Year Three 2005

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2005 Annual Report: Letter from the 2006 Chair

I would like to take this opportunity to present the Northwest Michigan Onsite Wastewater Task Force 2005 Annual Report. This report summarizes the numerous educational efforts our organization carried out in the previous year. As you will note, the dozens of educational activities directly reached hundreds of individuals in our region of Michigan. This direct contact, in addition to the very active Task Force resource website, has allowed our organization to reach thousands
more in our area and beyond.
The Task Force Board of Directors has been instrumental in supporting and carrying out these important activities and I would like to give my thanks to them for their commitment to our mission.
With their ongoing support, the NWMOWTF will continue to strive to educate our citizens as to the interconnection between well designed, constructed and maintained Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems and the high quality surface and ground water that make the Northwest region of Michigan a very special place to live.
In 2006, as a result of undertaking strategic planning, NWMOWTF has set its priority goal: to forge a connection in the public’s mind of the direct link between safe drinking water, clean recreational waters,
environmentally sustainable surface and groundwater with appropriate wastewater recycling strategies. To achieve this goal we will continue to build on existing collaborations and seek out like minded partners.

Read the full 2005 Report below

Northwest Michigan Onsite Wastewater Task Force sponsored Groundwater Education Day on Earth Day, April 22 to 245 5th Grade students from Manistee County.

In conjunction with Michigan Rural Water Association, Michigan Groundwater Stewardship, Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council and State of MI Department of Environmental Quality Staff, students learned from a wide variety of hands on activities the basics of watersheds, aquifer drinking water protection, nonpoint source pollution and how onsite wastewater systems work.

Activities: November
NWMOWTF began work with Benzonia Township and Village as facilitator for a pilot project to consider a range of onsite system management options including EPA’s Voluntary 5 levels of ‘RME’ – creation of a ‘Responsible Management Entity.’

AGENDA
Responsible Management Entity / Strategic Water Quality Initiative Fund Planning meeting to assess suitability and application for remediation of onsite wastewater issues. Held at Benzie Leelanau District Health Department.
Participants: Benzonia Township,
Village of Benzonia, Benzie County,
Chamber and Economic Development Council.
Representatives from Long Lake Township.
Facilitators:
Northwest Michigan Onsite Wastewater Task Force
Dr. Richard Otis Ph.D., P.E., DEE (pictured below)

Activities: December
NWMOWTF began preparation for printing a 16 page tabloid education publication for insertion in Spring 2006 in 16 county newspapers. The intent of this publication is that it function as an onsite wastewater education resource for home and business owners and local communities.

The intent is to create an attractive, informative publication, on good quality paper, which will have lasting value, both as a reference and education tool, to showcase small community systems, cost effective options for advanced individual residential and commercial property owners and to promote other not for profit organizations who provide low or no cost technical and education services.