County coming down on septic systems,, opinions wanted.

[Rustyiron]

I wonder what the consequences of flippin them the bird? I don't think they have a strong hand here.
If all your toilets, sinks & showers properly drain, and you can walk anywhere in in your yards drain field area without getting chitty feet I'd consider telling them they're over reaching with their power and that your system was installed with their approval & usually inspection(s) and your not playing. Tell them they'll be getting a letter from your attorney. That's outrageous imo.

 

[Einthewoods]

I wonder what the consequences of flippin them the bird? I don't think they have a strong hand here.
If all your toilets, sinks & showers properly drain, and you can walk anywhere in in your yards drain field area without getting chitty feet I'd consider telling them they're over reaching with their power and that your system was installed with their approval & usually inspection(s) and your not playing. Tell them they'll be getting a letter from your attorney. That's outrageous imo.

I already gave my rant on this, but have to say I absolutely agree. Unless there is some very good reason being left out here, this is absolutely overreaching by th gov.

Time for a shake up with the locals. If this is allowed to stand....whats next. Yearly home inspections to be sure you are safe?

 

[GSVette]

Interesting-I am developing my ranch property in Spokane County (about 12 miles north of I90)-just finished installing and getting regional health district approval on the conventional (gravity) 5 bedroom septic system I permitted last year. No county mandated inspection/maintenance requirements per se however in the operational information section of the system design as submitted for permitting there are some maintenance tasks specified.

 

[teejk]

Wisconsin is mandatory service every 3 years. Pump tank, clean tank filter if equipped, inspect tank for cracks from inside. Service provider returns card to county certifying system is in good working order. Minnesota this same service is required for any property transfer with private septic. Once per year is crazy, most providers say 3-5 years depending on system size and load. Newer systems have an inspection cap and end of each leg of drainfield for observing any outflow that indicates a problem with percolation.

According to the letter I get from our county (Jackson) I think Wisconsin mandates inspection every 3 years and only if sludge level exceeds 1/3 of the primary chamber does it have to be pumped. Filters have been mandatory on any system installed since July 1, 2000 and they want those inspected every 6 months (like anybody does that). After that I guess the county has a lot of discretion. They changed our rules to stagger the deadlines (apparently to accommodate the woman in the office that has to keep the records up to date). We are down to 1 pumper in the immediate area and he can't possibly keep up (none of the local sewage treatment plants accept waste so he has to treat and spray every load). The county also doubled the fine for not returning that little card on time to $452.50. I like my septic guy so I hired a licensed plumber to inspect the tank and sign off in time to return that card. The tank was pumped a few weeks later.

 

[teejk]

I wonder what the consequences of flippin them the bird? I don't think they have a strong hand here.
If all your toilets, sinks & showers properly drain, and you can walk anywhere in in your yards drain field area without getting chitty feet I'd consider telling them they're over reaching with their power and that your system was installed with their approval & usually inspection(s) and your not playing. Tell them they'll be getting a letter from your attorney. That's outrageous imo.

Around here $452.50 fine if that little card is not returned in time. And you get dragged into court AND get your name in the paper. We know about the "3 year rule". But the county changed to accommodate the woman in the office. Used to have until Sept 30. Now 1/3 of each year comes due on June 30, 1/3 Aug 31, 1/3 Oct 31. In a wet spring that early deadline is perfect to leave ruts in the yard that will remove your fillings when you mow.

 

[grsthegreat]

holy cow. here in north idaho you only HAVE to pump tank when selling your house. I happened to have mine pumped and checked 4 years ago and found out that the concrete two piece tank was failing at the joint. I had a new plastic 1000 gal system installed in place of the concrete. now ill never have to worry about leaks ever again. My friend installed it, and his only complaint about the plastic tanks was " they never fail.....i lose business". Then again, where i live its 750 feet down to the aquifer, so no solids will ever reach the water

 

[Rustyiron]

Around here $452.50 fine if that little card is not returned in time. And you get dragged into court AND get your name in the paper. We know about the "3 year rule". But the county changed to accommodate the woman in the office. Used to have until Sept 30. Now 1/3 of each year comes due on June 30, 1/3 Aug 31, 1/3 Oct 31. In a wet spring that early deadline is perfect to leave ruts in the yard that will remove your fillings when you mow.

Your inspection sounds much more reasonable than the OP's although I still don't think it's the towns business, that said I am not familiar with your soils and a 3 year pumping plan is (around here) a year or 2 early but will save the homeowner money down the road and a good thing.:thumbsup:

 

[Diggin It]

Your inspection sounds much more reasonable than the OP's although I still don't think it's the towns business,

Fines and fees for this kind of thing are about raising revenue. They see that as their business. I see the OP's whole issue as the local government needing more revenue and so ...

 

[Jstpssng]

I can understand requiring an initial inspection under certain conditions, i.e., you are over an aquifer or on a water body. I know how some systems have been put in in the past, and they were pretty sketchy. However after the first time every year sounds like a money maker for somebody. Instead of too many lawyers, it sounds like you have too many septic servicing companies.

 

[Deere Dude]

In central Tennessee every homeowner is an expert of pumping septic tanks and the plumbers advice to pump every 3-5 years is a plot against us. Pumping on a schedule is the landowners prerogative and generally never get pumped.