Partnership funds septic tank pumping

The program initially was funded by grant money, which has all been spent.

“The partnership feels this is a very worthy program that we can offer to the community, and we’re hoping to have it sustainable so there won’t be an end to the program,” said Holly Neill, executive director of the James River Basin Partnership.

Get Pumped has been in place for about four years, Neill said, but major campaigning and advertising did not begin until this past winter.

When the public service announcements first informed people that the septic tank pumping was available, about 100 phone calls were logged in two days, said Clay Robertson, resource conservationist at the South Missouri Water Quality Office.

Neill said there have been more than 300 phone calls received in regard to the program. More than 200 homeowners have had their septic tanks pumped and received the $50 reimbursement check toward the total costs, which average around $100.

Interested homeowners can call the James River Basin Partnership at (417) 836-8877. After exchanging information with the

partnership, homeowners can choose a

contractor to pump their tank. Robertson said that while he is not able to recommend a particular business, he said he hasn’t heard any complaints about the contractors.

“All the contractors we’ve got right now appear to be doing a good job,” Robertson said.

As a result of the success at the James River Basin Partnership, the board of directors at Table Rock Lake Water Quality Inc. recently decided to set aside $5,000 for a cost-sharing septic tank pumping program for residents in the Table Rock Lake Watershed.

“(The James River Basin Partnership) had a lot of people calling from other areas beside the James River Watershed, and so our board decided we would work with them and get together and offer some people cost-sharing down here,” said David Casaletto, executive director of Table Rock Lake Water Quality Inc.

The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks plans to offer a similar program to residents of the Little Sac Watershed, said Director Loring Bullard. The Watershed Committee’s septic tank program will be funded by money from a 319 Grant under the Water Quality Act of 1987.

Neill, Casaletto and Robertson agreed that maintaining a septic tank is important to water quality.

“The septic tank itself only treats 20 percent,” Casaletto said. “The lateral field, the water going out into the soil, is expected to treat 80 percent. So if it’s not working properly, if it’s failing, then you have untreated wastewater entering the environment.”

[[In-content Ad]]