Delta County Environmental Health in Colorado gathered with septic cleaners, installers and engineers to discuss upcoming state regulatory changes for the industry, High Country Spotlight reported. The meeting was the initial step in the adoption of the 2025 Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Regulations for Delta County. Industry professionals provided input to help shape the county’s septic policies.
Arizona
Yavapai County, Arizona, made grant funds available for homeowners to switch from cesspools to septic systems, the Daily Courier reported. Yavapai County developed a Community Development Block Grant program for the initiative, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Arkansas
The H2Ozarks organization in Arkansas is undertaking water quality projects in the Beaver Reservoir Watershed after receiving funding from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, reported KRZK News.
The H2Ozarks Septic Remediation Program provides financial assistance to homeowners to complete septic repairs or septic system replacement. H2Ozarks and Benton County received a $250,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, and Washington County received $64,700 to administer the Septic Tank Remediation Program.
Louisiana
Homeowners living in St. Tammany’s Parish Council, Louisiana, are now required to have their septic systems inspected every three years, multiple media outlets reported. The Department of Environmental Services will begin inspecting septic systems in January in the southern half of the parish. Residents can be fined $100 a month for not fixing a failing system. The council’s decision came after years of research and debate.
Tammany Parish applied for a grant of more than a million dollars and intends to give grants to local residents to help cover the costs of septic repair and replacement.
Oregon
The city of Sandy Council, Oregon, amended its municipal code to provide more wastewater treatment options for commercial and industrial property owners, The Outlook reported.
Due to capacity issues, the city is operating under a sewer moratorium, and the amendment gives commercial and industrial property owners the opportunity to build and develop land during the moratorium. With the municipal code change, these property owners can install an alternative treatment system, like temporary restrooms, septic systems or graywater systems, instead of waiting for the moratorium to end to connect to the municipal sewer system.
Rhode Island
Twenty-one property owners in Charlestown, Rhode Island, are slated to receive $25,000 grants each to upgrade their septic systems, The Westerly Sun reported. Charlestown sent grant applications to 100 properties at high risk of polluting the groundwater and will select 21 of these properties for cost-share assistance. A $750,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency will cover the septic system upgrades.
Tennessee
The Williamson County Commissioners will establish a Subsurface Sewage Disposal System task force, reported the Williamson Herald. The task force will review the county’s 436 pages of septic regulations and reduce the requirements to better align with the state’s 78-page document.
