Clean Water, Clean Soil: City of Ramsey Septic System Engagement Plan

Abstract

This project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The historic exurban development patterns evident today in the City of Ramsey initially emerged during the 1970s, when residential development was dominated by single-family homes with private wells and septic systems. Today, there are some 4,000 private septic systems in Ramsey. If not properly maintained or if in disrepair, septic systems present a serious threat to ground water quality and public health. The City of Ramsey wanted to improve outreach to septic owners to communicate the importance of regular septic system maintenance, and provide resources to protect the integrity of the systems and extend their useful life. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class evaluated current City communication and outreach efforts to septic system owners, interviewed topic experts and researched septic system maintenance best practices in other communities, and proposed an educational campaign and regulatory strategies to motivate residents to properly maintain their systems. The students’ final report and poster are available.