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If you change the name of some commonplace item, it suddenly is given a new life. This isn't necessarily bad, as example, when you call a septic tank a "decentralized (on-site) system", or substances (more descriptive terms can be applied) that go down the toilet as "human waste".
Much has been made of the need for providing a central sewer system to communities so that their effluent can be treated to protect the environment. The Florida legislature was pressured to pass a statue, (Title XXIX. Chapter 381.00655), mandating that if a sewer system was brought into an area those that had septic systems were required within one year to abandon their working septic system and tie on to the municipal line. This was all done under the guise of preventing pollution from spoiling the environment (even though the major source of pollutants entering water ways was never shown to be the result of septic systems.)
Sarasota County has developed a grand scheme of things that will within a short time disrupt the waste water system and provide city-wide and perhaps county-wide "sanitary" sewers. This cost money, real money, and the county will "assess" property owners a tie-on fee that will in many cases, make the home unsalable as the price will far exceed competitive properties that are presently on sewers. All this done under the guise of protecting Phillippi Creek and other water ways. Of course, there is a need to justify building new facilities which charges residents a user fee, based on the amount of water sold through the system.
The actual intent became obvious when the first subdivisions named to be provided with this "improved, environmentally friendly" system, were those where "tear-down and build mega mansions" was in progress. In many cases, tearing down two houses to build a much larger one requires that the landscaping be vastly altered and there just isn't a place for a "septic" tank when you have got to have a swimming pool.
So just as with ballparks, "build it and they will come", is the mantra.
Unfortunately, municipal governments are hardly the best custodians of our environment. Beaches along the Sun Coast around Sarasota were closed recently because of a high E. coli content in the water. And where did this pollution come from? Faulty operating sewage plants. Yet, the city fathers of Sarasota continue to beat the dead horse of septic systems contaminating Phillippi Creek.
As archie said, "where will it end questionmark"
Want to know more? http://www.fowaonsite.com Please note this is the web site of the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association*. FOWA tries to provide another view of a very important problem which will only become more severe as Florida doubles its population in the next twenty years. Yes, where condos, apartments and houses five or more to the acre are built, a central system is the answer, but for the majority of homes built throughout Florida, and im most towns, suburbs and cities, a septic system is a viable alternative, one better for the environment.
Another issue that is lost on the proponents of a central system is that the water from a septic system is recycled. Water moves naturally either by transpiration (by plants), evaporation (from open land and water bodies), dissipation (run-off into streams and rivers) or percolation (recharging the water table). A properly working septic system conserves water, while a central system must either find a way to use the gray water (running special pipelines and charging a fee for the water), or dump it into streams and rivers for discharge into the Gulf, Ocean or whatever. Those downstream should pay particular notice if this is their source of drinking water. Think about all the chemicals and drugs disposed of by dumping them in the toilet! What happens to them? A municipal waste system doesn't destroy hormones, drugs, and the vast range of pharmaceuticals that are used by all, they simply pass through the system, although vastly diluted.
The Environmental Protection Agency reported to Congress that typical waste water plants have several episodes annually resulting in raw sewage being released. In times of high rainfall, municipal systems are often overwhelmed and simply dump raw sewage. Problems as simple as broken pipes from construction, operator mishaps and electrical power failures are among the culprits. And in the event of an electrical power outage, "lift" systems can't do their job and one must wonder what happens to those on the lower end of the drainage.
Another hairbrained idea is to take the treated waste water from plants and inject it deep underground into aquifers that are used by others. It is argued that the treated water will be withdrawn as needed by the city that pumped the water into the aquifer, thus there is no need to be concerned that contaminants will enter drinking water. Their neighbors are not quite so sure, as they see their water becoming contaminated by unknown chemicals.
Then there is air pollution caused by municipal plants. Anyone down wind from the plant will vouch for problems that occur almost daily in releasing obnoxious odors that travel as a plume sometimes for miles away from the plant.
Of course those accustomed to having all their problems solved for them by Government can be expected to look with askance at the "decentralized (on-site) system" alternative. And besides, who wants to have a septic tank in the back yard; that's where the swimming pool and hot tub belong.
*This writer has no association with FOWA,
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