September 14–18, 2026 is SepticSmart Week!
Now in its 14th year, EPA’s annual SepticSmart Week is an opportunity for the onsite wastewater industry to remind homeowners that a little knowledge and routine maintenance can go a long way toward protecting their septic systems, their property and the environment.
For septic professionals, it is also a great opportunity to educate customers—and you don’t have to create the educational materials yourself.
EPA’s SepticSmart program has developed an extensive collection of free educational resources designed for homeowners but available for use by septic professionals, businesses, health departments, municipalities and other organizations.
The materials can be downloaded, printed and shared, and many are available in both English and Spanish. Some can even be personalized by a business or local government.
There’s Something for Almost Every Customer
EPA’s SepticSmart library includes materials covering everything from basic septic system care to advice for new homebuyers and rental property owners.
Among the resources available are:
- Quick Tip Videos covering topics such as what not to put down the drain, water conservation, protecting the drainfield, inspections and pumping.
- Quick Tip handouts featuring the SepticSmart messages “Think at the Sink”, “Don’t Strain Your Drain”, “Keep It Clean”, “Shield Your Field”, “Protect It and Inspect It”, “Don’t Overload the Commode”, and “Pump Your Tank.”
- Homeowner guides and brochures, including a New Homebuyer’s Guide, septic system dos and don’ts, landscaping guidance and quick tips for keeping a septic system healthy.
- Materials specifically for rental properties, including a rental property flyer, kitchen postcard and bathroom placard.
- Posters and door hangers that businesses and communities can distribute.
- Ready-to-use mailers and postcards that service providers can send to customers as maintenance reminders.
Put the Materials to Work
SepticSmart Week is a good reason to start a conversation with customers, but these resources can be useful throughout the year.
A pumper might include a SepticSmart handout with a customer’s receipt after servicing a tank. An inspector could provide new homeowners with EPA’s New Homebuyer’s Guide. A service provider could use one of the customizable postcards to remind customers that routine maintenance is due. Installers and designers can direct homeowners to information about protecting and landscaping around their soil absorption system.
Even sharing one of EPA’s short SepticSmart videos or graphics on your company’s social media page can help reinforce good septic habits.
The goal isn’t to turn every homeowner into a septic expert. It’s to help them understand that what they flush, pour down the drain, plant, drive over and forget to maintain can have a real impact on the life and performance of their system.
Help Spread the Word September 14–18
Septic professionals interact with homeowners every day and are often their most trusted source of information about their onsite wastewater system. SepticSmart Week provides an easy opportunity to use that relationship to promote good system care and maintenance.
This September, consider choosing a few of EPA’s free resources and sharing them with your customers, posting them on social media, adding them to your website or making them available in your office.
A better-informed homeowner is more likely to properly maintain their system—and that’s good for homeowners, onsite wastewater professionals and the environment.
Explore EPA’s free SepticSmart educational materials:
EPA SepticSmart Education Materials
Learn more about SepticSmart Week 2026:
EPA SepticSmart Week
