The Springs Protection Bill would create a pilot program featuring Rainbow and Silver Springs to combat their reduced water flow and declining water quality. It would require the Department of Environmental Protection to establish total maximum daily loads of pollutants and develop a basin management plan. It also would require monitoring and upgrading of onsite systems near basins.If passed, the state Department of Health would have to inventory septic tanks within each spring zone. Licensed contractors would inspect and certify septic tanks as functioning properly. Homeowners within the zones would be required to pump tanks every five years, and repair
