DecentralizedWastewater.org Newsletter for October 2026 |
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USDA Awards $40 Million for Rural Water Technical Assistance and Training
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The US Department of Agriculture Rural Development recently announced $40 million in funding to support technical assistance and training for rural water and wastewater systems nationwide through its Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants program. The funding is designed to help rural communities strengthen utility operations, improve system management, train operators and board members, and prepare applications for critical infrastructure funding.
The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA), a first-time recipient of USDA Rural Development funding, will receive $2.3 million of this money to help communities address decentralized wastewater and septic system challenges where centralized sewer infrastructure is not practical or affordable.
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) will receive $11 million to work directly with eligible rural communities to deliver interactive training, implement system mapping and asset inventory services, teach sustainable utility management, and more.
The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) will receive $22 million to administer technical assistance to eligible water and wastewater systems, with a strong focus on operations, maintenance, and energy efficiency.
The additional $5.5 million in funded projects will support organizations headquartered in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, New York and West Virginia. Overall, small and remote organizations in all 50 states and U.S. territories will receive support for managing and maintaining healthy water and wastewater systems.
The current application window for Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants closes December 31, 2026, offering another opportunity for eligible organizations to secure resources that strengthen local water and wastewater services.
For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway. For more information about USDA Rural Development programs, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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Webinar Recording — Onsite Wastewater Systems:
Uses, Basics, and Advanced Systems |
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On September 24th, our sister program PrivateWellClass.org hosted a new webinar titled "Onsite Wastewater Systems: Uses, Basics, and Advanced Systems." At this session, we were joined by Gary Hawkins, a water resource management specialist at University of Georgia Extension, who helped us instruct on onsite wastewater system management, types of onsite systems and their specific uses, and how these systems work. We also introduced the new Private Well Class lesson on onsite systems.
The recording of the webinar is now available to watch on YouTube and the Private Well Class website!
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| Watch the Video » |
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TT089 – Outreach in Action:
The Art of Making Septic Education Fun
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We were also pleased to recently welcome on Gary Hawkins to Tap Talk's 89th episode! In his everyday job, Gary spends a lot of his time conducting outreach and education programs for the citizens of Georgia to teach them more about their septic systems, private wells, and other water resources. During this episode, he dives deep with Steve and Jennifer on how he has built creative and engaging methods of delivering needed onsite wastewater education. |
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Save the Date for the Private Well Conference 2027
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Our sister program PrivateWellClass.org is very pleased to announce the dates and location of the upcoming 2027 Private Well Conference: May 25-27 in Asheville, North Carolina! Whether you have been able to join us at past conferences or this may be your first time to attend, please save the date and consider joining us in Asheville.
The Private Well Conference is specifically designed for well practitioners, to provide information and insights that can be taken home and used locally with the well owners they serve, though we also explore the connections between private wells and septic systems in some sessions.
Over the next three to four weeks, we will provide additional updates on the conference hotel, the Call for Abstracts, attendee registration, and more. Stay tuned to this newsletter, specialized conference email blasts, our social media accounts, and our website for this information.
In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the conference and explore what past events had to offer, head to the Private Well Conference hub on our website, where you can review the agendas and session recordings from each of our previous six conferences. |
| Read More About the Private Well Conference » |
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Featured Webinars & Training |
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Decentralized Septic System
October 27 | 6:30 pm CT | Slaughterville, OK
Communities Unlimited
This training will consist of an overview of septic systems, including the maintenance homeowners should perform and the warning signs that may indicate their septic system is experiencing problems.
Register here.
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Hawaii’s Wastewater Alternatives & Innovation (WAI) Online Training Approach for Small, Rural, and Tribal Communities
November 5 | 2:00 pm ET | Online
Hosted by Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations and US EPA
At this webinar, discover how Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations is reshaping workforce development in Hawaii's water sector through its Work-4-Water program. This free 8-week pre-apprenticeship program features a flexible, learn-at-your-own-pace hybrid model designed to remove barriers to entry. It delivers real-world, collaborative learning experiences for pre-apprentices and equips participants with both scientific knowledge and practical skills.
Read more here »
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Decentralized Regional Management Entities
November 5 | 1:00 pm ET | Online
Hosted by RCAP
This free webinar will focus on discussing criteria conducive in the creation of a Regional Management Entity (RME) in order to protect public and environmental health. Septic systems are only as good as the maintenance provided to them and one poorly maintained septic system can create larger scale environmental and water quality impacts. While many states have regulatory oversight of permitting individual systems, there are very enforcement avenues on management of septic systems. One consideration is forming a RME.
Register here »
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Highlights from Onsite Installer Magazine
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An Uncommon Clean-Out for Onsite Wastewater
A new design feature sometimes utilized in onsite wastewater systems are "pop-up clean-outs," which are clean-outs that lift up automatically under pressure. While they're not always necessary, benefits include preventing interior sewage backups, safeguarding against backflow, and maintaining easy access for maintenance.
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| Read at Onsite Installer Magazine » |
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Septic System Success in Northwest Arkansas
Environmental Finance Center Network
EFCN has recently begun a podcast series highlighting how innovative funding can help communities address failing septic systems and protect local water quality. In this first episode, the host spoke with a representative of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) in Northwest Arkansas about the Septic Tank Remediation Program (STRP), where Clean Water SRF funds are used through a combination of zero-interest loans and non-repayable grant funds to repair or replace residential failing septic systems.
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| Listen here » |
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Homeowner’s Onsite System Guide and Record Keeping Folder
National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association
NOWRA has recently updated their Homeowner’s Onsite System Guide and Record Keeping Folder with new graphics and information! The folder features basic information about onsite systems and tips to keep onsite systems maintained and functioning. Homeowners can also use it to record vital system information and track any maintenance or repairs.
The document can be downloaded as a PDF, while printed copies can also be ordered from NOWRA.
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| See the System Guide » |
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Visit our other websites: |
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