Page 14 - SCG 11-15.indd

Regulations May Impact River Housing
By Brenda Adelman
Reassuring words from Regional Board Staff during the meeting in Monte
Rio on September 22nd, went something like this, “No one will lose their home because of new septic regulations meant to protect the health of those who recreate in the river.”
AB885 Wastewater Regulations Aerobic Treatment Q & A
Q - I live right on the river and the Water Board is telling me I have to replace my failing septic system. Traditional septic don’t work when the river floods. They won’t let me replace mine with a traditional system, and the ones that are certified for flood areas are too expensive (I’ve been told they are $20,000 to $50,000). My lot is small - next door neighbors are only a few feet away on both sides. If I can’t put a septic on the river side where I have a yard - where would I put something that works?
A - I believe your question is better answered by a qualified septic designer. They are well versed in all state and local regulations, but more importantly they understand the importance of allowing the site to determine the type of system that will work best. The Designer can work with the County and Regional Board for the best practicable solution for your property.
Q - I have heard about composting toilets, but I don’t think they are certified by the county and not sure they would work in the flood zone either. Then what would I do with my kitchen sink and bath water? I have a two bedroom, one bath cabin - I’m retired and on fixed income - I can’t afford to do this and am afraid they will condemn my property if I don’t comply.
A - Please check with your jurisdiction, but I believe composting toilet are only allowed through the variance process.
You have hit on the dilemma that our customers often come across. A composting toilet would still require a greywater system and/or septic system (kitchen sink) for your residence. It may be more practical to install an ATU (Aerobic Treatment Unit.) which treats all the household waste and can irrigate lawns, shrubbery or other landscape.
Q - Is your system certified by the county to work in flood zones?
A The HOOT treatment system is designed to be watertight and can be designed so there are not buoyancy issues in a flood condition. Special design features in a flood zone include increasing the height of the vent and electrical equipment to an elevation above anticipated flood levels.
Q - How much would it cost for my size house?
A - Discussing cost can be a tricky. Potential customers always ask for the cost of our system, a very simple question to answer, $13,500.00, but it’s the other cost that are often not considered. Licensed designer, permit fees, dispersal field material, inspections, installation, service/maintenance (required by County), delivery and tax just to mention a few. Installation is typically the biggest unknown variable. Installing a new ATU in an area with lots of room, easy access and very flat will cost considerably less than the same residence
in a more problematic area. Designer/permits: +/- $5500.00 ATU equipment, delivery & tax: +/- $15,000.00 (4 bdrm) Installation: Varies based on site specific conditions. ATU, Operation & Maintenance (required): +/-$175.00/per visit
14 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/15
But why did few people in the audience believe these words? While the regulators’ goal was not meant to remove people from their homes, proposed standards aim to keep all bacteria out of the Russian River
but for those contributed by wild animals, probably an impossible standard to meet. Regarding the funding of this task, while the agency provided a list of potential funders for septic replacement and repair, low- income homeowners know it’s very difficult to actually obtain those funds without obligating themselves to major debt.
Coliform Bacteria
At that same meeting, concerned citizens pleaded with Regional Board
staff for a map designating high priority areas. They were told it wouldn’t be provided. So far it is unknown who will be most affected by new rules, no idea of what individual septic improvements might be required, let alone what they might cost. While officials claim that the Russian River County Sanitation District causes as much pollution as septic systems, nevertheless hooking up is considered an option for some.
But we all want a clean river, free of disease causing bacteria, and we want
to affordably fix those infrastructure problems that are REALLY broken and causing harm, while not forcing unnecessary regulations on those whose plumbing hardware causes no problem. Programs are needed to identify which systems are allowing pathogens to reach the waterway. The broad approach where everyone is ‘guilty until proven innocent’, is not fair to those who have invested over the years in maintaining their systems.
County Speaks Out
In what may be an unprecedented action, the County sent a strongly worded comment letter to the Regional Board recently lambasting them about this project. They objected to the very short duration of the comment period (already closed after only 90 days although staff took over five years to develop report); they objected to the lack of adequate notice to the people in high priority areas (including most of the lower river and Healdsburg area); they objected to being targeted as the agency to oversee ALL current septic systems, which has never before been their charge, they had concerns about being
held solely responsible for finding remedies for the homeless population, and finally, they stated that potential costs to homeowners could cause them to lose their homes.
As already indicated, there are numerous contradictions in the Draft Staff Report for the Russian River Watershed Pathogen Indicator Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). (Draft Report) This is the 345 page document released late last August, establishing complex new requirements aimed at assuring that there are no pathogens above natural background levels in the Russian River and its tributaries. The comment period has already closed, although Russian River Watershed Protection Committee is challenging a similar situation on a previous major permit approval in the belief that written comments should be accepted up until the close of the public hearing, whether or not staff can reply to them. By cutting off public comment and by allowing inadequate time for comments, both written and oral, Board members are demonstrating that they don’t care about the needs of the community.
What is even more egregious, as soon as the TMDL is approved, the Report states that it will then sit on a shelf until the State Board completes their review of Bacteria standards, which they expect to be changed. They will do this so they won’t have to change the document more than once after regulations
are revised by the State. In other words, they are rushing the public in the expectation they will then stop the process. REGULATIONS cont’d to page 15