The EPA Decentralized Wastewater Program, in collaboration with the EPA Decentralized MOU Partnership, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of SepticSmart Week on Sept. 19-23, 2022. SepticSmart Week, an annual homeowner awareness and education campaign, encourages proper septic system care and maintenance.
This year, the EPA and the Partnership are excited to launch its first photo challenge that will highlight the importance of septic systems in protecting family health and safeguarding local waterways. The EPA and the Partnership are encouraging the decentralized community, including septic homeowners, wastewater professionals and engineers, and state and local officials, to submit septic-themed photos meaningful to you.
Photos should be informative, educational and creative depictions of septic systems — how they support households and communities, treat wastewater, benefit the environment and local waterbodies, and how they can be protected and maintained.
Photos can be submitted to the Decentralized Wastewater Program (decentralized@epa.gov) from Aug. 1 to Sept. 16, 2022. The top three images will be featured on the EPA's septic website and shared on its Office of Water Twitter and Facebook pages.
Schedule:
- The photo submission period will be open from August 1 to September 16, 2022.
- The three winning photos will be announced on Sept. 23, the final day of SepticSmart Week.
Guidelines and options for photo submissions:
- Be creative! Eligible submissions should include a photo, drawing, illustration, graphic design or comic strip. Videos are not eligible. Photos should be informative, educational, and creative depictions of septic systems — how they support households and communities, treat wastewater, benefit the environment and local waterbodies, and how they can be protected and maintained.
- Relate to the Quick Tips. Reflect and promote one of the seven SepticSmart Quick Tip themes: Think at the Sink, Don’t Strain Your Drain, Keep it Clean, Shield Your Field, Protect It and Inspect It, Don’t Overload the Commode, and Pump Your Tank.
- Need more inspiration? Images could show: Your local river or lake that is protected from household sewage overflows; clear field sitting above your drainfield; clean water from a household well; a drawing of a septic system; an illustration of Septic Sam, the EPA Decentralized mascot; or a comic depicting the steps to protect your septic system.
- All submissions must be original and not copyrighted by any other individual or entity.
Send submissions via email to the Decentralized Wastewater Program along with the following information.
- Name
- Optional: Company/Group
- Title of photo
- Location of photo
- Brief caption for photo
- A signed photo release form
If you have questions about the contest, contact the EPA Decentralized Wastewater Program team via email to decentralized@epa.gov.
