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New State Septic Tank Inspection Program Explained
September 27, 2010
The Florida Department of Health has provided the following information about a new statewide septic tank evaluation program:
(For local and lawmaker reaction to the plan, click here for a NorthEscambia.com story from Friday.)
The evaluation program was created to ensure all onsite sewage treatment systems in the state are working properly and to identify any failures. Like your car, home air conditioner, or water heater, your onsite systems require routine maintenance – pump outs to remove solids and scum that accumulate over time in the tank. Excess solids and scum can cause your plumbing to back up or your drainfield to fail leading to costly clean-ups and repairs and pollution to Florida’s waters. The dollars you invest in having your system maintained can save you thousands in repair cost. Fixing failing systems will go a long way to address concerns about springs protection, as well as US EPA mandates to clean up Florida’s waters.
- The evaluation program will be phased in beginning on January 1, 2011.
- The implementation schedule is under development.
- The department must provide 60 days notice to system owners that the evaluation is required.
- Evaluation procedures are under development but must include tank and drainfield evaluation and an assessment of system condition.
- Evaluations must be performed by registered septic tank contractors, professional engineers, or certified environmental health professionals.
- Owners are responsible for the costs of the evaluation (including pump-out), repairs or replacements. The cost of the pump-out will vary according to the size and number of tanks to be pumped-out on a given property.
- Any system installed or serviced in the previous 5 years, where capacity and condition of the tank is documented as satisfactory, may omit the pump-out requirement from the evaluation.
- The evaluator is responsible for submitting the report to the local county health department.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- When will the program start? Notifications will begin in January 2011.
- I had my tank pumped out last year. Will I be exempt from the evaluation program? The law does not exempt you from the evaluation, but tanks that have been pumped and certified within the previous five years do not have to be pumped.
- Will the evaluator be digging up my yard and drainfield? The evaluator will have to uncover your tank manholes for access to pump out your tank and check that it is watertight. They will not be digging up your drainfield but will need to auger a small (4 – 6 inch) hole to determine the wettest season water table.
- Why the concern about separation from the wettest season water table? Onsite systems rely on dry soil to provide treatment. Research in Florida has found that 24 inches of dry soil is needed to remove pathogens and treat your sewage to protect both your and your neighbors’ health.
- Will I have to upgrade my system to one of the new performance based treatment systems? No, the law does not require upgrades to performance based treatment systems.
- What will this cost? The most significant cost will come if your tanks require pump out. These costs vary around the state, due primarily to disposal costs, but can range from $150 to $450 per tank. Pump out cost also depends on the size and number of tanks to be pumped. The evaluation cost will be set by individual evaluators, but is estimated to be in the $150 to $200 range, including the reporting fee that the department estimated at $30 per system.
- I am on a limited income. What if I cannot afford this? The bill establishes a grant program for low-income families. The department also proposes to allow low-income families to request a one-time, one year extension to their evaluation deadline.
- I live in a small, rural county. When will I have to do this? The current proposal is to begin with a limited number of systems in all counties and phase-in the evaluations over the next five years. Evaluations would begin with those systems most recently installed and work backwards from the installation date.
Comments
48 Responses to “New State Septic Tank Inspection Program Explained”
PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER THESE LEGISLATORS THAT VOTE THESE CRAZY MONEY GRABING LAWS UPON US . AND VOTE THEM OUT IT’S LIGHT DOUBLING THE TAG FEES. IF THERE IN OFFICE VOTE THEM OUT OR IF THEY WORK IN A GOVERMENT OFFICE DON’T VOTE FOR THEM. IF ALL FLORIDIANS WOULD NOT ADHERE TO THIS THEY COULD’NT DO A DAM THING BUT THATS PROBABLY A FANTASY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TO AFFRAID TO DO THAT. IT WILL BE TO LATE WHEN HI HITLER TAKES OVER AND IT’S COMING IF PEOPLE DON’T STAND UP.REMEMBER THE REPUBLICANS VOTED THIS IN. THEIRS NO DIFFERENCE.
