California Agency Sued For Delaying New Septic System Rules

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Environmental advocacy groups Heal the Ocean and Heal the Bay filed a lawsuit against the California State Water Resources Control Board for taking more than seven years to adopt septic system permitting and operation standards after rules were supposed to go into effect by January 2004.

The groups sued the board to protect public health and aquatic life. California does not have regulations for monitoring the state’s 1.2 million onsite systems. A spokesperson for the resources board stated that a final draft of the rules should be out in the next few months and that the delay was normal for the public processes.

 

New York

In response to new state and federal stormwater regulations aimed at protecting the New York City reservoir system, 10 watershed towns of northern Westchester added a five-year septic tank pump-out requirement to their sanitary codes.

Most took effect in May 2011. During the service, existing regulations require haulers to inspect the drainfield and report failure signs to the county health department. There are about 40,000 septic systems in Westchester; 30,000 in the watershed.

The New Castle board added a chapter to the town code requiring owners of homes with onsite systems to show proof of an inspection by a licensed service provider every five years.

 

Florida

The Jacksonville Water and Sewer Expansion Authority has closed for lack of business. The agency, created in 2003, helped extend water and sewer service in established neighborhoods and received $15.5 million in state and federal grants to work in areas where failing septic tanks polluted waterways feeding the St. Johns River.

Proposed legislation calls for the municipal utilities provider to take over the work of the closed agency. According to the agency’s former executive director, the priority of the partnership is to phase out septic tanks. The project is financed by stormwater utility fees.

 

Oregon

A draft ordinance proposed by a Dunes City council member would eliminate mandated onsite inspections except for new or replacement systems, buildings that are expanded or remodeled or sold, or when the city receives written complaints.

Under current legislation effective in March 2012, homeowners must submit proof of an inspection, mapping, and pumping of an onsite system. Follow-up inspections would be due every five years with pumping as required. The council formed an Ordinance Review Committee to rewrite the proposal.

 

Pennsylvania

The state Department of Environmental Protection required the Delaware Township to update its sewage management plan to address old systems with rusting steel tanks. Supervisors proposed an ordinance that would require homeowners to have their septic tanks pumped and onsite systems inspected every three years. Part of the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act also requires supervisors to develop an inspection plan for onsite systems.



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