• Overview: Training is provided to county sanitarians, extension and SCS personnel on water management practices, primarily drainage, to reduce soil wetness. Homeowners are provided information and recommendations to properly maintain drainage and related water management system components.

 
• Goal: Increase the treatment performance of on-site septic systems used in shallow water table and other hydraulically limited soils. Development design and maintenance criteria for drainage systems to provide water table conditions conducive for proper on-site waste treatment. Increase homeowner awareness of the importance of maintaining their drainage and septic system in order to obtain proper waste treatment. Develop improved siting criteria for shallow water table soils for on-site waste treatment.

 
• Proper waste management is a major limitation to rural development, environmental quality, and public health throughout eastern North Carolina. Conventional septic systems do not function properly under high water table conditions. In the 20 coastal counties, over 75 percent of the land area is considered unsuitable for conventional on-site sewage treatment systems due to soil wetness. Many of the suitable sites have now been developed.

 
• Cooperators: R. Rubin, D. Lindbo (Soil Science), R. Skaggs (BAE), M. Hoover (Soil Science)

 

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