I have just seen it is all about money,look at the main page. the County School system is sueing BP. how the heck has BP effected the School system, a little lost tax income,but they will make it up with the increase in property taxes.thats what I call spending our tax dollars the right way.HA HA HA( so much for the students and teachers) I guess they need more cars and trips to waste the money on..Its not like times are that hard for the higher up in the system. I for 1 pay appx 65% taxes to the school system already in taxes.look at your property tax bill..
I agree with many of the comments here and I think this is just another Communistic boondoggle to generate revenue to pay for , ie, moving the sewer plant away from the prestigious and desirable downtown area. I, like many others, am tired of our elected officials gouging us for money in disquised taxes.
REGARDING:
“a bird-dog that kills the bird instead of flushing them out for a hunter has one of two futures. One is to get put down by a frustrated hunter”
Do you remember the early Nintendo video game Duck Hunt? The electronic dog scares up some electronic ducks who fly up, up and away as you shoot at them with the electronic gun. If you miss any, the dog sits up and snickers at you. I’ve electronically shot that accursed electronic dog many, many times.
David for good dogs
or else
Extra time on my hands and a rented backhoe make for some interesting projects on my one acre “farm”…sure glad the wife wasn’t watching (at least I _think_ she wasn’t watching…)
As for training our Legislators – a bird-dog that kills the bird instead of flushing them out for a hunter has one of two futures. One is to get put down by a frustrated hunter, and the other is to become the family pet…either way, they never have a chance to hunt again.
Term limits help some of that problem, but some legislators are stubbornly stuck on Stupid, and need to go immediately with all due haste.
REGARDING:
“DHG,
Don’t be a dullard. I’m not advocating farmers be checked for run-off from the fields polluting the water ways – though give the lawmakers the idea and they will start in on it if there’s a dollar there they can steal. ”
Sometimes I can’t help myself. Some would shut down farming to hold down the dust or to keep the tractors off “their” road. I just recommend against giving them any ideas–they sometimes don‘t recognize jokes.
AND
“Septic system owners? They are the little fish in this big pond.”
Just remember little fish are the most common fish in most ponds and contribute most to the nitrogen levels.
AND
“So we don’t need the extra “help” from the State – and we live about 5 miles from any running stream or river, so there’s little-to-no chance we are adding any pollution to the ground water. I can dig six feet down into nothing but sandy soil, dry sandy soil.”
Same here, I know because I did. Strange what one will do out of curiosity, isn’t it? I agree they seem to have mandated a “one size fits all” solution which doesn’t seem justified. Attack known problems, not assumed ones.
AND
“This is simple abuse of Power. Killing us one slice at a time, one tax at a time, with the Nanny State, the Tyranny of Good Intentions. Every legislator that voted for this lousy bill should be thrown out on his or her ear.”
I suggest you just persuade them to modify the act–maybe when the new governor takes office. If you can train the ones already in office, that might be more effective. Like you said, they have good intentions, you just doubt they would have good results.
David for perfect legislators
By the way, this is a Depression, not a Recession – check the facts at the US GOVs Bureau of Economic Analysis…but don’t tell the Media, they want to keep it quite – it’s all very hush-hush! Top secret.
DHG,
Don’t be a dullard. I’m not advocating farmers be checked for run-off from the fields polluting the water ways – though give the lawmakers the idea and they will start in on it if there’s a dollar there they can steal. Farmers have more acreage and therefore more runoff into the estuary system, and Industrial polluters use higher volumes of water and create more waste water than anyone else. Septic system owners? They are the little fish in this big pond.
I’m saying that those folks that have a septic system have the good common sense to treat their systems without extra help from the State, and the extra expense. When the system isn’t treated right there’s a sure and fast indicator – human sludge in a small lake in the backyard.
Our house has had a system in place for over 20 years, and has never needed a pump-out because it has been maintained properly and was designed to exceed the needs of this small house. So we don’t need the extra “help” from the State – and we live about 5 miles from any running stream or river, so there’s little-to-no chance we are adding any pollution to the ground water. I can dig six feet down into nothing but sandy soil, dry sandy soil.
This is just the Government trying to take more money out of my pocket and limited income – money they will simply waste. And contractors carving big bucks out of the “new requirement” to get checked on the Government’s Time Table. I wonder who’s brother, or uncle got helped out with THIS bill.
