Public Problem, Private Property: How Outreach and Incentives Drive Smarter Septic System Management 

by Shannon Pepper | Apr 3, 2025 | Communications and Outreach, Decentralized Wastewater Systems

Image credit: Shutterstock More than one in five households in the U.S. depend on individual septic systems or small community cluster systems to treat their wastewater, with some states such as Vermont reporting that up to 55% of households use septic systems. Here...

Pretreatment Programs for Small Systems: How small systems can implement and benefit from pretreatment programs and practices

by Shannon Pepper | Nov 21, 2024 | Communications and Outreach, Utility Management, Wastewater

Sampler used for industrial pretreatment sampling. First of all, what is pretreatment for wastewater and sewer systems? Pretreatment programs are often utilized by sewer authorities to protect their wastewater system and support their National Pollutant Discharge...

Whispers of Clean Water: The Art of Wastewater Treatment

by Shannon Pepper | Nov 18, 2024 | Communications and Outreach, Wastewater

Ever wonder what happens to the water that goes down your drain? Allow us to take you on an ASMR exploration of the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant. This video showcases the unsung heroes of wastewater treatment and the vital services they provide to...

Working with Tribal Nations: An Open Letter from Lionel Puhuyesva, Senior Utility Advisor at Moonshot Missions

by Shannon Pepper | Jul 31, 2024 | Communications and Outreach, Technical Assistance

Hello everyone, My name is Lionel Puhuyesva, and I am a member of the Hopi Tribe located in Northeastern Arizona. I work with Moonshot Missions as a Senior Utility Advisor. Moonshot Missions is a non-profit dedicated to ensuring clean and healthy water and waterways...

Improving Wastewater Communications through Understanding Your Target Audience

by Shannon Pepper | Jun 19, 2024 | Communications and Outreach, Wastewater

Every water system communicates with stakeholders. Would you like to see your community value water more? Are you raising your rates? Are you seeking support from local leaders such as elected officials or agency leaders for overdue infrastructure projects? Would like...

Intern Insights: Navigating PFAS Challenges in Water and Materials Management

by Shannon Pepper | Jun 18, 2024 | Communications and Outreach, Compliance with Drinking Water Regulations, Compliance with Wastewater Regulations, PFAS, Treatment Processes

First Impressions Prior to the start of my internship at the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (SU-EFC), I had never even heard of the term ‘PFAS’. However, a bit of research on Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances revealed an alarming issue that I was...