Lagoon Wastewater Systems Practical Tools and Resources for Compliance | Recorded on April 28, 2026

In this recording of our live webinar "Lagoon Wastewater Systems Practical Tools and Resources for Compliance," viewers will receive an overview of common lagoon system challenges and best practices for improving compliance. We also review publicly available resources for improving lagoon operations and demo our search tools on WaterOperator.org.

This webinar series from WaterOperator.org covers topics relevant to wastewater operators, including funding, asset management, compliance, and water quality. Certificates of attendance will be delivered upon request to live attendees but are not available for watching this replay. 

Recordings of our previous webinars:

• Energy Optimization and Cost‑Saving Strategies for Wastewater Utilities | March 31, 2026
• Workforce Development & Succession Planning for Wastewater Utilities | February 24, 2026
• Essential Safety Resources for Wastewater Operators | December 22, 2025
• Community Engagement Resources for Wastewater Utilities | November 4, 2025
• From Waste to Resource: Biosolids Management References for POTWs | August 2025
• Stormwater Management Resources for POTWs | July 2025
• Understanding Wastewater-Based Epidemiology | May 2025
• Enhanced Nutrient and Harmful Algal Bloom Control Resources | February 2025
• Wastewater System Sustainability Practices | November 2024
• Wastewater System Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Resources | August 2024
• Funding Wastewater Infrastructure Projects | July 2024
• Source Water Protection for Communities with Decentralized Wastewater | May 2024
• Cybersecurity for Wastewater Operators | February 2024

The Impact of Winter Weather on Water Systems

With winter weather upon us, water systems face increased challenges. The combination of freezing temperatures, increased water demand, and potential infrastructure vulnerabilities can significantly impact the quality and reliability of drinking water. Understanding these challenges and how to mitigate them is crucial for ensuring safe and consistent water supply during the colder months.

Freezing Temperatures and Infrastructure

One of the primary concerns during winter is the risk of pipes freezing and bursting. When water inside pipes freezes, it expands, which can cause pipes to crack or burst. This not only leads to water loss but also poses a risk of contamination if the integrity of the water system is compromised. To prevent this, water utilities often implement measures such as:

• Insulating Pipes and Infrastructure: Ensure that pipes are properly insulated and that heating systems are in place to maintain a stable temperature in critical areas.
• Regular Maintenance: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of water systems, including checking for leaks and ensuring that all equipment is in good working order.
• Heating Systems: Installing heating systems in critical areas to maintain a stable temperature.
• Communication with Customers: Encourage homeowners to be proactive about protecting their pipes from freezing in colder months.

Increased Water Demand

Winter weather can lead to increased water demand for various reasons, including the need for heating systems that use water, such as boilers and radiators. Additionally, people tend to use more water for hot showers and baths during colder months. This increased demand can strain the water supply system, making it essential for utilities to manage resources efficiently.

Contamination Risks

Snow and ice can carry pollutants, like salt for de-icing roads, that may enter the water supply through runoff. When snow melts, it can pick up contaminants from roads, agricultural fields, and other surfaces, which then flow into water sources. To address this, water treatment facilities must be equipped to handle higher levels of pollutants and ensure that the water is safe for consumption.

Mitigation Strategies

To ensure the reliability and safety of drinking water systems during winter, several strategies can be employed. Organizations should establish a comprehensive cold weather safety plan. This plan should outline precautions to take before, during, and after the onset of freezing temperatures. Key elements include: 

• Winterize water systems and ensure that exposed plumbing is properly drained. 
• Inspect building heating systems to keep areas with plumbing above 40°F. 
• Clear access to fire hydrants, sprinkler system rooms, and life safety equipment.
• Monitor and manage snow accumulation on roofs and around facilities to prevent damage and ensure safety.
• Review emergency evacuation procedures to ensure that snow, ice and cold weather conditions are adequately addressed.

Winter weather presents unique challenges for water systems, but with proactive preparation and effective management, these challenges can be mitigated. By understanding the risks and implementing appropriate strategies, we can ensure that our drinking water remains safe and reliable throughout the winter season.

RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #5

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Pembroke Township Public Water System Training and Assistance for Drinking Water Operators
• Communicating About Lead in Drinking Water
• Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck – GIS Mapping
• Board Relationships: Navigating the Waters of Governance and Operations
• The Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Helps Island Community Retain Local Water System Ownership
• Big Changes for a Small Water System

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #4

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Resolving Inflow and Infiltration Issues in a Growing Community
• The Beginner’s Guide to Geospatial Asset Management
• How Smoke Testing Can Help Your Small Wastewater Collection System
• Red Cliff Wastewater Treatment Plant Compliant Treatment Process
• Meeting the October 2024 Deadline: A Quick Guide for Water Utilities Struggling to Get Started with Lead Service Line Inventory Compliance
• What is the Most Important Business in Your Community?

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #3

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Assessing Your Collection System with a Pipeline Camera System
• Water System Achieves Compliance In One Year With Communities Unlimited’s Assistance
• Administrative Professionals and Their Continuous Contributions to Water and Wastewater Systems
• Staff in Nebraska is Helping to Build a Sustainable, Resilient Utility Workforce
• System Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans
• Effective Communication with the Community

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

How to Abandon a Septic System

There’s a number of situations in which a septic tank/system might need to be abandoned: replacing it with a new system, connecting to a city sewer, or abandoning a property altogether. Septic tanks, cesspools, leaching pits, dry wells, and everything related must be properly cared for and not simply left as they are. Most important is to ensure that access for future discharge from the system will never be possible.

