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Florida Senator Wants To Map, Track And Inspect Septic Systems
January 3, 2019
Amid concerns that leaky septic systems are polluting waterways, a Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a proposal that would require the Florida Department of Health to identify all septic systems in the state by January 1, 2021, and provide a map of the systems.
The bill filed by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota also would require inspections of septic systems at least once every five years and require the Department of Health to develop minimum standards and requirements for pumping out or repairing failing systems.
Those requirements would take effect July 1, 2022. The bill is filed for the 2019 legislative session, which starts March 5.
by The News Service of Florida
Comments
43 Responses to “Florida Senator Wants To Map, Track And Inspect Septic Systems”
We had a septic tank put in and the inspector said septic tanks were better then city sewers. They said by time the water gets down to the water it’s filter pure by time it gets there. So they should worry about city sewers.
Repubs are same as Dems
Its over
uhoh, here we go again! this will boil down to the condemnation of property, or a mechanic’s lien on property with the state stepping in to seize property. also, some septic companies have a buddy pushing this and plan on the dough rolling in. remember, you as an average citizen are a sheep to be shorn. mansions and mercedes, swimming pools and yachts cost money that has to come from somewhere.
Meanwhile corporations get tax breaks to pollute our water. construction companies are never fined when they break a sewage line and spill thousands of gallons of raw sewage onto our streets and into our waterways – nearly daily here in Escambia County.
@Concerned; Thanks for posting the link to the proposed law. I did not read it word for word, but did skim it, and a few points jump out at me. One being that “the expected life of a septic system is 25 years”. Does anybody really believe that a septic company doing a mandated inspection will actually pass a system over 25 years old? When you talk to people that have had to install the new systems, you will find that some have spent $20,000 to occupy their new house. Along with the expensive and unnecessary inspections and repairs, the taxpayers will also have to bear the expense of adding another whole layer of bureaucrats to administer this fiasco. We’ll call the new dept. the Bureau of Septic Tanks, hire an army of agents with a badge and gun to enforce this law, and build a new skyscraper in Tally to house them. If Fl. stays on this track, we will start thinking we are in California. Every rural Floridian needs to contact their state senators and reps and get this bill killed on sight. Ours are; Senator Broxon, and Representative Mike Hill
They are worried about our septic tanks contaminating groundwater but we have a landfill that is basically on the bank of Perdido River. Beautiful Mount Trashmore ! First thing you see when you enter Florida!
Glad I moved to alabama about 5 years ago land taxes are cheaper so is homeowners Insurance
Why do they need codes to install one then? They dont come out and inspect you sewer drain lines every 5 years. The doce form the start should cover 50 years of usage…DUH
You don’t need a inspection to see if a septic tank is working properly or to see if it needs pumping out.
If it is failing or needs pumping out it will show itself by backing up in the house or bubbling up in the yard and is something the normal homeowner that has the means is forced to have repaired because it becomes unbearable and unsanitary.
A forced outside inspection will just target those who have a failing tank but doesn’t have the money to have it fixed!
Registered contractors make their living installing,repairing and pumping septic tanks and that is who is going to have the task of doing these inspections and that strikes me as very counter constructive for the homeowner.
This is all about money (greed). No money charged to the homeowner every month if you have a septic tank. I paid for my septic tank and paid all permits (taxes) for it and it was inspected and passed. Leave the homeowner alone. We pay enough taxes already .
The Gruters,Bill requires you to pay for the pump out and inspection every five years, but there is a lot more cost in this bill (SB 214) for the homeowner. Check out this link with the bill text. Get ready to empty your wallet rural Floridians.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2019/214/BillText/Filed/HTML
Those of us with Aerobic Septic Systems are already REQUIRED to pay $400 per year to have our septic systems inspected twice per year, plus another $100 per year to the Escambia Health Department for an operating permit. $500 DOLLARS PER YEAR! It is a total sham, the septic company comes to my house, lifts a concrete lid, verifies my aerator motor is working properly, opens a second lid to verify the waste level is satisfactory, checks off a few blocks on an inspection form and that’s it! $400 dollars per year for 10 minutes of work twice per year. That’s better than the Escambia County Heath Department because they don’t do diddly-squat for the $100 they charge me. Those of you with traditional septic tanks better fight this or you will end up in the same boat that those of us with Aerobic Systems are in paying $500 dollars per year for nothing.
