Friday, December 5, 2003
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Friday, December 5, 2003 |
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Commission gets tough with septic systems By JOHN THOMPSON The Coweta County Commission decided Tuesday there’s more than one way to deal with a problem. Growing increasingly frustrated with the failure rate of alternative septic systems, the county passed a zoning ordinance that requires each approved building lot to have a site for a conventional septic system. “We’re not saying you can’t use alternative systems. You just have to have room for a regular septic system,” said attorney Mitch Powell. Because the state allows some alternative systems to be used, the county has been getting increasing calls on systems that have failed. With all the building lot used for the home and alternative system, some homeowners are looking at expensive repair bills. “I’ll get thrown out of office before I approve another drip line system,” said Commissioner Vernon “Mutt” Hunter. Lori Cook, who used to work in Coweta County’s environmental health division and now works for the state, was at Tuesday’s meeting and said some alternative systems have a failure rate three times higher than conventional systems. Cook said the problem lies with minimum requirements for the systems that she’s trying to get changed at the state level. Commissioner Robert Wood, who is a real estate broker, believes there should be more disclosure on the real estate forms that tells prospective homeowners the type of septic system they’re buying. Since the state allows the alternative systems, the only remedy county officials have is through a zoning ordinance. “We’re just trying to protect the homeowner,” said Commissioner Larry DeMoss.
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