This presentation is an overview of source water protection, the role properly functioning onsite wastewater systems play in maintaining healthy, well-functioning watersheds. Best management practices specific to onsite systems will be addressed, along with how the onsite wastewater treatment system industry impacts the often-misunderstood link between wastewater, watersheds, and drinking water protection.

One of the most critical parts of an onsite wastewater treatment system is the development of a healthy biomat, yet biomat is not something that can be purchased from a distributor. So, what exactly is the biomat and how does it form in a drainfield?