Many states or localities will have specific requirements for procedures on abandoning a septic system. For example, you can take a look at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s guidance on abandoning a sub-surface sewage treatment system, where several state codes are referenced.

According to Sara Heger, septic educator at the University of Minnesota, there are three common practices for what to do with the empty tank:

1. Remove and dispose of the tank at a landfill.
2. Crush the tank entirely and backfill the hole. Water has to be able to drain through it, so it must be completely broken.
3. Fill the tank with a material like concrete that won’t let liquids flow through. There must be no risk of collapse in this scenario.

Basically, you never want to have an abandoned septic tank lying out exposed like in the photo above! Before codes and regulations for old septic systems came into place, it was common practice to simply leave the tanks where they were and forget about them. But this is quite dangerous. Old homes that were hooked into a sewer system long after construction should be inspected for old septic systems when sold.

An improperly abandoned septic system poses several possible risks. They could collapse into sinkholes, spread disease if untreated waste comes into contact with groundwater, or release toxic gasses like methane and hydrogen sulfide.

Be on the lookout for these signs of an abandoned septic system that is leaking, from B&B Pumping in Fort Worth: excessive weed growth on a lawn or algae on a pond, a perpetually soggy patch of lawn, an area of lawn that smells like human waste, unstable and sinking land, or pipes physically protruding from the ground.

Building over the top of even a properly abandoned septic tank isn’t a good idea, since sinking problems or leaked pollution could still occur if the area isn’t handled with care.

Can A Septic Tank Float?

As crazy as it might sound, the answer is yes: Septic tanks can float out of the ground. Any buried structure will float when empty if it weighs less than the water that displaces it. That means that when installing any sort of septic system in an area with a high water table and/or that is prone to flooding, you must conduct buoyancy tests and determine if the system will remain stable.

Dr. Sara Heger, instructor at the University of Minnesota’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program, has broken down the calculation to determine tank stability at Onsite Installer. The basic steps are below, but Dr. Heger’s walk-through explains each step in detail and shows example calculations. You will need to know the individual weights of the following: the empty tank, the minimum amount of water and media in the tank, the soil directly above the tank, and the maximum volume of water that is displaced.

Here’s the calculation:

1. Calculate the weight of water displaced by the tank (buoyant force B).
2. Calculate or look up the weight of the tank (WT).
3. Calculate the weight of the water in the tank (WW).
4. Calculate the weight of the soil cover (WS).
5. Evaluation of net forces.

So if your calculations indicate that the tank will float, what do you do then? Thankfully, there are anti-floatation measures that can be added to the system design plans. Perhaps the most basic is to use concrete, which weighs 85 pounds per cubic foot and can be added into the design in a few different ways. Some fiberglass tanks may also have an anti-floatation lip built onto them.

It’s important to consider that any anti-floatation measure will increase stress forces on the tank, so the tanks must be able to withstand the extra force. Read more from Dr. Heger at Onsite Installer on anti-floatation.

If you ever do need to deal with a flooded septic system, whether the tank has emerged from the ground or not, refer here:

• “Faced with a Flooded Septic System?” also from Dr. Heger at Onsite Installer
• “Protecting a Septic System During and After a Flood” at WaterOperator.org
• Contact the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program at UMinn.

Water and Wastewater Operations & Maintenance

The operation and maintenance (O&M) category encompasses the broad spectrum of services required to assure the built environment will perform the functions for which a facility was designed and constructed. Operation and maintenance typically includes the day-to-day activities necessary for the system to perform its intended function.

We have 2,786 resources (and counting) on Operation and Maintenance in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents that explain how utilities can maintain economic and social health for the community, compliance tips for small, mechanical wastewater treatment plants, knowledge retention spreadsheet for small water systems, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on O&M within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Operation & Maintenance." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

RCAP's A Drop of Knowledge: Recent Article Roundup #1

A Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some recent featured articles are linked below:

• Flushable Wipes Causing Pump Clogs? Pump Flow Tests Can Alert Operators Faster
• A Look Inside RCAP’s Fly-In: Meeting With the Team Behind the Fly-In
• “To Pump, or Not to Pump, that is the question…”
• Changing Temperatures Can Set Back Wastewater Lagoons
• How to Determine the True Cost of a System When Conducting a Rate Study
• Getting the Lead Out - Lead and Copper Compliance in New Jersey

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

RCAP’s Free Monthly Articles for Water and Wastewater Operators

A Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like infrastructure, capacity building, and economic development in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some recent featured articles are linked below:

• Small South Dakota City Leverages Funds to Complete Expensive Sewer System Upgrade 
• Cross Connection Control – A Holistic Approach
• Are Your Utilities Prepared for the Upcoming Winter?
• Water Utility Digital Transformation
• Ohio Site Visit Shows Wastewater Potential of Sand Bioreactors
• Understanding Onsite and Decentralized Wastewater in America

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.