The DeKalb SWCD strives to live our mission “Leadership in Conservation”.  As a result, in addition to our work with the agriculture community we also focus on urban areas and often find ourselves working were Ag and Urban meet as we identify and conserve the natural resources of DeKalb County. 

This certainly was the case when in early 2010 the DeKalb Board of Supervisors identified failing septic systems as a contributor to the degradation of water quality and instructed SWCD staff to begin work to address this resource concern.  Partnering with the DeKalb County Health Department and Purdue Extension, a December meeting was scheduled with City and Town officials, County officials, and decision makers from across the county.  Facilitated by Janet Ayers from Purdue, the gathered group established their common ground, discussed and identified what the issues were, and prioritized the issues by importance and interest.  As a result of this meeting a steering committee was formed and our work on the issues began. 

Since that first meeting progress has been slow and steady.  As we observed the 3rd anniversary of the Septic Issues – Collaborative Solutions group, the following observations were made:

  • The Circular conversations that ended with the problem being too complex to solve had stopped.
  • We acknowledge there is a problem.  As one consultant said to us:  “Every community has this problem; you are choosing to talk about it.”
  • Our knowledge of the issue and its complexity had increased tremendously.
  • Communication on septic/ sewer issues between both cities and county and between departments within the two had improved.
  • How we talk about septic/ sewer issue had changed.  We are guided by the mission statement of: Fair, consistent, and economically feasible implementation in addressing waste water issues now and in the future.
  • There is a willingness to work toward better.  We still have work to do, we didn’t get here over night and it certainly isn’t going to be fixed overnight, but together we are headed in the right direction.

As we celebrated year 5 of our work we had put what we learned into action and had results to show for our effort.

  • The Steering Committee researched and prepared a report to be used as a planning tool by decision makers that identified “areas of concern” in the county, identified the capacity of current wastewater treatment plants within the county and their potential to extend past city limits, and then combined the two items on a GIS map to identify areas of opportunity for addressing septic/sewer issues as opportunity presents itself.
  • A voluntary certified inspection program was developed.  Completed by installers trained and certified by the county health department, this program provides a comprehensive inspection of a septic system to let home owners and home buyers know the current status of the system.  Unique to this program is that it evaluates systems based on proper function and assurance that sewage is receiving treatment rather than strict compliance with current state codes. 
  • A new septic/sewer ordinance is under development for the county.  This ordinance would replace the existing 1985 ordinance currently used for planning and development purposes.  Revisions are in process with the goal to have the new ordinance adopted by early in 2017.
  • Two of the 19 areas of concern identified by the Steering Committee report have been connected to sewers.  The Indiana Avenue project was one of these.  It provided sewer hook-up for 20 homes with no or incomplete septic systems on lots too small to accommodate a septic systems.  The project took 3.5 years to complete with a total cost of $696,000.  The average cost to the homeowners involved in the project was $5200.
  • Public education and promotion events are now under way.  A success story for the Septic Issues – Collaborative Solutions group was reported by local media.  Additionally, annual workshops covering septic system maintenance, system location on a building site, and the type of system required are held in cooperation with the county health department and Purdue Extension.    

The DeKalb SWCD continues to lead the effort to address this resource concern.  We are far from finished but we are so much further than we were when we started.

The DeKalb SWCD……..working to address the resource concerns of a growing community……..“Leadership in Conservation”