Workshop On Septic Maintenance

RIDGEFIELD –– A regional workshop on septic maintenance will be held on Friday, October 16, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, at the Ridgefield Town Hall Annex, 66 Prospect Street. The workshop is aimed primarily at water companies, watershed associations, conservation commission, water pollution control authorities, and health departments.

The workshop is sponsored by the Norwalk River Watershed Association, the Ridgefield Health Department, and the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative Advisory Committee. It seeks to educate participants about existing septic system maintenance ordinances, a potential model ordinance, and new and existing educational sources – from pamphlets to programs to the web – to educate the homeowner about the function of septic systems and how to properly manage them to safeguard pure drinking supplies.

Tim Simpkins of the New Fairfield Health Department, Mike McCarthy from the Brookfield Health Department, and Steve Luckett from the Old Saybrook Water Pollution Control Authority will speak about the origin and operation of their ordinances and explain how they have been working for years.

Judith Nelson, director of the Westport/Weston Health District, and Joe DeRise of the Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District will present some existing and new educational products for community outreach. Chris Malik and Warren Herzig of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water Management and Frank Schaub of the state Health Department will offer the state’s perspective on the subject and listen to requests from participants for regulations, educational materials and programs, enforcement measures, and training programs that would improve water quality and allow town staff and officials to more easily and completely accomplish their jobs.

Registration for this free workshop is required, and space is limited. Interested participants should telephone Lillian Willis, 203-438-8653 and ask for more information and a registration form.