Indiana Dunes LakeshoreMost people probably don't think of Indiana as a major beach destination. However, Lake Michigan forms miles of lakeshore along northern Indiana where time and nature have created beautiful sand dunes. Save the Dunes is a leader in the community to protect the Lake Michigan basin and conserve Indiana's lakeshore. Research conducted by Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, during the development of the Dunes Creek Watershed Management Plan, found that leaking wastewater from aging and failing septic systems is a major source of E. coli and poses a serious threat to water quality in Dunes Creek in northwestern Indiana's Lake Michigan basin.

To address this problem, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund (SDCF) conducted a septic system survey in the Dunes Creek watershed to gather information on the extent of the septic system problem and facilitate steps toward its resolution. In March and April of 2007, SDCF went door-to-door with the Porter County and State of Indiana Health Departments to gather information on septic systems. SDCF also educated property owners of the importance of septic system maintenance.

During the first phase of the survey, SDCF prioritized areas of concern within the Dunes Creek watershed, based upon water quality data, soil suitability, topography, and proximity to Dunes Creek. SDCF then canvassed the area on foot to distribute educational material and notify property owners that Health Department officials would be in the area within the next month to inspect septic systems.

During the second phase of the survey, SDCF and the Porter County and State of Indiana Health Departments visited 111 properties within the watershed. SDCF interviewed property owners to obtain information on the age, location, and maintenance history of their septic systems and provided detailed educational information on septic system maintenance. Nearly one third of the septic systems inspected were found to be malfunctioning.

SDCF continues to facilitate the process of resolving septic system problems in the Dunes Creek watershed by presenting our findings to area town councils, urging them to play an active role in helping residents resolve the septic problems and meeting with the State and County Health Departments to cooperatively implement measures for remediation of malfunctioning systems. We must work together to fix the many failing septic systems to reduce the concentrations of E. coli in Dunes Creek. Save the Dunes Conservation Fund will continue to work with our partners and property owners to protect and improve water quality in Dunes Creek.