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Webcasts about Onsite Wastewater Treatment

EPA's Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU Partnership sponsors quarterly webcasts to discuss issues of interest to the decentralized community. Below are transcripts, speaker lists, and presentations from each of the webcasts.

On this page:

Winner of the EPA Advanced Septic System Nitrogen Sensor Challenge
SepticSmart Week 2019: Promoting Best Practices for Community Involvement
Natural Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Communities Served by Decentralized Wastewater Systems
Career Perspectives in Decentralized Wastewater Management
State Examples of Septic System Data Management
Innovative Septic Improvement Program in Suffolk County, New York
Own Your Future: Home Financing from USDA Rural Development
How State and Local Governments Promote and Proclaim SepticSmart Week
Surface Discharge of Raw Wastewater among Unsewered Homes in Central Alabama
SepticSmart Week 2016: Tools and Outreach
To De or Not to De? - The Centralized Question
Soil-Based Onsite Wastewater Treatment and the Challenges of Climate Change
Property Transfer Inspections of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: Lessons Learned From Around the Nation
Role of Certification in Onsite Wastewater Technology Approvals
Assisting Families and Protecting Public Health - How Arkansas is Utilizing U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Grants for Onsite Systems Repair and EPA's SepticSmart to Educate
Benefits of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
Research and Tools for Decentralized Systems from Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and the DWRC
Public Health and Environmental Perspectives for Sustainable Decentralized Wastewater Management
Onsite Systems Workshop
National Standards for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: An Overview of Methods and Criteria for Demonstrating Product Performance
Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities
Wastewater 101: The Fundamentals
Decentralized Wastewater Needs Data for the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS): How and Why It's Important to Your State and EPA
Using Green Project Reserve Funds for Decentralized Projects - Ohio's Success

Winner of the EPA Advanced Septic System Nitrogen Sensor Challenge

Moderators:
- Zachary Lowenstein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- David Richards, MDB, Inc.
Presenters:
- Margaret Theroux Fieldsteel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development
- Qingzhi Zhu, Ph.D., Stony Brook University, New York
- Brian Baumgaertel, Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center

Click the

below to start the presentation.

SepticSmart Week 2019: Promoting Best Practices for Community Involvement (9/18/19)

Moderators:
- Zachary Lowenstein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- David Richards, MDB, Inc.
Presenters:
- Rachel Townsend, Ohio Department of Health
- Ray Gordon, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
- Amanda Lahners, La Porte County Health Department, Indiana
Presentation:
- View the PDF version of the presentation, or:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

Natural Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Communities Served by Decentralized Wastewater Systems (6/19/19)

Moderators:
- Don Waye, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- David Richards, MDB, Inc.
Presenters:
- Ayana Jones, Project Coordinator, National Environmental Health Association
- Joel Blanco-González, Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Paul Fericelli, Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Sonia Marino, Director of Westbrook, Connecticut Health Department
Presentation:
- View the PDF version of the presentation, or:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

Career Perspectives in Decentralized Wastewater Management (3/27/19)

Moderator:
- Zachary Lowenstein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presenters:
- Mary Clark, Project Manager, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
- Dr. Robert Rubin, Emeritus Professor, North Carolina State University
- James “Jim” Bell, Retired Executive Vice President, Bio-Microbics
Presentation:
- View the PDF version of the presentation, or:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

State Examples of Septic System Data Management (8/9/18)

Moderator:
- Gaida Mahgoub (ORISE participant), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presenters:
- Lance Gregory, Director of Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services, Virginia Department of Health
- Sonal Iyer, Director of Division of Data Management and Process Improvement, Virginia Department of Health
- Dr. Eberhard Roeder, Environmental Manager at Onsite Sewage Programs, Florida Department of Health
- Kara Loewe, Manager of Information Management, Florida Department of Health
- Cody Robinson, Soil Scientist at Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Program, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Presentation:
- View PDF versions of the presentation, or:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

Innovative Septic Improvement Program in Suffolk County, New York (3/21/18)

Moderators:
- Zachary Lowenstein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Kristina Heinemann, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
Presenters:
- Peter Scully, Deputy Suffolk County Executive
- Walter Dawydiak, Director of Environmental Quality, Suffolk County Department of Health Services
Presentation:

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below to start the presentation.

