The Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professional Association has taken up the cause for the industry in the face of a proposal from Governor Martin O’Malley that would severely restrict development on septic systems. O’Malley on Feb. 3 called for a crackdown on housing projects served by septic systems as part of an effort to control suburban sprawl and protect the Chesapeake Bay from nitrogen pollution. He made the proposal in his State of the State address.
As of this posting, MOWPA had not yet formulated an official position on the governor’s proposed legistlation, but the group had convened a meeting of its board members with representatives of the Maryland Homebuilders Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Baltimore Sun reported, “Speaking to lawmakers, O'Malley said that pollution from homes being built with septic systems is undercutting Maryland's efforts to clean up the bay.
“While the state has moved to curb pollution from farms and sewage treatment plants, the governor said, ‘There is one area of reducing pollution where so far we have totally failed, and in fact it has gotten much worse, and that is pollution from the proliferation of new septic systems – systems which by their very design are intended to leak sewage into our bay and water tables.’
“He urged lawmakers to enact a statewide ban on ‘major’ housing developments that use septic systems, calling it ‘common sense’ and ‘urgently needed.’ Administration officials said later that developments with as few as six homes would be affected by the proposed ban.”
The newspaper reported that builders and some rural legislators said such a ban could stifle growth in rural areas and lead to layoffs among home builders, septic system contractors and other real-estate-related businesses. MOWPA president Dave Duree said the group was working with its members and industry allies toward helping to craft a fair and reasonable bill that would enable cost-effective wastewater treatment for rural developments while also protecting the bay.
