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About the Learning Lab

The Need

Soil has all of the properties necessary to renovate wastewater to protect the environment. That is why septic tanks with soil absorption fields can do such an excellent job. Soil can

  • filter out disease-causing organisms
  • recycle nutrients
  • recycle organic matter, and
  • deliver clean water.

    The key to the effectiveness of a septic system is construction the soil absorption field in deep, well-drained soil. Unfortunately only 6% of Ohio's land area has soils suited to conventional septic systems.

    Other wastewater treatment technologies are available to work with Ohio's natural soil resources to allow for home construction in rural areas while still protecting the environment. These appropriate technologies, known as

  • mound systems,
  • lagoons,
  • sand bioreactors, and
  • wastewater reuse systems
    will all be demonstrated at the new Learning Lab. Soil Button

    The Program

    The learning lab will initially serve 4 major groups:

  • System Designers
  • Contractors and installers
  • Regulators
  • Property owners

    The Ohio State University beginning in 2001 will offer schools, workshops, seminars and field days to a variety of groups from all over Ohio. The program goal is to eliminate nonpoint source pollution from sewage systems serving homes and business in rural Ohio.

    The Partnership

    Developing this new learning lab is a team effort. The team is being led by 2 OSU professors from the College of Food. Agricultural & Environmental Sciences.

  • Dr. Karen Mancl, Professor Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering and Extension Water Quality Specialist
  • Dr. Brian Slater, Assistant Professor Natural Resources and Extension Soil Scientist

    Advising and offering support is a committee representing:

  • Ohio Department of Health
  • Madison County Health Department
  • Ohio Land Improvement Contractors Association
  • Farm Science Review
  • Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association

    Most importantly is the support of many sponsors without whose help, the learning lab would be slow to develop. Major support is being provided by:

  • Ohio EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program
  • The Ohio State University

    On-going support

    A special endowment fund has been established to provide on-going support. Early contributors are:

  • Drs. Larry Antosch & Karen Mancl
  • Inland Products, Inc.
  • Norwalk Concrete Industries, Inc.
  • Lindsay Concrete Products, Inc.
  • Earthtek Environmental Systems, Inc.
  • Baumgardner Co., Inc.
  • A-Lok Products
  • Zabel Environmental Technology
  • Drs. Tara & Norman VanToai
  • American Electric Power

    The endowment continues to grow. Send contributions to the Wastewater Treatment Research Endowment care of:
    Dr. Karen Mancl
    590 Woody Hayes Dr.
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, OH 43210

    Make checks payable to the OSU Development Fund.


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