Septic Care Program and Workshops

Do You Live in a Home with a Septic System?

As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your septic system. If properly designed, constructed, and maintained, your septic system can provide long-term effective treatment of household wastewater. However, a failing septic system can require expensive repairs, pose a serious health risk to your family and neighbors, and have negative impacts on groundwater and nearby streams, rivers, and lakes.

Want tips to improve your septic system?
Check out our septic care page.

Why is Proper Maintenance Important?
  • Leaking/failing systems deliver raw sewage (wastewater) into our watersheds, endangering people and livestock in the area with increased bacteria and pathogen inputs into waterways. There are many serious health issues that can occur from coming into contact with untreated septic waste.
  • Proper maintenance is essential to keeping your system working efficiently and protecting the value of your home and the environment.

Clarks Run, Hanging Fork, and Hinkston Creek Watershed Improvement Program

This program includes implementation of the watershed-based plans (WBP) for Clarks Run and Hanging Fork Watersheds of the Dix River Watershed and the Hinkston Creek Watershed Assessment and Management Plan through outreach, education, and activities that address high bacteria levels and inadequate riparian buffer zones.  Program objectives include reducing human and livestock fecal inputs, increasing riparian buffer width, reducing urban runoff, increasing knowledge of water quality issues for local citizens, officials, K-12 students, and collaborating with county partners to provide input and support for implementing activities.

Bluegrass Greensource is currently accepting bids for septic repair projects in the Hinkston Creek, Clarks Run and Hanging Fork Watersheds. Click here to download bids.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the Septic Funding Assistance Opportunities?

Applications Available for Workshop Participants:

  • Free septic tank pumpout and riser installation, if necessary
  • 80/20 cost-share grants for septic system repairs or installation in straight pipe conditions

How do I know if I am Eligible for Funding?

  • Reside within the Hinkston Creek, Clarks Run, or Hanging Fork watershed
  • Attend a septic workshop or session hosted by Bluegrass Greensource
  • Submit a signed “Application for Septic Pumpout Program” or “Application for Septic System Repair Program”

When is the next Septic Care Workshop in my area?

The first round of septic care workshops were held in April 2018, one in each county (Bourbon, Montgomery, and Nicholas Counties in the Hinkston Creek Watershed, and Boyle and Lincoln Counties in the Clarks Run and Hanging Fork Watershed).  We are currently working on the first round of projects and will update this site as we move towards planning another round of workshops at the end of this year, beginning of next.

Who should I contact with questions?

Lindsie Nicholas, P.E. 
Watershed Coordinator
859.266.1572
lindsie@bggreensource.org 

This program, funded by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency through Kentucky Division of Water, focuses on water quality improvements in the Hinkston Creek, Clarks Run and Hanging Fork watersheds. To be eligible for grants, homeowners must reside within the Hinkston Creek watershed in Bourbon, Nicholas, or Montgomery County or within the Clark Run or Hanging Fork watersheds in Boyle or Lincoln County.