The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed will be hosting a presentation by Dr. Ted Loudon entitled "Fate of Phosphorus and Coliform Bacteria in Septic Systems", on November 7, at 7 p.m. at the Bay City State Recreation Area Visitors Center.

Septic systems are sources of both nutrients and pathogenic bacteria. Given the right conditions, both can be effectively removed by soils. Typical performance of septic systems and other onsite treatment systems will be discussed with respect to their ability to remove phosphorus and coliform bacteria. Dr. Loudon is Professor Emeritus of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Michigan State University, and the current Director for the Michigan Onsite Wastewater Training and Education Center in Novi.

Dr. Loudon's presentation is the third in a series of discussions that will occur over the next few months on E. coli impacts on Saginaw Bay and approaches to reduce these impacts, a priority issue identified through the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative.

Details of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative and additional information are available online at http://www.michigan.gov/deq under "Issues to Watch."

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised November 5, 2008 by Pat Watson