Communities Unlimited Assists with Failing Septic System

A failing septic system can cause numerous issues for a homeowner. It can affect household well water quality and decrease the property’s value. Repairing or replacing a septic system can be costly or require more land than is available. Plus, if the failure results in raw sewage leaving the property or impacting other property, a complaint can be filed with the local health department or state primacy agency. The agency investigating the complaint can then issue enforcement actions under the Clean Water Act and county or state health codes, including declaring the home unfit for habitation, levying fines, or other legal action– leaving the homeowner wondering where to turn for help.
In early January 2024, the Environmental Services Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) was contacted by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) regarding enforcement action against a homeowner due to a failing septic system. The home’s wastewater was being piped to a hand-dug cesspool at the lower end of his property, and sewage had spilled over onto a neighboring property.
First, a CU Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) gathered resources to share with the homeowner. They connected the homeowner with the US Department of Agriculture’s “504” Housing Program, which could cover the cost of home safety and sanitation repairs, in case the owner met the income guidelines. Although the homeowner did not qualify for the “504”, the CU TAP next provided the homeowner with information about the CU Decentralized Water System loan product, including estimating a monthly payment amount. The CU Lending Team then guided the owner through the process of applying for a loan. In March, the homeowner was awarded a loan of $7,900 to install an aerobic septic system. The system was installed in early April 2024, remedying the ODEQ enforcement action.
Although two other dwellings tied to the cesspool did not meet the eligibility requirements for the CU loan, CU provided information on other resources that might be available to these homeowners.
Finally, the CU TAP facilitated conversations with the ODEQ staff to ensure the court actions initiated against the homeowner would be suspended once the system was scheduled to be installed. The CU TAP also prepared training materials for the homeowner, including a diagram of an aerobic system, how it works, and best practices for operation and maintenance. In addition to sharing information on the Decentralized Water System loan assistance to ODEQ, CU staff provided two training sessions this past year in Oklahoma, focused on decentralized wastewater systems for ODEQ staff and the general public.
Through the work with this homeowner, CU has established a relationship with the staff of ODEQ and is seen as a resource for others in the state with failing septic systems. “Working with Communities Unlimited was a great experience that provided a solution to a longstanding issue DEQ, and the property owner had been dealing with,” said Ryan McIntosh, Environmental Programs Manager – Central Region for ODEQ. “It aided in assisting the individual with access to a septic system that eliminated the discharge of sewage into the environment. Communities Unlimited was the catalyst toward compliance that helped both parties achieve the desired outcomes. Their timely responses and willingness to help was a testament to their core values of truly wanting to improve the lives of people within the communities that they serve.”
The ODEQ provides information on the CU Decentralized Water System Loan to homeowners needing assistance, in the hopes that their failing septic system issues can be resolved quickly to protect the environment. When homeowners in Oklahoma experience septic system issues, they can look to Communities Unlimited for assistance.
This article was funded under RCAP’s EPA Treatment Works 4 – Compliance 23 – 26 grant.