Panel advances bill to bar forced hookup to public water or sewer; adds protection for private irrigation wells

The Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs subcommittee advanced legislation on private wells and septic systems and adopted an amendment that protects private irrigation wells.

Representative Ligon presented the bill, saying: “the Department of Environmental Services shall not deny a property owner the right to repair and replace any well or septic tank existing on the effective date of this act solely because of any other available water or sewer service or both.” He told the panel the measure would protect property owners from being forced to connect to newly installed water or sewer lines and would preserve the option to repair functioning wells or septic systems rather than pay for mandatory tap-on costs.

Supporters said the change addresses a statewide pattern in which residents faced large costs when authorities required connection to municipal water or sewer after lines were extended. Jay Swearingen,…