May 23, 2007
 
Project’s First Home Wastewater System Goes In
 
By HNN Staff
 

Nestled up a narrow hollow close to Flat Creek in the Left Fork of the Mud River Watershed is the home of Beecher and Judy Adkins, the first installation site of Lincoln County’s Alternative Wastewater Demonstration Project.
Flat Creek is nestled back among twisty roads and narrow, rural hollows in the southeastern corner of Lincoln County. At this time of year, honey suckle scents the air and people work until dusk in their gardens. Just a short distance up the road is the home of Beecher and Judy Adkins. Their home is the first installation site of a US Environmental Protection Agency and Lincoln County Commission project. Lincoln County is one of several national EPA alternative wastewater demonstration projects. These federally funded projects seek to demonstrate that new alternative sewage treatment systems can help decrease e. coli and other bacteria coming from home septic systems that non-existent or failing.
 
Beecher and Judy’s home will have a new system on Thursday, May 31. A special ceremony will take place that afternoon at 2 pm, recognizing this first installation and the people whose work has made the system possible. Lincoln County Commission President Charles McCann will spearhead the recognitions. “This is an important milestone, “said McCann. “We think what we are doing here will not just help local people in this watershed, but will demonstrate how new technologies can help in similar communities throughout Lincoln County, West Virginia, and this region.”
 
This first system will include a peat filter module and will be installed by Ashco-A-Corporation from Morgantown. Instead of a traditional septic system with a tank and leach field, the new system will have a septic tank, then a peat filter to further clean the effluent from the septic tank, and finally a drip system which will disperse the nearly clean water evenly through the soil. New technologies such as peat systems have been very effective in reducing bacterial content. They also take up much less room and can work moiré effectively in difficult situations where homes are close to creeks or in areas with high water tables.
 
Lincoln County’s project has brought community members together in meetings stretching over a two year period. Citizens have designed the criteria for deciding what families get these new systems. Key considerations include low income status, homes near creeks with high e. coli content, and participation in community planning. Nearly $500,000 has been set aside for systems and installation costs. Planners hope that another 20 systems will be installed in this area, the Left Fork of the Mud River, during the project.
 
The project has been supported by a variety of organizations and agencies including the Lincoln County Commission, West Virginia University, WVU Extension, the WVU National Research Center for Coal and Energy, the Lincoln County Health Department, DHHR’s Onsite Sewage Program, Congressman Nick Rahall, and the citizens of the Left Fork community.
 
For additional information including directions to the site for the 31st, contact Ric MacDowell (304-824-7911) or ric.macdowell@mail.wvu.edu