TMACOG and a group of local
partners have begun work on a new project to improve water quality in the Wolf
Creek watershed near Lake Erie by providing education about the operation of
home sewage treatment systems and other on-site systems.
Research has shown that bacteria in
Wolf Creek has a direct impact on the Lake Erie beaches at Maumee Bay State
Park. Many steps have already been taken
to reduce bacteria in the waterway. In recent years, the City of Oregon
constructed 11 miles of sanitary sewer lines and eliminated about 600 septic
systems. However, in the primarily rural area remaining septic systems cannot
be eliminated by connecting to sewers. Older or failing septic systems are
thought to be a source of some ongoing bacterial contamination of the
watershed. The goal of the new project is to ensure that remaining septic
systems are well-maintained and in good repair to reduce off-site sewage
discharges.
The educational campaign will
include evaluation of home systems and explanation of how the various types of
systems work. Part of the evaluation is a dye test. Bright color biodegradable
dye is released at the top of the system in the home. Then the property owner
or inspector looks to see if the dye has migrated to nearby ditches or
waterways. When dye disperses outside of the septic system, the property owner
knows that maintenance or repair is needed.
The watershed septic education
program addresses households in Oregon and Jerusalem Township that are in the
16-square-mile watershed. Partners in the program include TMACOG, the City of
Oregon, Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, and Lucas Soil and Water
Conservation District.
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org
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