| Home |
| Introduction |
| Success Stories |
| Who Can Help |
| Technical Info |
| Laws and Regulatory Agencies |
| Management Models |
| Homeowners |
| Funding Sources |
| Hiring Consultants |
| Training and Events |
 |
The Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) is an association of federal and state agencies, local governments and groups, service organizations, and educational institutions designed to help small communities in Ohio meet their environmental infrastructure needs.The SCEIG was formed in 1990, by state, federal, local, educational, and service agencies that provide regulatory, technical, financial, and educational assistance for environmental infrastructure projects. These agencies saw a need to coordinate efforts to assist small governments with the difficult task of developing, improving, and maintaining their water and wastewater systems. This group of experts has quarterly meetings to discuss the needs of small communities and what responses or remedies are appropriate and feasible. The goal of the group is to assist small communities in identifying the most appropriate resources to help the communities resolve problems associated with environmental infrastructure. Among it's committees, the Decentralized Wastewater Working Group (DWWG) is committed to helping communities evaluate, plan and fund decentralized wastewater systems where traditional centralized systems are not technically or economically feasible. Click here for a flyer about their activities. Contact Roberta Acosta at 419-841-8904 for assistance.
The Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program
Ohio RCAP provides free and low-cost services to help rural communities address their drinking water and wastewater treatment needs. In 2004, Ohio RCAP provided service to over 130 communities and leveraged over $43 millon to fund drinking water and wastewater projects throughout the state. Ohio RCAP specializes in helping communities identify and apply for funding sources, including low-interest loans and grants. They also assist with project planning, qualifications-based selection of engineers and other professionals, financial management of utilities and rate setting, development of policies and procedures, and other tasks to help their client communities successfully complete projects and manage their systems. Click here to download a very informational Powerpoint presentation about the assistance RCAP can provide to onsite and decentralized wastewater projects in Ohio. For more information, visit the Ohio RCAP website, or contact John Rauch at 740-989-0596.
Together, these programs offer a wealth of information and provide training on a number of topics related to decentralized wastewater systems and alternative wastewater treatment technology. They offer several free and low-cost publications, many of which can be downloaded from their website. The NETCSC holds a one-week summer institute for small communities each July that includes seminars addressing decentralized wastewater project planning, alternative wastewater technology and other relevant topics. The NODP is able to provide free technical assistance on a limited basis to communities that pursue such projects. For more information, visit their website or call 800-624-8301.
The Soil Environment Technology Learning Lab (SETLL) at Ohio State University, under the direction of Dr. Karen Mancl and Dr. Brian Slater, conducts research on alternative wastewater treatment technology, and presents a number of classes and events for designers and installers of onsite systems each year. SETLL also offers a 5-part workshop, Wastewater Treatment Alternatives for Rural and Small Communities, intended for communities with fewer than 500 homes. Contact your local County OSU extension office to schedule this program.
OOWA conducts its own Installer Qualification Program in Ohio to ensure participants have recevied basic and continuing education about onsite treatment systems and the latest technology. OOWA maintains a list of Installers that participate in this program on their website. They sponsor several education events each year throughout the state. Several homeowner factsheets offering guidance in selecting building sites, onsite systems and installers, as well as explaining how to maintain septic systems, are also available on their website. Professional Consultants:
Go to our Hiring Professional Consultants page for more information about hiring professional consultants, including engineers and designers, soils scientists and surveyors, installers and equipment manufacturers.
Other Resources: US EPA Decentralized Wastewater Information webpage http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/home.cfm
Ohio Department of Health http://www.odh.ohio.gov/ Ohio Environmental Health Association http://oeha.tripod.com/ State Board of Sanitarian Registration http://sanitarian.ohio.gov/ The Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment - also known as the "Onsite Consortium" http://www.onsiteconsortium.org/ The National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project http://www.ndwrcdp.org/ National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association http://www.nowra.org/ National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Certification Program for Wastewater Treatment Units http://www.nsf.org/business/wastewater_treatment/index.asp?program=WastewaterTreatmentUnits American Decentralized Wastewater Association http://www.adwwa.org/
Organizations in nearby states: Northwest Michigan Onsite Wastewater Task Force http://www.michigan-onsitewastewater.org/ The University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program, offers several excellent publications, http://www.extension.umn.edu/OnsiteSewage/
|
The