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Septic Systems (Decentralized/Onsite Systems)
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* ## Do Your Part, Be SepticSmart!
SepticSmart Week is September 14-18, 2026
Check out SepticSmart materials
* ## Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Initiative
This initiative will help 150 communities with decentralized wastewater needs (or no wastewater infrastructure) pursue federal funding opportunities. The original pilot initiative assisted 11 communities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
* Learn about the technical assistance initiative
* ## Financing Decentralized Wastewater Systems
(51.65 MB)
A guide for community leaders, local and state decentralized wastewater treatment programs, and CWSRF managers for using the CWSRF to finance decentralized systems.
* ## Do Your Part, Be SepticSmart!
SepticSmart Week is September 14-18, 2026
Check out SepticSmart materials
123 Encouraging homeowners, wastewater professionals, and state, tribal, and local officials to design and maintain effective systems to protect public health, preserve valuable water resources, and maintain economic vitality in their communities.
EPA’s Decentralized Partnership Renews for 2023
EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater Management Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Partnership is designed to improve the overall performance and management of decentralized systems. The Partnership, renewed every 3 years, ensures collaboration at the national level to improve decentralized performance and protect the nation's public health and water resources. In 2023 the Partnership welcomes five new members.
About Septic Systems
* Overview
* How septic systems work
* Types of septic systems
* Webinars
* Frequent questions
Care and Maintenance
* About care and maintenance
* How to care for your system
* Why maintain your system
* Resolving system malfunctions
* Impacts on water sources
Funding
* All funding sources
* Federal funding
* State-specific funding
* Tribal community funding
* Local community funding
SepticSmart
* About SepticSmart
* SepticSmart Week
* Education materials
Decentralized Wastewater Partnership
* About the Partnership
* Partnership materials
* Webinars
Additional Resources
* All additional resources
* Reports, regulations, guidance, and manuals
* Workforce
* Demonstration projects
* Case studies
* Technical resources
* Searchable Clearinghouse of Wastewater Technology (SCOWT)
* Water Finance Clearinghouse
Contact Us About Septic Systems to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Last updated on April 6, 2026 Welcome! Please share your feedback on how we can make www.epa.gov work better for you. A red asterisk (*) indicates a required field.
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