Anyone own a septic tank?

[Kurt]

As of 1/11/2011, SB 550 will require that all septic tank owners in Florida have their tanks pumped and inspected every five years. The inspection requirement will be phased in over the following 5 years.



The Florida Department of Health is drafting rules to enforce compliance. This must be done whether the tanks have shown any problems or not. Inspection and pumping will probably cost in the neighborhood of $400 to $500. This rule will cost the state's 2,600,000 septic-using homeowners a grand total of approximately $1.3 billion dollars every 5 years for inspections alone.


If your tank fails the state inspection, it must be repaired or replaced and brought up to the new inspection standards. To completely replace some drain fields, the cost will be in the range of $3,000-9,000 or more, plus the inspection fees.



If you fail to have your tank inspected, the fine is $500 per day plus you may also be charged with a misdemeanor. If your septic does not pass and you can't afford to repair it, and cannot qualify for a grant, you may not be allowed to live in your house. The law provides for termination of electric service for those owners who have a non-compliant, non-government certified septic system.

At this time, some state legislators have made statements that they'd like to see this law repealed.

 

[Kurt]

Residents want septic tank law flushed (DOCUMENT) | want, law, residents - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

More than 250 people had nothing good to say Thursday about a new law that will require septic tank owners to pay for mandatory inspections every five years.

No one at the workshop at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center appeared to support the new regulation. Many visitors held signs that included ?Repeal the septic tank law? and ?SB 550 stinks ? repeal it?


Officials with the Walton County Health Department and the state Department of Environmental Protection explained the law that will take effect in January.
Several people said it isn?t needed.


?I take care of my septic tank,? said Walton County Commissioner Sara Comander, who added that she was speaking as a resident. ?I make sure my roof is not leaky, my steps are not squeaky and that my septic tank is in good shape.?

 

[idlewind]

This is a horrible law. What is even more horrible is that a bunch of RINOS are responsible for this. I bet they did not even read it before they voted for it. It seems that politicians are the same whther they are R or D, or located in Washington, Tallahassee or DeFuniak Springs and Shalimar.

 

[TreeFrog]

At the same time, many of us support the need to protect SoWal's dune lakes from septic tank seepage. Is there an existing avenue for doing this? Not saying that would call for this law's full scope, but the citizens/county/state should have some means to keep our lakes good.

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

Looks like a great time to open a septic tank maintenance company!

Bottom line is too many people failed to take care of their s**t, so now the government is going to make sure they do.

 

[walk the walk]

Another government take over......

No one should be able trespass your property without a warrant.

 

[Kurt]

At the same time, many of us support the need to protect SoWal's dune lakes from septic tank seepage. Is there an existing avenue for doing this? Not saying that would call for this law's full scope, but the citizens/county/state should have some means to keep our lakes good.

Not many people know we also have septic tanks and drain fields right on the beach in some places. It seems owners are not willing to take on the expense of connecting to sewer, even when offered a break on the price. It looks like it would need to be forced on them and/or paid for by taxpayers - both are problematic.

Then again, so are lawsuits for septic-related illness.

I wonder if someone published a map of septic tank locations in SoWal if that might have an effect on rentals of certain properties and neighborhoods?

 

[Franny]

Not many people know we also have septic tanks and drain fields right on the beach in some places. It seems owners are not willing to take on the expense of connecting to sewer, even when offered a break on the price. It looks like it would need to be forced on them and/or paid for by taxpayers - both are problematic.

Then again, so are lawsuits for septic-related illness.

I wonder if someone published a map of septic tank locations in SoWal if that might have an effect on rentals of certain properties and neighborhoods?

I believe if your home is within x miles from the beach you should be REQUIRED to hook up to sewer. I know Gulf Trace has had numerous problems with septic and that is just too close to the Gulf and lakes.

 

[AlphaCrab]

Whew. At first glance, I thought this thread was started as a response to the general tone of the political forum on Sowal.

 

[Kurt]

I believe if your home is within x miles from the beach you should be REQUIRED to hook up to sewer. I know Gulf Trace has had numerous problems with septic and that is just too close to the Gulf and lakes.

One of the few things I wish our government to do is look out for public health and safety. The only way some folks are going to get off septic is by force - meaning a state or federal agency who is not dependent on local votes.

Gulf Trace is not the only place with septic tanks on the beach but it is the worst I know of.

Little Redfish Lake polluted by septic tanks and drain fields on the beach in Gulf Trace:
Photos - Beaches of South Walton - 08/03/05

How Little Redfish Lake is supposed to look:
Photos - Beaches of South Walton - 02/18/07