Utilities probably pollute more than the private septic systems. As close to sea level that most of Florida is and the amount of rain that we get it would be hard to stop all of the overflows and spills that occur.
http://www.ecua.fl.gov/advisory
REGARDING:
” Most water in a tank goes thru FIELD LINES where the sun perks the water… Don’t believe me, put a glass jar upside down above your field line. Even on a cloudy day it will perks moisture into the glass jar.”
per·co·late
verb
(of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.
“the water percolating through the soil may leach out minerals”
synonyms: filter, drain, drip, ooze, seep, trickle, dribble, leak, leach
“water percolated through the soil”
………………………………………………………………….
Water goes downhill, or in this case simply down — other than the small amount which evaporates. Unless, the soil will not accept it all, in which case it flows into ditches, streams, Perdido Bay, or some other body of water. They are not worried about the water. They are concerned about the nitrates and phosphates as well as the bacteria and viruses. Those do not evaporate.
David for hyacinths to clean the water
There should be no cost for them to do a inspection, the cost should come from the taxes we pay. As well as where is the the proof that it’s polluting our waterway. Please show us before make a choice without our permission.
Just what we need, another law…how about they make a law
That they freeze all new laws For a year I’d make them apply it to the politicians ffirsr
Hey congressman: Le’ts see a list of YOUR DONORS to see what “septic connections” there might be. Get OFF the backs of the taxpayers!
I just paid $350 to the county for an inspection permit to repair my septic tank lines. I’m told the fee was quite less some years ago. Then it will take $3000 to get the repair job done. If these inspections are to be required more frequently, then I hope they lower the fee cost back to a previous level or don’t do this proposal at all. Nobody wants to pollute the environment, but septic systems are fairly simple and low maintenance.
This stinks. Septic tanks are already installed to code and 99% of them are not along any waterway. Why should the state government have to do periodic inspections of anything at a private home? Let the homeowner be responsible for his own maintenance and repairs. If not, what stops the government from wanting to inspect the rest of your plumbing, electrical, roof, etc.?
I had my tank pumped last March. $250.00
Sorry I had to add to this. Most water in a tank goes thru FIELD LINES where the sun perks the water… Don’t believe me, put a glass jar upside down above your field line. Even on a cloudy day it will perks moisture into the glass jar. Best to keep grass cut short above your fields
@kane I’m well aware of how the system works but a tank that is not being maintained will allow solids to leach into the drain field before they are broken down. The waste that goes into the drain field does and is not suppose to contain the same bacteria that was flushed.
If you really want to know how outdated these systems are do some research. Hormone mimicking pharmaceuticals cause feminization of male fish and increase risk in breast cancer to human population. These are just 2 examples.
The effects of septic pollution has been conducted by universities and scientists and isnt some liberal media myth. Like I said I dont believe in a nanny state but we should take care of our food chain. Simple.
@Alan Why in the world would it cost thousands of dollars to have your tank pumped out??? It’s about 300.00 dollars I would imagine an inspection would not require it to be pumped. Indeed they would just test your soil to see how contaminated it might be. Might cost a couple hundered dollars for the test but this is still a cash grab nothing more.
@Chirstian are you aware of how a septic system works? The solid waste stays in the tank the liquid waste is filtered out through the drain field which means it goes into the ground and is absorbed. This is definitely a cash grab of a bill. The cost for a home to get on city sewage and the other requirements for doing so are insane. It is a 3000.00 dollar cost to the homeowner then they have to get everyone on their street to do the same or the county will not install it. I see neighborhoods going up all around me with city sewage yet we have to pay extra just to get connected.
The health dept., required certification of septic systems in the past when a home sold. Someone decided this was not productive, so they stopped it. Your right, nothing more than another money grab. Heck who else had to PAY a plumber to prove your irrigation well was NOT connected to the ECUA system? ECUA doesn’t have anyone qualified to determine this, They require the home owner to PAY a plumber and PROVE to ECUA their innocence. 9Another subject I know, sorry…)
All about generating revenue..to the person lining the pockets of a politician.
