Water Quality and Wellbeing, IRWP’s Septic Tank Remediation Program Helps Springdale Family
IRWP’s Septic Tank Remediation Program provides funding to homeowners living in the Illinois River Watershed on the Arkansas side that want help repairing or replacing a failing septic tank. The program, piloted in 2021, is funded through a State Revolving Fund (SRF) grant awarded through the Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Division. The STRP is off to a good start having assisted with the remediation of about 20 septic systems through its first year!
One project that demonstrates the value of this program with respect to both improving water quality and to the benefit of public health and overall quality of life was completed in November of 2021 in Springdale. A young couple purchased a home in the Clear Creek subwatershed last year that was exactly what they were looking for to raise their family – a quiet neighborhood with easy access to work and school. There was even a mulched play area in the backyard with a swing set for their young son to play on.
After moving in, they realized something wasn’t right. There was often a foul odor around the play area and eventually they began to see water seeping up from below the mulch. This play area had been placed directly over the lateral lines for the home’s septic system which was illustrating classic signs of failure in the drain field. When lines are damaged or the system has been subjected to an abundance of solids passing through the tank, the soil itself in the field becomes clogged and oversaturated and is no longer capable of filtering and treating household wastewater, forcing it to the surface.
Due to the ground cover surrounding the playground equipment, the issue was overlooked until far after the sale of the home. The entire system needed to be replaced, and septic installation is expensive. The new homeowners began receiving regulatory notices stemming from complaints in the neighborhood.
While working with a “DR” (a septic designer and soil analyst) to determine the extent of the failure and necessary repair, the DR passed along information about our program to the family. In this case, the STRP was able to keep this family from suffering a generous financial loss.
Working with their county Environmental Health Specialist and the IRWP Septic Tank Remediation Program Manager, the homeowners applied and were granted assistance through the program. The system was replaced with a new pump tank to move wastewater away from the home and to a new (and adequately-sized) drain field location. Since the replacement, the family has had no further issues, stating that their own wellbeing and that of their neighbors was vastly improved thanks to the program.
Please contact IRWP at (479) 203-7084 or email septic@irwp.org to reach STRP Program Manager, Matt Taylor. Vist www.irwp.org/septic for more information.
