After a disaster, such as a hurricane, wildfire, or earthquake, septic systems may be damaged and fail to operate correctly. Ensuring that these systems function properly is essential to providing safe waste disposal for millions of Americans, yet there may be no standard safety protocol in place for using septic systems after a disaster occurs.
The National Environmental Health Association worked with subject matter experts and national partners to develop an accessible toolkit for septic system users with guidance documents for different types of disasters. Each guide focuses on steps septic system users can take before, during, and after a disaster to protect their health and maintain their system. There are two guidance documents included for each disaster area, a longer version with more detailed information and explanations and a shorter version with a checklist and step-by-step instructions. A document containing general educational and safety resources for septic systems is also included to supplement all the guidance resources. These materials can be used directly by septic system users or adapted by local and state agencies.
The resources are free and available online here.
