Bridging the Gap – Addressing OSSFs in Westfield Estates

1. Bridging the Gap – Addressing OSSFs in Westfield Estates Justin Bower Senior Environmental Planner

2. Westfield Estates • Aldine-Westfield Area, unincorporated Harris County • Part of Halls Bayou Watershed

3. Halls Bayou West Little York

4. Westfield Estates Neighborhood • Fairly dense urban area • Older (40’s/50’s) development • Never annexed to City • Mixed Land uses • Single family residential • Small businesses • Economically disadvantaged neighborhood

6. Infrastructure Status • Community served solely by OSSFs • Old systems • Often overloaded • High failure rate • Compromised septic fields • Drainage was problem • Much pooling • Trash/debris in ditches

7. Infrastructure Status

8. Infrastructure Status

9. Project History • Concern arose over high OSSF failure rate • Failing Septic System Initiative (FSSI) – Westfield is area of priority • At the time, no immediate plans for sanitary service

10. Project History • Bacteria levels in ditches represented acute public health risk • Source information indicated: • Mix of sources • Domestic animals • Pets • Human Waste • OSSFs were prime focus for structural

11. Project History • H-GAC worked with TCEQ to find funding to address situation • WPP model chosen, 319 grant awarded • H-GAC worked with Harris County/Pct 2, EAMD, Sunbelt FWSD, and community to create WPP

12. Project History – WPP • Original WPP called for replacing ~250 OSSFs, other BMPs • Original cost estimates were too low • Area not well suited for OSSFs • Concern that investment would be short-lived • Stakeholders decided to pursue other approach

13. Project History – Revised WPP • Because sanitary on horizon, less match available: • Smaller scale OSSF replacement program • Education focus • Low flow devices/pump outs • Pet waste components

14. Project History – Implementation • However, after several rounds of review: • TCEQ/EPA decided not to pursue approval of WPP • Gave H-GAC and partners ability to begin implementation immediately • Shifted to local project

15. Challenges to addressing OSSFs • Subdivided lots, many don’t meet minimum sizes • Multiple structures, overloaded capacities • Hindered drain fields • Many rentals • Limited funds

16. OSSF Solutions • Four-pronged strategy • Low-flow devices to reduce overflows • Pump-outs to reduce overflows, extend system life • Homeowner/renter education • Limited replacement

17. Low Flow Devices • Designed to reduce flow to overloaded OSSFs • Includes “non-invasive” components • Deluxe showerhead, faucet aerators, tankbags, dye tests, etc. • Disseminated by pump-out vendor, and at public meetings • Installed by resident • Doesn’t require plumbing • Personalized instructions (bilingual)

18. Low Flow Devices

19. OSSF Pump-outs • Marketing through mailings, parners, cross-promoted at OSSF education event, etc. • Designed to extend life of overloaded OSSFs, educate resident to maintain, help bridge gap to sanitary • Partners helped locate vendor, EAMD managed interaction/spanish language services, vendor door-to-door

20. Residential OSSF Education • Marketing through mailings, partners, fliers, community members • Education packet contained pamphlets, etc. • Designed to introduce elements of OSSFs, impart need for maintenance, cross-promote pump-outs • H-GAC developed meeting • EAMD provided refreshment/staff, • other partners attended and supported, • AgriLife gave primary presentation.

21. Residential OSSF Education

22. Residential OSSF Education

23. Targeted OSSF Replacement • Limited funding in 319 project, scaled down from original • SEP funds became available (~45,000) through HCS&WCD • Intent was targeted, income-dependant pilot program • Partners devised criteria for application • Harris County managed applications/site info • HCS&WCD managed contract • H-GAC, EAMD, Sunbelt supported efforts/meetings • Aerobic/drop irrigation systems installed

24. Targeted OSSF Replacement

25. Results • Low Flow Devices • 223 disseminated directly, 35+ disseminated at meetings • OSSF Pump-outs • 188 serviced in project area, 75 in greater Westfield community. Total volume of 132,000 gallons. • OSSF Education • Information disseminated to ~450 households • Event had ~45 attendees

26. Results • OSSF Replacements • Many applicants received • Not all met criteria • Some site issues at some locations • At the end of the process, replaced 4 systems • Average cost of ~$11,000/system • Included 2-year service agreement • Deemed unfeasible to pursue further • Cost issues, site limitations

27. In the Context of Other Efforts • Pet waste addressed through educational mailers, materials • Ditch and outfall maintenance/improvement conducted by Harris County/HCFCD during course of project • Reduced pooling • Future sanitary sewer service prioritized for area • Capacity expanded at Sunbelt plant • Funding options evaluated by EAMD/Sunbelt • Designed to complement OSSF efforts

28. Pet Waste Mailer

29. Evaluating Impact • Qualitative and quantitative review included: • Pre/post-implementation monitoring • Bacteria levels still high (up to millions CFU) • Not enough time between to indicate change • Greatly reduced pooling from original study • Direct discharge issues remain • Community Surveys • Dual-purpose, data gathering and education • Showed change, especially with OSSF, from start to finish

30. Impact Evaluation Materials

31. Impact Evaluation Monitoring

32. Down the Road - Long Term Goals • Support EAMD, Sunbelt, et al in funding applications • Provide further education under BIG efforts • Address general area as part of Halls Ahead project for HCFCD

33. Any Questions? Justin Bower Senior Environmental Planner Houston-Galveston Area Council 713-499-6653 Justin.bower@H-GAC.com Sunbelt Freshwater Supply District - Oakwilde Harris County Soil and Water Conservation District