By Tyler Treadway
May 23, 2017
TC Palm
(Excerpt)
Size matters
The size refers to the gallons of wastewater the system can process in a day, not the capacity of the septic tank. The state standard is for systems that can process up to 10,000 gallons a day.
The commission agreed to the stricter 2,000-gallons-a-day limit in 2014.
According to county staffers, the average person produces about 50 gallons of wastewater a day, so a 2,000-gallon-a-day system should be adequate for 40 people. Average household size in Martin County is 2.23 people.
Several people told commissioners the larger septic systems would increase contaminant runoff into the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon.
“All water is connected,” said Tony Polito, of Port Salerno. “We should be going from septic systems to sewer systems, not from septic to bigger septic.”
Ciampi, Jenkins and Commission Chairman Doug Smith voted in favor of the septic size increase.
To read the complete article, please click here: http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/health/2017/05/23/martin-county-septic-systems-indian-river-lagoon/338869001/