The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is collaborating with states, Tribes, and local partners to celebrate SepticSmart Week from September 16-20, 2024. This weeklong nationwide public education campaign aims to provide homeowners and renters with essential information about protecting public health and properly maintaining septic systems. The initiative targets the one-fifth of U.S. households that utilize onsite or small community cluster septic systems for wastewater treatment.

“In small towns and rural communities across the country, septic systems are essential to safely managing wastewater. Being ‘SepticSmart’ helps keep these systems maintained to safeguard our families and neighbors from the health risks associated with exposure to untreated wastewater,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “SepticSmart Week reminds us that proactively maintaining these systems saves money and plays a vital role in protecting the health of our communities and the environment.”

To support this effort, EPA and its partners are providing educational resources to homeowners, local organizations, and government leaders on how septic systems function and proper maintenance practices. Proper maintenance of septic systems is crucial for protecting public health and ecosystems in small and rural towns across the nation. By adopting SepticSmart practices, homeowners can avoid costly repairs while safeguarding local water quality.

To promote SepticSmart Week 2024, EPA encourages individuals and organizations to raise public awareness about the event by sharing practical tips such as:

- **Think at the Sink!**: Be mindful of what goes down drains as fats, grease, and solids can clog pipes.

- **Don’t Overload the Commode!**: Avoid flushing non-biodegradable items like diapers, wipes, feminine products, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, and cat litter.

- **Don’t Strain Your Drain!**: Use water efficiently to prevent overloading your system.

- **Shield Your Field!**: Protect drain fields from damage caused by tree roots, vehicles, or livestock.

- **Keep It Clean!**: Regularly test drinking water to ensure it remains uncontaminated by leaking septic systems.

- **Protect It and Inspect It!**: Routine maintenance can prevent costly repairs.

- **Pump Your Tank!**: Follow professional recommendations for regular septic tank pumping.

SepticSmart Week also serves as a platform to highlight career opportunities within the water workforce sector. The maintenance of decentralized systems requires skilled professionals. Recent estimates indicate that nearly one-third of the water sector workforce will be eligible for retirement within the next decade. To address this challenge, EPA will showcase various roles in water infrastructure management through infographics detailing career benefits in this field.

More than one-fifth of U.S. households use individual onsite or small community cluster septic systems for wastewater treatment. These decentralized options include a variety of treatment methods designed for both residential and commercial sewage processing. When properly installed and maintained, these cost-effective long-term solutions help protect public health while preserving valuable water resources.

For more information on SepticSmart Week activities and resources available visit [EPA's website](https://www.epa.gov).