The Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance in Missouri sent invitations to homeowners to enjoy a free meal while hearing expert advice on the care and maintenance of their onsite systems. The program is paying off as more residents are being encouraged to have their septic tanks pumped. The program, funded by a grant from the state’s Department of Natural Resources, began in April 2008 and ran through September.Presentations open and close with a test to calculate what attendees learned. LOWA executive director Donna Swall reports seeing a 20-percent increase in knowledge. Those who sign up for a pump-out receive