Own Your Future: Home Financing from USDA Rural Development (7/19/17)

Moderator:
- Gaida Mahgoub (ORISE participant), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presenter:
- Barry Ramsey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
Presentation:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

How State and Local Governments Promote and Proclaim SepticSmart Week (5/16/17)

Moderator:
- Kevin O'Donovan, MDB, Inc.
- Zach Lowenstein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presenters:
- Jeremy Simmons, Washington Department of Health
- Gene McCabe, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
- Susan Mihalo, Town of Ogden Dunes, Indiana
Presentation:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

Surface Discharge of Raw Wastewater among Unsewered Homes in Central Alabama (3/28/17)

Moderator:
- Kevin O'Donovan, MDB, Inc.
- Heidi Faller, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presenter:
- Mark Elliott, University of Alabama
Presentation:
- View a PDF version of the presentation, or

Click the

below to start the presentation.

SepticSmart Week 2016: Tools and Outreach (9/8/16)

Moderator:
- Kevin O'Donovan, MDB, Inc.
Panelists:
- Heidi Faller, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Naseera Bland, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management (ORISE)
- Dorreen Carey, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Septic Service Provider Perspectives: Tom Ferrero, National Association of Wastewater Technicians
Presentation:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

To De or Not to De? - The Centralized Question (6/29/16)

Moderators:
- Heidi Faller, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Kevin O'Donovan, MDB, Inc.
Panelist:
- Ted Henefin, General Manager, Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)
Presentation:

Click the

below to start the presentation.

Soil-Based Onsite Wastewater Treatment and the Challenges of Climate Change (7/23/14)

Moderators:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Kevin O'Donovan, MDB, Inc.
Panelists:
- Jose Amador, University of Rhode Island
- David Kalen, University of Rhode Island
- George Loomis, University of Rhode Island
Presentation:
- Soil-Based Onsite Wastewater Treatment and the Challenges of Climate Change

Property Transfer Inspections of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: Lessons Learned From Around the Nation (4/23/14)

Moderators:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Patrick Jones, MDB, Inc.
Panelists:
- Kit Rosefield, California Onsite Wastewater Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT)
- Kitt Pharrell-Poe, University of Arizona
- Ray Erb, Thomas Erb and Sons, Inc.
Presentation:
- Property Transfer Inspections: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Lessons Learned Policy Successes and Failures
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Role of Certification in Onsite Wastewater Technology Approvals (2/19/14)

Moderator:
- Patrick Jones, MDB, Inc.
Panelists:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Tom Bruursema, National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
Presentation:
- The Role of Certification in Onsite Wastewater Technology Approvals - Presentation by Tom Bruursema
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Assisting Families and Protecting Public Health - How Arkansas is Utilizing U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Grants for Onsite Systems Repair and EPA's SepticSmart to Educate (8/8/13)

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelists:
- Piper Satterfield, Arkansas Department of Health
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presentations:
- Homeowner Outreach and Education - Presentation by Maureen Tooke
- Assisting Families and Protecting Public Health - Presentation by Piper Satterfield

Benefits of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (3/6/13)

Moderator:
- Patrick Jones, MDB, Inc.
Panelists:
- Christl Tate, National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
- Eric Casey, National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presentations:
- Environmental Public Health and Decentralized Wastewater Systems - Presentation by Christl Tate
- Challenges and Opportunities for Implementing Decentralized Wastewater Treatment - Presentation by Eric Casey
- Benefits of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment - Presentation by Maureen Tooke
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Research and Tools for Decentralized Systems from Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and the DWRC (9/18/12)

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelist:
- Jeff Moeller, P.E., Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF)
Presentation:
- Research Tools for Decentralized Systems from WERF and the DWRC - Presentation by Jeff Moeller
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Public Health and Environmental Perspectives for Sustainable Decentralized Wastewater Management (8/23/12)

