7/4/2009 7:47:00 PM
Septic system instruction for homeowners
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The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT - Homeowners who depend on septic systems to deal with their wastewater can gain insight into their systems at a free meeting next week.
The Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, in cooperation with the Environmental Unit of Yavapai County's Development Services, will conduct a presentation from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. July 14 to educate homeowners about the workings of their septic systems.
The presentation will take place in the Mackin Building, 840 Rodeo Dr. (rodeo grounds).
Attendees will learn how to care for and maintain their septic system properly, which should help to extend its operational life, save money, and protect their family's health.
Lowell Fagen, a board member of the Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, said the organization hopes to use the Prescott presentation as a model for similar meetings around the state.
As a long-time realtor in the area, Fagen said he has dealt with hundreds of homes that use septic systems - an experience that has given him perspective on the lack of care that some homeowners devote to their septic systems.
Although Fagen said that "a lot of lip service has been given to homeowner education," he maintains that "it is part of the big picture that has been pretty much neglected."
When the City of Prescott recently formed a committee to discuss the community's unsewered areas, Fagen noted that public education was one of the goals. That led the Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association members to decide that now was the time to move ahead with an educational presentation.
Presenters at the July 14 event will include Yavapai County Development Services staff members Geoff Meek, manager, and Suzanne Ehrlich, senior environmental health specialist. In addition, Brian Bishop, a septic system/wastewater treatment professional, will participate in the presentation.
Each attendee will receive an updated septic system Homeowner's Manual, which will reinforce the educational program, plus other valuable information for future reference.
Supporting sponsors of the event include the City of Prescott, the Prescott Creeks Preservation Association, and the Prescott Area Association of Realtors.
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Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Paul, thank you for putting that into political context. In layman's terms the problem is the homeowners do not care and are not willing to solve their septic problems and learn how to use them properly, they just want to prolong the problems...These people do not care. As long as these homeowners are willing to continue to hire shady contractors without the full understanding of how the systems are designed to work you will continue to have effluent infiltration issues. That's if they are even willing to hire that guy. We have literally showed up onsite to overflowing septics in which the homeowners have dug a series of holes to intercept raw sewage usage for the day. Also we have seen homeowners have dirt brought in so they could absorb the sewage each day so that there yards were "usable" for their kids and pets! What a joke that is...We have hundreds of stories just like this..We speak from years of experience in the quad city area. People really need to understand that this is a health and safety issue, if not for you but for your neighbors, their kids and pets, the natural wildlife..and on and on, this problem effects so many people and animals, and the homeowners think the septic repair guy is a rip off.
Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009
Article comment by:
paul f miller
Septic system instruction for homeowners ... The Daily Courier ... I rise to salute this effort spearheaded by Lowell Fagen to begin what has been a neglected arena – education – for everyone on all the aspects associated with residential onsite septic systems. While my own belief on this topic are a bit different than those currently espoused by AzOWRA, I salute their intention and trust this is not merely a one time shot in the dark designed solely for PR purposes…? I question what form of digestible information can be provided in the relatively short time noted for this education…?
As Mr. Fagen is aware being a long time realtor in the Prescott area, as well as a former member of the ADEQ advisory council, and now a member of the board of AzOWRA that all residential septic systems are for all government one of the untouchables. Since day one there has not been one environmental government agency in Arizona (city, county, state) willing to actually enforce the mandatory operation and maintenance on all residential septic systems as promulgated in law.
It is precisely because “we” allow everyone (and in include moi) to use their septic system with total disregard to common sense that “we” daily contribute to perpetuating polluting all forms of water – surface and subsurface – in Arizona.
I trust the instructions given at this gathering are clear, concise, understandable and honest … that would be a great beginning.
Respectfully,
Paul F. Miller
striving to promote sustainable awareness
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Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Susie Q
I have an excuse. I live at Antelope Hills, in the early '70s the city promised the homeowners city sewer lines in exchange for annexation......WE ARE STILL WAITING.
Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
We are ex contractors that were devoted to treating septic systems, homeowners do not care, we have moved away because of this problem. There are failing systems everywhere in your area and they are spilling into the creeks and lakes in prescott, it is disgusting. What a joke, educating the community on how to keep the septics going longer than they are supposed to, also to the ones who wonder why everyone cant just be on city sewer...you have no idea how bad that sewer system is, the whole thing needs to be redesigned there are so many breaks in the city sewer and it just keeps spilling into your creeks and lakes and yummy waterways!! First hand experience the city will not redesign the system and make it correct. THIS IS SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM YOU HAVE NO IDEA, THIS WILL TAKE A LOT MORE MONEY AND EDUCATION THAN ANYONE IN THAT TOWN HAS.
Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009
Article comment by:
mike metz
the article does not say if you need a reservation or ticket for admission or a contact number...
Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Local Citizen
WHY ARE THERE SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN A CITY??
There is no reason to have these things dumping human waste into a city water system. You hook to a sewer systen. No excuse just get it done. Only in AZ!
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