"One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.”
With my background studies in natural resources, quotes like the one above from Aldo Leopold frequented my college lectures. When you break it down, the wisdom Leopold is sharing can be applied to many circumstances.
That quote can easily be rewritten to fit the onsite wastewater industry. “One of the penalties of an environmental and onsite wastewater education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on the land by mismanaged, poorly designed, outdated and failing, or improperly maintained septic systems is quite invisible to laymen. An installer must either harden their shell and make believe that the consequences of septic system mismanagement are none of their business, or they must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.”
The U.S. EPA website says this: “If a system is properly installed, sited and maintained it can protect public health, preserve valuable water resources, and maintain economic vitality in a community.”
Position of power
As the face of an often misunderstood industry, you are in a position to truly impact the environment where you work through both proper septic system design and installation, and just as importantly, through education.
We’ve covered public outreach a few times, such as highlighting materials and courses available from NOWRA that provide easy handouts for clients explaining septic system function, terminology, basics of biology, tips for home management and troubleshooting and everything in between. These are tremendous resources and should be relied upon.
Along with providing an understanding of how onsite systems work, a good approach is to inform clients that onsite septic systems play a crucial role in protecting resources we rely on and enjoy, and what would happen if they stopped working.
Implications and impacts
Contamination of surface and groundwater is one of the biggest environmental threats from a septic system that is not working properly. Untreated wastewater contains excessive nitrogen and phosphorus that can harm native plants and vegetation. Nearby water bodies will also suffer from the surplus of these nutrients. Resulting algal blooms choke out oxygen in the water needed by aquatic vegetation and animals.
Aside from nutrient loading, microbial populations can exceed the EPA’s body contact standards for surface waters, halting the recreational use of beaches or other public waterways.
Spreading the word
Direct communication through customer interactions during installations and maintenance visits can easily be pushed to the back burner, especially during busy stretches, but it can be the best time for installers to explain the system’s function and the importance of regular pumping and upkeep. In my opinion, this can be one of the best ways to get your point across. Using a customer’s specific site and system and explaining the negative effects that could affect them directly will help them relate and grasp the importance.
For the people you can’t reach in person, an informative website and educational content on social media cannot be looked over in today’s world of online accessibility. Create pages dedicated to septic system education. Share informative articles, videos and infographics that explain the science behind septic systems, the environmental consequences of neglect, and the benefits of proper maintenance.
Community events also provide great avenues to advertise the importance of what you provide. Participate in local fairs, farmers markets or environmental expos. Set up booths with interactive displays, answer questions and distribute information about septic systems and maintenance schedules.
“Ask the Septic Expert” sessions that utilize social media platforms to host live question-and-answer sessions with septic professionals are another great way of allowing the community to address their concerns directly.
Additional tips
Be friendly and read the level of understanding and experience the client has while interacting. Avoid overly technical jargon. Present information in a clear, concise and engaging way for a general audience.
Like always, educate households on what to avoid putting down drains to prevent clogs and system backups as this goes hand-in-hand with environmental consequences of a failing system. Provide information on how to identify signs of potential problems and who to contact in case of emergencies.
Proper septic design and function protects water resources and promotes a healthy environment for everyone. “The oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it.” Another quote from Leopold and a task that the work you do everyday helps to achieve.
Thanks for reading this month’s issue!
