Developing an Extension Program on Onsite Septic Systems in Oklahoma.

Onsite septic systems are widely used in a state like Oklahoma wherein a large fraction of the population resides in rural areas that are not serviced by a city or municipal sewer system. Oklahoma is unique from many states because its soils and climate varies considerable from the eastern to the western border which causes a wide variety of systems to be utilized in the state. The state recently adopted soil profile characterization as a requirement for issuing installation permits and has just enacted a rather highly debated wastewater nitrate reduction policy. All these points to the need for an extension program to cater to such a critical industry. Recognizing this need, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service launched  a land-grant university-based extension program solely devoted on septic systems aimed at catering to the educational and technical needs of the state regulating agencies, certified installers, environmental advocacy groups and the different Native-American nations, among others. This presentation will illustrate the experience of establishing such extension program. A few details about the challenges, the early successes and the promise of running an upstart extension program will be presented.