It’s about the little people, like me, getting squeezed by Big Government because they can squeeze us dry and we seldom cry out.
This is simple abuse of Power. Killing us one slice at a time, one tax at a time, with the Nanny State, the Tyranny of Good Intentions. Every legislator that voted for this lousy bill should be thrown out on his or her ear.
They want you to pump out your system so they can inspect it ,to make sure the ground isnt being contaminated, but think about this where does all the tank contents go, in the ground somewhere else,( now that will be $800.,for us to find more ways to get more money from you people) Just say no speak english, that will mess them up for a while..
of course it doesnt make sense….since when does government makes
sense anymore.
It’s about MONEY
You youngsters that can walk better march on WASHINGTON,,,,,
Or at least Charlies office!
Time to get somebodies attention…..
You have what we didn’t in the 60’s……but we still marched.
Now days you have twitter, facebook, here, all manner of ways to
organize.
In my day it was the college’s….
“Evaluations would begin with those systems most recently installed and work backwards from the installation date.”
Am I reading this correctly?
If I have a system that was installed/inspected 6 years ago I will be subject to inspection before a system that could have been installed 20+ years ago?
That doesn’t make sense to me.
Wow! What a slap in the face this feels like. And how is there going to be enough inspection and pumping capacity to handle this and how can you budget the cost of this? And right in the middle of a huge recession. Nov 2.
come to think of it, I’m confused. We’re too fat because food is too expensive?
I thought it was because I ate too much and worked too little
Live and learn
David for the first law of thermodynamics
xpeecee ,
please don’t confuse him
David for lima beans
I was just watching WEAR 4:pm news, there was a situation going on and Charlie Christ said I WORK FOR YOU to some people.( we may pay his salary but he has shown he dont work for us) because we are the little people.(but we pay his salary).
S.L.B.
Mr. Green is on your side…
REGARDING:
Wouldn’t people get hungry?
PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY NOW MR.GREEN! A 5 lb.bag of lima beans cost $7.00 at piggly wiggly. We go to the beautiful meat market displays and have to turn and walk away because we cannot afford the expensive meat prices.
Families are struggling to pay their monthly bills and put something on their table for their family to eat. Were a nation of FAT people because $1 burgers are more affordable than groceries in the store. If we don’t have the extra money to spare to feed our families the right way (meat, veggies & fruit), then where the heck are we to find money for this inspection, pump out and whatever else they decide to stick us with in the name of maintenance and enviromental protection?
THEY DONT CARE….our government officials don’t worry about such silly things
as they have plenty and want more,more, more. ITS CALLED GREED !
I can see Russia from my house!
Each day I wake up now, I am hearing and/or reading about another form of government communism taking place right here under our noses, in our State & other States, right here in our Country. We have no more rights now and our voices are nothing but a mere mouses squeek. Where did our right to discuss an issue and vote go? What happened to the Preamble, is that being rewritten in the Patriot Act too? We are no longer a perfect Union and there is no justice and we definately don’t have tranquility anymore!
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
REGARDING:
“If they’re looking for polluters, perhaps they should be looking at what runs off farm fields”
You think they should shut down the farmers?
Wouldn’t people get hungry?
David for food
Was there or will there ever be a public meeting over this? Or is it just “we are too stupid to know are own minds, and like good little children, we are going to be told children are seen and not heard?!!
What the… good point about what will they will do if we don’t comply.
My husband is furious, it just makes you want to get a burn permit and burn it all down, rahter then let them put a lien on your property.
And again I ask, what exactly will we be getting for our money out of this bargain?
Being a septic tank home owner, I agree with this craziness! Michelle hit the nail on the head…”Just when are the homeowners really the owners and the responsible parties?” Forcing people to do something isn’t the best method of getting good results!
I would like to know who and how “they” determined that the number of septic tank leaks have now called for this mandated inspection? Also, good luck trying to sell a home with a septic tank in this current economy + the annual “maintenance fees”. If septic tanks are so aweful, why hasn’t there been a change in the system itself? It’s easier to just attack a certain group and charge them a fee every 5 years…(clear my throat).
