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State requiring septic inspections/pumpings
- Thread starter joho
- Start date
beachmouse
Beach Fanatic
On a local note with that, did they ever make the homeowners in Gulf Trace hook up to sewer? I remember they had huge problems after Hurricane Dennis because they'd been allowed to put in septic tanks way, way too close to the Gulf.
Alicia Leonard
SoWal Insider
Just got this in from Sen. Gaetz office as a pr release:
The mandate was quietly inserted as an amendment into Senate Bill 550, a wide-ranging environmental preservation bill, in the waning days of the 2010 legislative session. Legislators insist they were misled by an explanation of the bill by its sponsor, who tried, but failed to enact a similar provision the previous year. Unless it is changed, the new law would force persons owning septic tanks to have them inspected every five years and then pumped out, repaired or replaced if problems are identified.
Coley, who voted against the original mandate said, ?One of the many problems with this requirement is that it was crafted by the companies that will be paid to do the inspections. This is a clear conflict of interest.?
?The proper management of septic systems is important to our environment,? Gaetz explained. ?But this mandate is not supported by scientific necessity. Moreover, it works a special hardship on many people in rural areas who are struggling to make it financially in these exceptionally hard times.?
Legislators had appealed to Governor Charlie Crist to delay implementation of the law until the House and Senate go into session in early 2011. However, Crist refused, leaving lawmakers no choice, but to seek repeal.
According to county governments, there are approximately 203,322 known septic tanks in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties. The forced inspections would cost taxpayers just in those five Northwest Florida counties millions of dollars in fees.
?County governments, taxpayer organizations and hundreds of concerned citizens have asked for relief from this intrusive, unnecessary expense,? Coley and Gaetz explained. The two lawmakers are actively seeking support for the repeal legislation which they acknowledge will be challenging to pass.
Panhandle Legislators File Septic Tank Repeal
A state law requiring owners of septic tanks to pay $500, if not more, for state-mandated inspections will be repealed under legislation being filed by Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and Representative Marti Coley (R-Marianna).
The mandate was quietly inserted as an amendment into Senate Bill 550, a wide-ranging environmental preservation bill, in the waning days of the 2010 legislative session. Legislators insist they were misled by an explanation of the bill by its sponsor, who tried, but failed to enact a similar provision the previous year. Unless it is changed, the new law would force persons owning septic tanks to have them inspected every five years and then pumped out, repaired or replaced if problems are identified.
Coley, who voted against the original mandate said, ?One of the many problems with this requirement is that it was crafted by the companies that will be paid to do the inspections. This is a clear conflict of interest.?
?The proper management of septic systems is important to our environment,? Gaetz explained. ?But this mandate is not supported by scientific necessity. Moreover, it works a special hardship on many people in rural areas who are struggling to make it financially in these exceptionally hard times.?
Legislators had appealed to Governor Charlie Crist to delay implementation of the law until the House and Senate go into session in early 2011. However, Crist refused, leaving lawmakers no choice, but to seek repeal.
According to county governments, there are approximately 203,322 known septic tanks in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties. The forced inspections would cost taxpayers just in those five Northwest Florida counties millions of dollars in fees.
?County governments, taxpayer organizations and hundreds of concerned citizens have asked for relief from this intrusive, unnecessary expense,? Coley and Gaetz explained. The two lawmakers are actively seeking support for the repeal legislation which they acknowledge will be challenging to pass.
scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
Since I prefer a sewer, I am unsure as to proper septic maintenance - but isn't every 5 years rather infrequent?
And $500 every 5 years for upkeep doesn't seem $$$ to me.
I believe the tap fee for a single family residence in Walton County is about $5k.
And $500 every 5 years for upkeep doesn't seem $$$ to me.
I believe the tap fee for a single family residence in Walton County is about $5k.
Matt J
SWGB
Since I prefer a sewer, I am unsure as to proper septic maintenance - but isn't every 5 years rather infrequent?
And $500 every 5 years for upkeep doesn't seem $$$ to me.
Septic tank systems can last for decades, but it all depends on installation, upkeep, and environment.
Tallahassee is currently putting in sewage, at a very high cost, to the Killearn Lakes area. It was required due to the high red and pipe clay content in the area. The developer chose not to install sewer and things were fine for the first few years. However, as the area was completed and vacant lots gave way to new houses the ground was over saturated and couldn't handle the amount of waste being put through the ground. It resulted in backups and outright failures.
The majority of septic tanks are installed correctly and with very little maintenance (you flush an enzyme down the toilet every 6 months to a year) and will only require maintenance when compounds that are not digestible become to concentrated. Fats, soaps, and some "fibers" are the most common culprits. Once those become too concentrated the tank must be drained via a large pumping truck. If this is not done the compounds can backup into the drain field and clog it. This prevents water from everyday use and rain to become trapped in the tank until it overflows. Anybody who's ever been through this knows it's not fun. If you saw what happened last week in front of the Whitney Bank in Seagrove that's akin to what happens when a septic tank fails, after every rain fall.
One of the issues with this law is the lack of knowledge the average person has regarding their septic system. Potential an unscrupulous contractor could inform you every 5 years that the entire system needs pumping or even replacing.
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