Did you know that about 1 in 4 homes in Missouri rely on septic (onsite) systems to treat wastewater?  Homeowners are responsible for making sure their system works properly.  If yours is not, you could be looking at spending tens of thousands of dollars in repair/replacement costs and risking contaminating your drinking water if you get your water from a well. Failing onsite systems, among other sources, contribute excess nutrients to our drinking water sources—lakes, rivers, groundwater—and can cause the water to be unsafe.  Summer time gatherings can add a lot of stress to a system; better to have it inspected  before winter than wait until the holidays roll around and your system is not ready to handle the next family gathering.  EPA recommends a professional inspection every 3-5 years, annually for advanced systems.

DHSS has developed an owner’s manual for onsite wastewater treatment systems The manual provides maintenance guidelines for most common system components, a troubleshooting guide, and a glossary.  You can use the guidance from chapters that apply to your onsite system.

Missouri On-site Wastewater Improvement Grant-Loan program provide financing for homeowners seeking to make improvements to, or replace their on-site wastewater treatment system, which will improve Missouri’s water quality. The program is funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and delivered by Missouri’s regional planning commissions and councils of government.

Owner’s manual for onsite wastewater treatment systems

2017 Poverty Guideline for 48 Contiguous States and District of Columbia

Homeowners Comprehensive Guide to Septic Systems (Spanish)

Where Does All the Dirty Water Go?

What Happens After the Flush?