What happens if we all decide NO and refuse entry onto our properties? What recourse to we have? Are we going to get fined, go to jail… Is this really a LAW or just a requirement? Who is the watch-dog for septic companies? You know there is going to be issues there too. The “mess” is getting worse isn’t it?
This issue has not seen it’s last complaint and our local officials needs to REALLY be concerned about the well being of its citizens. At least give US the options and the VOTE!!! Or you need to come up with a better idea. How hard is that to do? What goes around usually comes back around. We’ll get our chance to vote…
Just another way to collect revenue…. Who signs off on this??? County Commissioners???
Someone has a brother-in-law that needs septic tank work now that the construction for housing has “tanked”! I would really move out of state but …..hmmm… no I can’t sell my house! No better time to force through this law when we are all caught between a house with a septic tank and a house that you can’t give away!
Well start looking at composting toilet systems or will they be in that
rule also? I hope this is up for vote i will SAY NO to it.
Need to find some 55 gallon drums any ideas. To start burning burnable trash , an recycle bins in county for recyclables to dump rest.
This shows again the people making these decisions have never lived in the country; they have no idea how far away we are from streams that any fautly septic tank that would pollute the water. I am an Environmental Director (not in Florida) and we monitor the streams but we have no problems with septic tanks.
This is just another “big business” move to make money. They are looking for ways to pay for the new sewage treatment plant built out here in “our neck of the woods”;so just like enacting a law TELLING US WE COULD ONLY PUT WHAT THEY TOLD US IN HOUSING ON OUR OWN LAND. Most people would like to give an acreof land to relatives for a house but here in this county we cannot do that. ; they tell us what we can do but allow housing so close in the city until you
can hear everyone’s commodes flush. I wish I did not live in Florida and if I had known we were going to be patterned after Calif., and solme ‘of the other affluent states. i would have moved away years ago.
Get out of office politicians and let local people run our area.
i HAD TO PAY FOR PERMIT SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO RUN NEW FIELD LINES AND THE PERMIT GUY TOLD US WERE WE COULD PUT THEM. TO ALL THE PARENTS THAT WANTS THEIR CHILDREN IN FLORDIA SCHOOLS IT WILL BE CHEAPER TO PUT IN PRIVATE SCHOOL THAN MOVE TO FLORDIA.
This new law does not pertain to city sewage systems. Many of the cities in Florida have very old systems. These are a greater threat of leaking problems than rural septic systems. All that I have left to say is: November 2, remember who voted for this crap.
The person inspecting the tank and drain field to determine whether it needs to be pumped or repaired, should not be the same person who will be doing the pumping or repairs.
OH YES, and the one saying the septic tank needs to be pumped every 5 years, my septic tank is 30 or more years old and i have no problems.( Old man told me, years ago to flush one pack of bakeing yeast down my sink every couple of months) “IT WORKS”…
What they DO NOT TELL YOU…Have you seen the new Mound systems? Those 24 inches of dry they spoke of…You will have to put in a $2000.00 or more lift pump – NOT COUNTING… the tank system… My aunt just had a new system installed by new standards, which cost $1O,OOO.00…I don’t know about the rest of you but I know my mother or my brothers could not afford that, even a year delay would not help…this is another one of the environmentalist and Big cities push down the rural communities throat.
The big problem with this law is that the estimates of cost are sure to be too little. Once you legislate a requirement for a service or product then the people who provide that service or product can charge what they want for it.
I’m convinced that $150 to $200 for an evaluation will turn out to be low. And the pump out price will rise as well. So potentially (by the Dept of Health estimate) an individual could pay $200 for the evaluation and $450 for a pump out for a total of $650. I believe that will turn out to be on the very low side.
Folks, tell your children to forget about going into health care. Tell your kids to train for the septic tank business instead. That’s whare the money’s gonna be.
The question at the top of my list of questions about this bill’s writing is, why do they think it is a good idea, and in the best interest of citizens, to turn what is now a basic function and service of the health department over to the business community, now the citizens get to pay for business profit too.
