in areas without enough water for agriculture, industry, and human needs...  Worldwide, water quality conditions appear to have degraded in almost all regions with intensive agriculture and in large urban and industrial areas."

-   World Resources Institute, October 2000

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Current News Articles

By PAUL P. QUINN ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Posted: September 10, 2011 at 1:56 a.m.

When a company violates Arkansas water laws, the state Department of Environmental Quality does one of two things - it writes a letter telling the offender to fix the problem, or fines the company and orders it to correct the problem. The Arkansas Public Policy Panel, a private advocacy group, said that approach has led to rampant violations by natural gas companies operating in the Fayetteville Shale in north central Arkansas. The panel issued a report this week saying that 538 inspections by the Environmental Quality Department between July 2006 and August 2010 found gas companies out of compliance 54 percent of the time. The Environmental Quality Department cites cases in which it has taken firm action against companies. But public access to department records is a labyrinth.

The Public Policy Panel said the department has poor online records - a claim the department doesn't dispute. Bill Kopsky, executive vice president of the organization, said inspection reports that include violations sometimes have the companies' response,but other times they don't. A check of the online records showed not all inspection reports include the companies' response. "There are two explanations," Kopsky said. "Either [the companies] didn't do a follow-up, or [the depart-ment's] records are so disorganized that is impossible to tell if they did any followup." Ryan Benefield, deputy director for the department, said Friday that the online records are not the department's formal record-keeping base.

"We do try to make records available to the public on our website," Benefield said. "But right now we don't have them all together. We would like to have our website tie to our official record-keeping, but ... if we don't have a follow-up [posted on the website], it wouldn't be true that we don't have the record." Some things, or part of them, are online. For instance, the website shows that Southwestern Energy Co. of Houston, the largest operator in the Fayetteville Shale, was fined $57,500 in 2009 for violations at 16 well sites, where wastewater spills of more than 200 barrels into state waters occurred. (more)

To read more, Click HERE.

Environmental, Energy, and Water Blog  

Author: Walter G. Wright

The Association of State Water Pollution Control Administrators, ECOS, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, National Association of State Foresters, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Groundwater Protection Council, and others filed joint comments on July 26, 2011 on proposed "guidance" on the issue Clean Water Act jurisdiction.  Specifically, the groups are providing comments on the United States Army Corps of Engineers and federal Environmental Protection Agency joint "draft guidance" regarding identification of waters protected by the Clean Water Act. The guidance was public noticed at 76 Fed. Reg. 24, 479 (May 2, 2011) ("Guidance"). 

The state groups haves apparently jointly reviewed the guidance.  They note that the groups collectively support water resources protection and management interests of the states.

By way of summary, the collective comments of the groups also state:

(1) They acknowledge the critical need for clarification of the scope of jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. 

(2) Technical, science-based methods that account for regional differences are crucial for the correct and reasonable identification of streams and isolated waters for regulatory purposes.

(3) The proposed guidance and subsequent rules should more directly address the concerns of the Supreme Court regarding the limits of federal jurisdiction.

(4) The EPA's economic analysis should more adequately reflect costs to states.

(5) It is essential that federal jurisdictional guidance be consistent with a "common sense" and flexible understanding of the existence of public waters and their values.

A copy of the July 26 letter can be downloaded below.

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Statewide Permanent Drug Drop Box Program  

MYAA's Statewide Permanent Drop Box Program is for community coalitions that collaborate with local law enforcement officials and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to provide a permanent enhancement in collaboration with take back efforts to prevent prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) drug abuse in Missouri. While the Rx and OTC medication take back events provide opportunities to raise awareness and promote safe disposal of medications, the permanent drop box will provide a continuous opportunity to dispose of unwanted, expired, and unused medications. The Statewide Permanent Drop Boxes can be found in the following locations: (Link to locations)

To read more, Click: HERE.

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EPA Administrator Jackson Travels to Lititz, Pa., Visits with Farmers and Local Leaders/Administrator Jackson highlights conservation efforts

Release date: 08/03/2011

Contact Information: press@epa.gov 

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, traveled to Lititz, Pa., Wednesday where she toured a local dairy farm and held a roundtable discussion with local farmers and leaders. She was joined by Pennsylvania State Senator Mike Brubaker and EPA Regional Administrator, Shawn Garvin.  

Administrator Jackson's visit to Lititz is part of President Obama's Administration-wide commitment to an economically strong and healthy rural America. EPA is working closely with rural communities to protect air and water quality and the health of their residents. Administrator Jackson has recently travelled to rural areas in central California and Iowa to highlight sustainable farming practices and innovative farming techniques.

"In recent years Warwick Township and Lancaster County as a whole have served as models for conserving natural resources and building sustainable rural communities. We're here to talk with the area farmers, business owners and local leaders about how we work together to strengthen their environment, their health and their economy," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The livelihoods of the people here depend on clean air, safe sources of water and healthy lands. Hearing directly from farmers and the people who work with them about commonsense solutions is essential to ensuring the viability of farming operations and protecting soil and water quality." (more)

To Read More, Click: HERE.