Over the past year, the Georgia Onsite Wastewater Association has been embroiled in a battle over adequate disposal options for its members. Tipping fees at municipal wastewater treatment plants escalated dramatically. As they reached capacity, many plants began refusing septage. And many pumpers, deeming new Guidelines for Land Application from the state Environmental Protection Division as restrictive and expensive, surrendered their permits.
Today, 15 approved application sites serve 159 counties. Data from the state Department of Public Health shows the number of licensed pumpers dropping from 1,682 in 2011 to 784 by
