A recent newspaper story out of Ohio raised an ethical question for septic service providers: When you find an onsite system that’s not performing at an acceptable level, is your loyalty only to the customer who may not want to pay for repairs or to the general public that may have concerns about the impact of a failing system in the neighborhood?

The owner of a pumping company railed against Ohio onsite wastewater rules that were updated for the first time since 1977. Joining a growing number of jurisdictions across the country, Ohio this year enacted a requirement for pumpers to report the condition of septic systems they service.

In Wisconsin, where I live, this is nothing new. Pumpers keep service records for their customers and file reports with the county health department regarding the condition of septic systems. Maintenance is required every three years and reporting is required.

But the Ohio pumper said he would rather stop pumping than be forced to report the condition of a customer’s older system to the government. He said he was not going to renew his hauling license because of this change.

“We must be able to provide undivided loyalty to our customer. The reporting requirement places this loyalty in question by creating a conflict of interest, which cannot be resolved. Our customers are our friends and neighbors. We cannot and will not operate under these conditions,’’ he told the newspaper.

The pumper further objected to becoming “the agent for the health department.’’ He contended that whether a system is aging or predates a permitting process is not important and its performance shouldn’t need to be reported. “Just because a system is old and doesn’t have a permit doesn’t mean it isn’t doing the job. The only problem a homeowner has is if the effluent is going off site. If it’s not leaving the site, it’s not an environmental issue.’’

DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL?

Of course pumpers feel a loyalty to customers. But the question is: How do you serve your customers’ best interests? Is it by taking a pump-and-run attitude, assuming the customer only wants to be told the system is “working’’ and would prefer to avoid detailed records and accountability because this may result in expensive repairs or replacement down the road?

Or is it in the best interest of everyone in the community – including your customers – to establish a baseline condition report for every system and then set up a routine schedule to monitor and pump systems to ensure proper performance?

I believe this pumper doesn’t have a clear view of the big picture. He doesn’t recognize that as a pumping professional, he has a higher calling to the community, the environment and the wastewater industry whenever he pops a lid and cleans out a tank. And by living up to that professional responsibility, he is also serving his customers.

Widespread under-reporting of the condition of septic systems can have many negative impacts. Here are a few:

Tainting groundwater and drinking water supplies

Look the other way when you find one poorly performing septic system and run the risk of compromising a well or the water trickling into a stream or lake. Ignore the problems of several systems in need of upgrading and you’re threatening the environment of a neighborhood. If all the pumpers in your area would let questionable systems slide over months and years, there could be a devastating impact on a life-sustaining resource for all: a clean water supply.

Turning onsite repairs into system replacements

What is the result if you don’t tell customers when they should increase the frequency of pumping or fail to strenuously advocate for necessary system upgrades? Systems will become overwhelmed and drainfields and components will be damaged. So rather than paying for an additional pumping or a small repair now, customers may face a catastrophic failure in a few years. Providing homeowner education and being willing to deliver the bad news when necessary is the pumper’s responsibility. Reporting to your health department plays a role in the ongoing wellness of all septic systems.

Damaging the reputation of the wastewater industry

Building respect for the decentralized wastewater industry is a challenge. We know that a few instances of pumpers who act unscrupulously or refuse to follow the rules can have a devastating impact on the thousands of professionals in the pumping community. We’ve seen the setbacks when headlines scream of a pumper who’s been caught up in an illegal dumping scandal. Groups like the National Association of Wastewater Technicians, along with many dedicated professional pumpers, promote and work hard to follow acceptable environmental rules. Pumpers who fight against environmental protection and new wastewater technologies set the industry back.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM

I’d like to return to the Ohio pumper’s statement that no environmental issues exist unless effluent is running off the customer’s property. Really? Is he saying untreated sewage coming to the surface of the drainfield is a problem if it reaches a neighbor’s property, but it’s OK if it stays in the customer’s yard? An attitude of indifference can put a customer’s health at risk.

An important trust exists between pumpers and their customers, and proper and safe sanitation is on the line in this relationship. Customers look to their professional septic technician to provide a thorough service, follow all laws and regulations, and level with them when maintenance, repairs and system replacement are needed. Those who want to play by a different set of rules are probably making a good decision by getting out of the wastewater business.