This week also has been designated National Septic Smart Week and Estuaries Week. A sampling of state activities to mark these initiatives follows.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality shared a list of septic dos and don’ts. Did you know that if you have pooling water, soggy spots, odor, or slow drains you could have a failing septic system?
On Twitter, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality posted that septic systems are the most common wastewater treatment systems used in rural areas of Idaho. The agency also directed its followers to EPA’s septic systems webpage for more tips on how to be septic smart.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection staffed an outreach booth at the state Capitol to educate citizens about proper septic system maintenance.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management emphasized on its social media pages the importance of estuaries and why it is so crucial that we protect these areas. Did you know that estuarine ecosystems serve as a natural barrier to buffer against storms and floods and absorb and store carbon? Also, more than two-thirds of the fish and shellfish we eat live in estuaries at some point during their life.