I liken this to the failed Florida Auto inspection stickers we used to be required to buy gere while crooked inspectors made a killing off people with false notations of things they had to fix..ironically..those same places “just happened” to supply the parts and labor..it’s extortion..and it was the state of Florida..politicians behind that also.
I’m aware of all the typos but you should get the point to say the least.
Unfortunately it is a fact that septic systems can infect groundwater solutions. This in turn can pollute our beaches, rivers, and lakes. Consider Florida has one of the highest producing aquifers in the WORLD, and consider our dependence on beach tourism. Then lastly if you wish consider our outdoor sportsman population. Then reconsider your stance. The wild game and fish we eat drink this water the rivers and beaches our children swim in drink this water…the list goes onThis would be CONSERVING the quality of land we live on. I’m far from leaning left either so dont get me twisted.
Unbelievable. This, coming from a Republican? This right here, ladies and gents, is why I left the party. Get your micro-managing, crony capitalism, buddy-scratch-buddy-back out of the halls of my state’s capital. Vote NO or get FIRED!
This would be a disaster!!! Home owners would be held hostage by septic tank companies. Can you imagine the amount of bribery that would take place?
This bill should be called HR CORRUPTION!!!
Exactly how does one go about inspecting a septic tank system? The reason I ask is because this will be directly proportional to the cost of the inspection. Will it have to be opened and pumped out? If so, this could equate to a cost in the thousands of dollars.
I would guess the Senator has a campaign cash cow in either the Septic Tank business, who wants to force people to spend money on these inspections and pumping them out, or a business who wants to force people to tap into their sewer systems by making septic expensive to keep and maintain.
Had this policy before and I’m quite sure the courts ruled it VOID.
As a retired plumber I suggest the senater seaks another type of attention getter. Tanks should be left alone as long as they are working. Good system without trees near the tank and field lines should last 25-30 years without a problem
Every home owner should keep their septic operating correctly. Mapping and inspecting is just another way for the governments to make money giving another person a white pickup truck and badge to come around and hammer the home owner. Come on Mr. Gruthers give the home owner the benefit of doubt.
broxson.doug.web@flsenate.gov This is Senator Broxon’s Email address,
Mike.Hill@myfloridahouse.gov This is Representative Mike Hill’s
Let them know what you think of this bill
I wonder who is paying him? I’ll bet the septic tank businesses have hired a lobbyist to funnel money to the politicians to create a whole new industry to force people to pay up. At least if it passes, I’ll have time to move to Alabama, one of the few remaining states where the citizens are free.
Didn’t we have the same law passed just a few years ago, and repealed because of public uproar? Every citizen needs to contact their State Representatives and get this one killed before it gets any traction. Unless Florida is prepared to run sanitary sewer down every rural road, they need to leave this one alone. When you have required inspections by septic tank companies, do you really believe they will not find very expensive faults with most or all systems? On the mapping thing; this is another waste of effort because it would be a simple matter for a computer guy to get a print out of every address that is not on a municipal system.
Sounds like Joe Gruters won’t remain in office as a Republican very long with liberal, big government proposals like this one. Completely out of touch to expect mostly rural, middle and low class residents to burden an additional expenses thanks to big government.
This was a failed policy in the past and hope it will fail this time. If you are on a failed system it wont take you long to get it fixed. People don’t want to live with sewer in their homes. Seems like more big government money grab to me.
I hope the senator plans to pay for this. Most people on septic cannot afford even more expense. Instead, he might want to find people who are not even on a septic system, but are running their sewage into the woods. Who can afford this? Always something costing even more money. Soon people won’t be able to afford food. Many already cannot. I guess then, it won’t be long before they will not even need a septic system. If this passes, there will need to be enforcement. Thus, even more taxpayer money. Always something else to pay for. Ridiculous!
When will it end, another way to charge someone for something useless. Just another tax. If the state, city, county or some form of government can’t charge you for sewage, they will think of another way to get in your pocket.
Stupidity! Man has no idea how septic systems even work.
Just more expense for homeowners. A Republican…….wanting to increase costs on citizens does not sound consistent with the non existent problem…….failed systems need to be replaced, but repeated inspections……just get your checkbook out if you are on a septic system…..
The idea of mapping septic systems however is a good idea.
Lets hope this is a bill that never makes it out of committee.