What do you mean it’s maintanence? The county doesn’t pay to fix MY car, My water heater, My air conditioner. I DO !! They don’t pay for MY pump outs, maintanence.
So what this $500 goes into an account to cover it for me later? I doubt it!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again SCAM, SCAMMERS SCAMMING !!
It’s not our fault you can’t balance the county books with your yearly pay rises you give yourselves that you don’t have money left to pay the bills.
Unfounded and unjustified taxes on people who you think won’t find back !!
Sorry, this is a fee in which we have had no say so. The state is over stepping their use of power, and this should be put to vote. So I still pay a fee even if nothing is wrong? This sounds crooked already. Never under estimate the governments way to find things ” wrong”. This law needs to go away!!
Well I am ready to move to Alabama now
…and for those of us that live from paycheck to paycheck, just managing to meet payments, but have nothing left at the end of the month, and do not qualitfy for assistance because we are “managing to meet our bills” although barely, just where do you purpose we get the money for all these extras? Is this just another way to send a few more folks into poverty and make us lose our homes as well?
To: Just My Thoughts, I was at the ECUA board meeting ,having to do with increased fees. the board listened(I thought) to several people speak about the raising fees, and the board did not listen to one person( they must of had there ears plugged..bottom line its all about MONEY,and when there is no more ,then they will take your home due to failure to pay….
To Yellerhammer:
The last time that I read the founding father’s papers, they said that we were all created equal, not that we were entitled to equal outcomes. This means that we have the right to make mistakes, the right to neglect out septic system as long as it’s not affecting anyone else, the right to ride a bicycle or a motorcycle without a helmet as long as we, the consenting adults, are willing to suffer the consequences. The mandated health care, the mandated everything becomes a bit onerous over time. If I had wanted to live in a European nanny state I’d have moved there. Yes the population is growing by leaps and bounds, but government is growing even faster to the point where we now have too much government!
All this law does is to insure that the septic system is working correctly, I have my system checked and I messed up and waited to long and it cost me dearly. This is just prevenative maintenance and the reason for the law is to insure proper septic tank operation. It’s a law to make people who won’t maintain there system and cause enviromental problems fixt the problem, as for the statement I don’t have the money sorry it’s just basic maintenance thats required to be a responsible citizen in this world we live in.
This is how government “creates” jobs.
I like many other people have not had a raise in three years so now the government passed this law that will in effect raise my taxes $100 a year without any input from the public. How do they think we can afford this? And for those who think we should not complain cause they have sewer, the sewer companies at least have board meetings where you can voice your opinion before changes are made.
I’m going to wait until the last possible time in hopes that this bill is redacted.
New meaning for the phrase “Money down the drain}
I’d say Roy makes a good point, as well as the other posters. If they’re looking for polluters, perhaps they should be looking at what runs off farm fields and out of big businesses, and what comes down river from Alabama and Georgia – doubt they are doing as much for their citizens.
Just another Tax on people that are taxed enough already, in the middle of the New Great Depression.
Thanks Charlie Tuna, for signing the stupid bill into law, and thanks lawmakers for catering to the special interests and putting more of our hard-earned money into their pockets and yours too.
Here’s another question for the State of Florida…Who is going to pay for those septic systems where the homeowners have abandonded their property because they could not afford to make their mortage payments? If the septic system is faulty, who pays? Who pays if the home is up for “short sale” because the homeowner cannot come up with the mortage payment? Are you going to notify the banks and mortgage companies that the septic systems on the property (s) they own are inadequate and force them to pay for inspections, pump outs, and the like? Explain that one!
If they are so worried about the pollution of Florida’s waters then why haven’t the biggest contributors to this problem been forced to immediately cease dumping into our streams and rivers? Corporations are far more guilty of this than homeowners! Crack down on them first! This law is just another way to “stick it to the little guy” and fill the State’s coffers so that the fat cats in Tallahassee can spend it any way they damned well please!
If the reason for the checks is to protect our waterways as they say, why not start with systems that are near rivers, streams and the Gulf and move inland from there? Certainly a system that is ½ mile from the nearest water isn’t doing any environmental damage.
Too much government, you betcha!
Makes blood shoot out of my eyes!!!