The Marshall County Commissioners and Marshall County Council members held a joint work session Monday morning to gather more information about septic systems.
Health Officer Dr. Byron Holum said there are several areas in Marshall County where septic systems are failing and contamination is occurring. In many cases, the older septic systems are closer than a 50 foot distance to a water well and effluence from a failed septic system is running toward the operation of the well and contaminating the water.
Many locations don’t have the space to satisfy that distance requirement, or the space to install a new septic system which is causing a bit of a crisis, according to Dr. Holum.
Ken Jones from Jones, Petrie and Rafinski (JPR) explained that the county may solve issues by considering a sanitary sewer. A Conservation District, Regional Sewer District, or a private non-profit utility can be formed to alleviate many issues residents are facing. That will not be a quick process as several steps need to be taken to meet IDEM requirements and the actual construction of a sewer system. It could take more than three years to complete the entire process.
Jones said that creating a sanitary sewer will allow residents more flexibility in the use of their land.
“All of that wastewater, that 150 to 310 gallons a day per home that is currently being deposited in the immediate area of the home sites, is now removed from the community and taken to a treatment center,” said Jones. “That allows the homeowner to reclaim the flexibility of their land. In some cases, that’s a big thing.”
He said a sanitary sewer project would protect surface and drinking water resources.
Small, unincorporated towns are areas of concern due to septic failures along with mobile home parks in different areas of the county, residential areas around lakes without sewer systems, and many subdivisions.
The information included in this program will be aired in a future Maximum Impact program on MAX 98.3 FM.