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelists:
- Dr. Max Zarate-Bermudez, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, Environmental Health Services Branch
- A. Robert Rubin, North Carolina University, on behalf of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
- Robert W. Hicks, Office of Environmental Health Services for the Virginia Department of Health, on behalf of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
Presentations:
- Design and Management Issues - Distributed Wastewater Systems to Protect Public Health and Environmental Quality - Presentation by A. Robert Rubin
- Enhanced Perspective on Onsite Wastewater Systems: A Public Health Contribution to the Wellbeing of Communities - Presentation by Dr. Max Zarate-Bermudez
- Onsite Sewage Systems, Water Quality, Public Health, and the Chesapeake Bay - Presentation by Robert W. Hicks
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Onsite Systems Workshop (6/12/12)

Panelists:
- Joyce Hudson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Presentation:
- Management of Nutrients from Onsite Systems in the MSRB - Presentation by Joyce Hudson and Maureen Tooke

National Standards for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: An Overview of Methods and Criteria for Demonstrating Product Performance (3/8/12)

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelist:
- Tom Bruursema, National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental and Sustainability Services
Presentation:
- National Standards for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: An Overview of Methods and Criteria for Demonstrating Product Performance - Presentation by Tom Bruursema
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities (1/18/12)

This webinar, featuring speakers from EPA, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA), reveals efforts and strategies to foster sustainable rural communities. Topics include livability principles, energy efficiency, water quality, waste, business, building improvements and restoration, transportation, and green building.

Panelists:
- Matthew Dalbey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Sustainable Communities
- Annie Goode, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
- David Doyle, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
- Lory Cappel, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
- Fred Bowers, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Planning
- Andrew P. Blake, City of Ranson, West Virginia
- John Sprowls, Federal Transit Administration, Office of Planning and Environment
- Maria Zimmerman, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities
Session Summary:
- Session Summary

Wastewater 101: The Fundamentals (9/20/11)

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelist:
- John R. Buchanan, Ph.D., P.E., Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science Department, University of Tennessee
Presentation:
- Wastewater Basics 101 - Presentation by John R. Buchanan
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript

Decentralized Wastewater Needs Data for the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS): How and Why It's Important to Your State and EPA (2/15/11)

This joint webinar combines the EPA Decentralized Wastewater Program/MOU Partnership and Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Webinar Series. Attendees learned about the CWNS and New Jersey's experience participating in the 2004 and 2008 surveys, and were encouraged to coordinate early to increase the amount of decentralized data collected in the CWNS data collection that began in April 2011.

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelists:
- Karen Fligger, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, Clean Watershed Needs Survey
- Joyce Hudson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
- Eleanor Krukowski, State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Presentation:
- Decentralized Wastewater Needs for the CWNS: How and Why It's Important to Your State and EPA - Presentation by Karen Fligger, Joyce Hudson and Eleanor Krukowski
Session Summary:
- Session Summary

Using Green Project Reserve Funds for Decentralized Projects - Ohio's Success (10/21/10)

This session explores the issue of "Funding Decentralized Wastewater Projects with State Revolving Funds." Attendees learned how Ohio's agencies collaborated to secure more than $3.3 million in funding for decentralized projects through the "Green Project Reserve" provision of the State Revolving Fund (SRF). Attendees also learned about the types of wastewater projects that qualify to receive low-interest, flexible government financial support, other borrower assistance services, and partnerships with other funding sources through presentations by EPA and the Ohio State Department of Health and Environmental Protection Agency.

Moderator:
- Maureen Tooke, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
Panelists:
- Rebecca Fugitt, Ohio Department of Health Program, Bureau of Environmental Health, Residential Water and Sewage Program
- Jim Bonk, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Planning Section, Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance
- Katherine Hess, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, Clean Water State Revolving Fund Branch, Green Project Reserve Team
Presentation:
- Using Green Project Reserve for Decentralized Wastewater Projects - Presentations by Rebecca Fugitt, Jim Bonk, and Katherine Hess
Webcast transcript:
- Transcript
Session Summary:
- Session Summary