Onsite Sewage Treatment Program

Publications

Taking Care of Your Septic System - Owner Basics - MI-07040-GO
Free from county offices. $.50 each from the Distribution Center.
A brochure encouraging owners to take responsibility for their system and seek more detailed management information.

Understanding Your Septic System - FO-07439-GO - $ .75
This 4 page publication explains how septic systems treat sewage, describes the most common reasons for failure, and furnishes basic operation and management tips.

Septic System Owner's Guide - PC-06583-GO - $ 4.00
This 24 page fully illustrated book is a complete guide to the operation and maintenance of individual septic systems. Includes a file folder with record-keeping information.

Small Community Wastewater Solutions: A Guide to Making Treatment, Management and Financing Decisions - BU-07734-GO - $15.00. This comprehensive guidebook covers all the major decisions facing a small community with a wastewater treatment problem including: the wastewater treatment options available, management, ownership options, cost and financing, as well as working with professionals.

Innovative Onsite Sewage Treatment Systems -- PC-07666-GO - $4.00 A series of fact sheets describing the application, design, placement and operation and maintenance of aerobic treatment units, constructed wetlands, drip distribution, peat filters, recirculating filters and sand filters.

Landscaping Septic Systems - FO-06986-GO - $ 1.50
A 4 page publication to assist homeowners with the location of the septic system and the selection and placement of plants near the system to create a sustainable landscape.

Choosing an Alternative Septic System Series

    1. A Homesite with Thin Soil Over Bedrock - FO-07569-GO - $.75 A 4 page publication describing a site with high bedrock were drip distribution was used as a solution.
    2. A Homesite with a Steep Slope - FO-07570-GO - $.75 A 4 page publication describing a site with a recirculating sand filter for pretreatment and into an existing trench system. Also included is a summery of alternative treatment options with typical treatment performance.
    3. A Homesite with a High Water Table - FO-07571-GO - $.75 A 4 page publication describing a site with a recirculating sand filter for pretreatment and into an existing trench system with less than 3 feet of separation. Also included is a cost summery of alternative and standard systems over the life of a system.

How to Run a Percolation Test -- FO-00583-GO - $1.50 - Procedures and methods for conducting a percolation test.

Evaluating Soil Texture for a House Site - FO-00817-GO - $.75 - Overviews the parameters and methods followed when evaluating soils for on-site systems.

Locating On-Site Home Sewage Treatment Systems - FO-00797-GO - $1.50 - Helps determine where an on-site should be placed. Includes discussion of establishing priorities, soils information, site evaluation and final reporting.

Septic Systems in Minnesota - Series of nine news-releases to help Minnesota residents learn more about Septic Systems. Available on the web at http://www.extension.umn.edu - click on News and Information , then click on This Calendar Year , then enter Septic Systems in the Search dialog box.

Videos

Septic Systems Revealed: Guide to Operation, Care, and Maintenance - VH-06768-GO $15.00 (or as EP-06769-GO in combination with the Owner's Guide $ 18.00) Revised 1999. A 23-minute video showing how an actual septic system works and demonstrates proper pumping methods. Includes tips on household water conservation and product use.

Water Conservation - Managing Our Precious Liquid Asset - VH-06948-GO - $15.00
A 21-minute video offering many ways to reduce water use to the benefit of the septic system without impacting family comfort and quality of life.

Alternative Septic Systems - EP-07572-GO $14.00 Video and factsheets highlighting 3 Twin Cities metro area installations using re-circulating sand filters and drip irrigation on difficult sites including shallow bedrock, high groundwater, and a steep slope.

1999 Satellite Conference $30.00 - A two hour video satellite conference on October 28,1999 focusing on alternative systems and management along with information packet.

Ordering Information

All publications and videos are available through the University of Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center by calling 612-624-4900, 1-800-876-8636, or http://www.extension.umn.edu/units/dc/ , or through county extension offices. Prices quoted do not include sales tax, shipping and handling. If ordering through the Extension Service Distribution Center, payment can be made by check, credit card, or invoice.

Conference Presentations

Redox Conference 2005, Duluth, Minnesota

Redoximorphic Feature Formation and Interpretation, pdf
Mike Vepraskas - N.C. State University

NRCS and NCSS Approach to Redoximorphic Features, pdf
Maurice J. Mausbach

Wet Soil Monitoring Data and Field Interpretation of Redoximorphic Features, pdf
Doug Wysocki - National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska

Minnesota Ice: Depositional Environment of Minnesota’s Glacially-Derived Soils, pdf
Carrie Jennings - Minnesota Geological Survey

Historical Climate Changes in the Midwest: Effects on Soils, pdf
Dr. Mark Seeley - University of Minnesota

Soil Hydrology and Morphology, pdf
Dr. Jay Bell - University of Minnesota