Indiana nonprofit to provide some households up to $200 to help keep drinking water clean

A local nonprofit is providing some households up to $200 to help keep local rivers and Lake Monroe clean.

The Friends of Lake Monroe will provide more information about the program and septic system maintenance at a meeting this week with the Monroe County Health Department.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Friends of Lake Monroe Septic Voucher Program?

The nonprofit is providing some of the roughly 9,000 eligible households in the Lake Monroe watershed half the cost of septic system pumping — up to $100, plus up to another $100 for installing a septic tank riser.

The nonprofit received $13,000 for the program from the Monroe County Stormwater Management Board. After administrative and other fees, $7,000 will remain for the vouchers, said Lake Monroe Watershed Coordinator Maggie Sullivan.

How many people can get help with the septic voucher program?

Sullivan said she expects about 80 households to be able to get funds, though the exact number depends on cost of the septic pumping and the level of reimbursement.

Why should you have your septic system pumped?

The Friends of Lake Monroe said in a news release that about half of the 9,000 septic systems in the watershed are more than 30 years old and failing systems can release harmful substances, including E. coli, into nearby bodies of water that flow into Lake Monroe, the county’s primary source of drinking water.

Runoff from farms and malfunctioning septic systems contributes to the lake's algae bloom, which in recent years has created odorous tap water at certain times of the year.

Like dirt or mildew: Why does Bloomington's tap water taste and smell bad?

How often should you have your septic system pumped?

Septic systems should be pumped regularly to maintain functionality, according to the local health department.

"Septic system maintenance is crucial to protecting human health and water quality,” said Shian’ah Cox, the department’s environmental health specialist. “We are very excited to partner with Friends of Lake Monroe on increasing awareness and adoption of regular maintenance practices like pumping septic tanks every three years."

How can you apply for the Septic Voucher Program?

You can fill out an application at friendsoflakemonroe.org/septic or call Sullivan at 812-558-0217. Grants will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The program will run through Aug. 31 or until funds are exhausted.

Where can you learn more about septic system maintenance?

You can attend the workshop, from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bloomington Friends Meeting House, 3820 E. Moores Pike.

The Friends of Lake Monroe also will send out mailers this summer on septic system maintenance and, together with Brown County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Brown County Regional Sewer District, will host a Septic Summit at the Brown County Fairgrounds Sept. 14.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Friends of Lake Monroe offering up to $200 to protect drinking water