Just as we reported earlier this week on a Wisconsin county cracking down on homeowners who ignore septic system inspection rules, a county in Florida wants to eliminate all pumping requirements for its residents.

Called “good news’’ for Washington County, Florida, residents, this report from WTVY.com says that a new county rule would bypass a state law that requires an inspection every five years:

http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/County-Seeks-Control-of-Septic-Tanks-166332846.html

In part, the report quoted a county commissioner, Charles Brock, saying:

“I think the people have that right to take care of their own septic tanks, if their pump tears up they get it fixed. If your tank tears up, the landowner will fix their own tanks. We don't need the state coming in here telling the landowners what they can do and can't do.'' 

That’s all well and good if homeowners are qualified to inspect their own systems to tell if they need pumping or maintenance. But, by and large, they are not. This proposed rule forgets the toll ignorance can take on the environment and homeowners’ pocketbooks if they suffer a system failure.

This is another example of people failing to understand that septic systems require periodic inspections and pumping to provide long, trouble-free service. Lawmakers and homeowners should take a step back and learn how septic systems work before criticizing all regulations involving this critical component in the home. To ignore the need for occasional inspection and pumping is to invite expensive system failure and groundwater pollution 

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