New rules cut price tag for septic systems

The commissioners said the state should provide money for sewer systems.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The state has changed proposed legislation that could have put a $15,000 to $20,000 price on new septic systems.
Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel said he learned of the change Tuesday during a long meeting in Columbus with Dr. Nick Baird, director of the Ohio Department of Health, and State Rep. Charles Blasdel.
Hoppel added that Blasdel was considering introducing legislation to postpone any new regulations for one year. Blasdel could not be reached to comment.
Hoppel said the issue is of statewide concern.
The proposed regulations had called for septic systems to be designed by a registered engineer. That would have doubled or tripled the cost of the entire septic system, the commissioners said.
The $15,000 to $20,000 price tag would be unrealistic for inexpensive starter homes, the elderly or those with fixed incomes, the commissioners added.
The new draft requirements call for an undefined "designer" of a system to follow all laws in creating the system. Hoppel said "designer" meant "a qualified person."
That move alone should cut thousands in engineering fees off the estimated cost of a system, Hoppel said.
Another difficulty
A second problem is that the proposed new septic systems are too big to fit on the many smaller lots with older homes in the county, the commissioners said.
"The new regulations do nothing to solve those problems," Hoppel said.
No figures were available on the number of older homes that need to replace their systems.
The goal of the proposed regulations is to make sure that waste is treated in the system before it flows into waterways. Hoppel said the good news is that the county board of health adopted new regulations about five years ago that call for new home sites to be at least 0.8 of an acre. Those lots can accommodate the proposed systems.
"That puts us ahead of most other counties," Hoppel said.
On most new home lots and even larger lots, standard septic systems can still be used, Hoppel said.
The proposed system that is under consideration lots is the "mound" system, according to the commissioners. The septic system would include a pile of sand and a series of pipes leading from it that would allow evaporation of the treated waste. The commissioners said the systems are safe and don't stink.
Hoppel said the state is even trying to get away from the dry-well system he has at his home. The sealed wells are buried many feet below the surface and allow the waste to seep into the ground. However, Hoppel said that the state is concerned the waste might contaminate ground water.
What's suggested
The commissioners said a better alternative would be to have the state help provide funds for sanitary sewers.
The county is currently putting sewer lines along state Route 45 south of Lisbon and plans to provide sewer service in West Point.
The commissioners are under orders from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to provide sewer treatment facilities for Hanover and Kensington.
The commissioners said that if they had funds, they would like to add sewer lines to areas north of East Liverpool.
wilkinson@vindy.com