California Septic Tank News
Septic tank regulations stemming from a law passed in 2000,
are expected to affect more than a million California homes by July,
2010. The proposed regulations will require septic system inspections
to be performed every five years. Other provisions may require many
California homeowners and businesses with onsite wastewater disposal to
entirely replace their septic tank systems.
The intent of the regulations is to protect surface and sub-surface
waters from contamination. Staff of the California State Water
Resources Control Board drew up the rules.
The environmental impact report for the proposals estimates that 1.2
million California households will be impacted, some at considerable
cost to the home or business owners.
Jim Hemminger, with the Regional Council of Rural Counties, says that
"everyone" will affected by the regulations. His concern is that septic
tank owners in rural areas will face high costs, particularly those
located far from septic tank service companies.
According to Hemminger, the 2000 state law originated with a pollution
situation in Santa Monica Bay, apparently caused by septic tanks
located close to the beach.
Hemminger notes that the new regulations will cover the entire state,
with little or no flexibility to account for the widely different
geological and soil conditions to be found in California's 163,000+
square miles.
(filed January 27, 2009)