Do you have questions about your private drinking water supply?  How about wellhead protection, including the management of your private sewage treatment system?  Send your questions by clicking on the ‘Email Us’ feature in the lower right corner on this web page.  Questions will be addressed by Nebraska Statewide Extension Associate for Domestic Water & Wastewater, Becky Schuerman and/or other Extension Water Team Staff.

What makes a good septic system?

A properly designed, constructed, functioning and maintained septic system protects human and environmental health. This includes, but is not limited to surface water, groundwater and soil quality in the immediate vicinity of the proposed onsite wastewater system site. A good habit to adopt is an annual inspection of and maintenance of your onsite wastewater system to help ensure a well-balanced, working septic system.

Wastewater 101

The arrival of spring, warm weather and sunshine brings a flurry of activity around your acreage. Annual plantings are done, mulch is purchased, spring cleaning is completed and the mowing season begins.  All of those things are done annually to maintain homes and yards.

Additives such as yeast are marketed as a quick and easy way to improve bacterial degradation of the wastewater within a system such as a lagoon.  However, the reality is that none of the yeast additives have been proven to be effective in improving bacterial action within your lagoon.  Additionally, yeast additives have shown to have negative impacts on groundwater quality as well as potential further negative impact on surrounding environmental resources such as vegetation.  If you think the waste treatment is insufficient, consider taking the following two steps: