Grant Available For Septic Replacement In Crane Creek Watershed
If your home uses a failing septic system and is within the shaded area on this map, contact Ozarks Water Watch to find out if you qualify for this grant opportunity.
July 4, 2019
Isaac Estes-Jones
Ozarks Water Watch in Kimberling City is seeking at least five homes in the Crane Creek watershed area for a septic system remediation project. Grants are available for a 50% match on the cost of replacing failing septic systems in the Crane Creek watershed area.
“Several organizations are working together to complete a James River Watershed Management Plan,” said Ronna Haxby, Projects Manager with Ozarks Water Watch in Kimberling City.
Part of the process of creating the James River Watershed Management Plan is completing a demonstration project that will have a positive impact on water quality. “Crane Creek is a priority watershed and a tributary of the James River,” Haxby said.
This demonstration project is supposed to be completed by the end of September, but Haxby indicates the organizations have requested an extension.
Ozarks Water Watch plans to help replace at least 5 failing septic systems in the Crane Creek watershed area (see map) with a 50% grant to the homeowner, up to a maximum of $10,000 per home.
These grant funds are provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“Part of why we want to replace failing septic systems is because they introduce bacteria into the water. But not only that,” Haxby said, “failing systems can release nutrients like nitrogen that lead to algae growth.”
Studies done by the DNR indicate that failing septic systems cause substantial and widespread nutrient and microbial contamination to ground water, according to additional information supplied by Ozarks Water Watch. “The karst geology of the Ozarks region makes it even more likely that failing septic systems will discharge untreated sewage into groundwater, which flows into streams and rivers.”
Interested homeowners should contact Ozarks Water Watch to determine eligibility. In order to qualify, the county septic regulator or a licensed septic inspector must determine the septic system is failing. “If you have an old metal tank, or your septic is backing up into your home or surfacing in your yard, that should automatically qualify,” said Haxby. However, homeowners do not necessarily need to see such drastic issues for their system to be failing.
Homeowners would also need to follow necessary application steps to qualify for the grant, as well as come up with the necessary funds. According to grant sub-agreement, payment for half of the cost “will be made to the homeowner upon completion of the project and receipt of all required documents.”
Crane Creek was first listed on the EPA’s impaired and threatened waters list in 2012.
To find out if your system qualifies, contact Ronna Haxby at (417) 739-5001 or ronna@ozarkswaterwatch.org.
The Crane Creek project and James River Watershed Management Plan is a joint effort between the Board of Governors at Missouri State University, on behalf of Southwest Missouri Council of Governments and Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute, James River Basin Partnership and Ozarks Water Watch.
Isaac Estes-Jones
Ozarks Water Watch in Kimberling City is seeking at least five homes in the Crane Creek watershed area for a septic system remediation project. Grants are available for a 50% match on the cost of replacing failing septic systems in the Crane Creek watershed area.
“Several organizations are working together to complete a James River Watershed Management Plan,” said Ronna Haxby, Projects Manager with Ozarks Water Watch in Kimberling City.
Part of the process of creating the James River Watershed Management Plan is completing a demonstration project that will have a positive impact on water quality. “Crane Creek is a priority watershed and a tributary of the James River,” Haxby said.
This demonstration project is supposed to be completed by the end of September, but Haxby indicates the organizations have requested an extension.
Ozarks Water Watch plans to help replace at least 5 failing septic systems in the Crane Creek watershed area (see map) with a 50% grant to the homeowner, up to a maximum of $10,000 per home.
These grant funds are provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“Part of why we want to replace failing septic systems is because they introduce bacteria into the water. But not only that,” Haxby said, “failing systems can release nutrients like nitrogen that lead to algae growth.”
Studies done by the DNR indicate that failing septic systems cause substantial and widespread nutrient and microbial contamination to ground water, according to additional information supplied by Ozarks Water Watch. “The karst geology of the Ozarks region makes it even more likely that failing septic systems will discharge untreated sewage into groundwater, which flows into streams and rivers.”
Interested homeowners should contact Ozarks Water Watch to determine eligibility. In order to qualify, the county septic regulator or a licensed septic inspector must determine the septic system is failing. “If you have an old metal tank, or your septic is backing up into your home or surfacing in your yard, that should automatically qualify,” said Haxby. However, homeowners do not necessarily need to see such drastic issues for their system to be failing.
Homeowners would also need to follow necessary application steps to qualify for the grant, as well as come up with the necessary funds. According to grant sub-agreement, payment for half of the cost “will be made to the homeowner upon completion of the project and receipt of all required documents.”
Crane Creek was first listed on the EPA’s impaired and threatened waters list in 2012.
To find out if your system qualifies, contact Ronna Haxby at (417) 739-5001 or ronna@ozarkswaterwatch.org.
The Crane Creek project and James River Watershed Management Plan is a joint effort between the Board of Governors at Missouri State University, on behalf of Southwest Missouri Council of Governments and Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute, James River Basin Partnership and Ozarks Water Watch.