Septic $olutions

The Lake Monroe Water Fund’s Septic Solutions Project is a targeted initiative designed to improve water quality by addressing one of the leading sources of pollution in the Lake Monroe watershed— errant waste from septic systems. There are over 9,000 septic systems in the Lake Monroe watershed, and many of them are failing, improperly sized, or outdated. Lake Monroe supplies drinking water to over 140,000 people, yet improperly functioning septic systems contribute excess nutrients and bacteria that degrade water quality, harm aquatic ecosystems, and increase the risk of disease and algal blooms.

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This project aims to develop financial assistance for homeowners to repair or replace failing septic systems. By reducing the barrier of costly septic system replacement and repair, our goal is to stop nutrient and pathogen runoff at the source, directly contributing to cleaner water, healthier soils, and a safer environment for both residents and wildlife.

 

The Septic Solutions Project also engages the community through education and outreach—empowering property owners to protect their drinking water and home value through proper long term maintenance and monitoring of their septic systems.  

 

Our work on this pilot project is funded through a Section 319 grant from the U.S. EPA and administered through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. We are developing a tool kit to share with other locales so they can replicate our efforts in other areas of the state. 

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This collaborative effort is a vital step in safeguarding Lake Monroe’s future and ensuring a reliable water supply for generations to come.