Council approves submission of on‑site wastewater management plan to DEM to access low‑interest septic loans

The Little Compton Town Council voted to submit an on‑site wastewater management plan (OWMP) to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), a step that would allow the town to access the state CISLIP community septic loan program and make low‑interest financing available to homeowners for septic upgrades.

Jim Reardon of Weston & Sampson presented the plan, describing its core elements: a townwide management area description, a community assistance program design, an approach to encourage regular inspection and maintenance, a financial analysis of likely repair need, designation of a municipal official to manage reporting and outreach, and a septage‑disposal plan. Reardon said DEM had already reviewed a draft and provided limited comments that were incorporated.

Key numbers presented: the consultants estimated about eight septic system upgrades per year based on permitting records since 1989, with a typical modern system costing roughly $14,000–$15,000. Using those figures and modest inflation assumptions, the plan projects total repair funding need over ten years at about $1.4 million. The CISLIP program provides 2% loans up to $30,000 per household and is administered by Rhode Island Housing; the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank handles program dollars and loan flows.

Reardon proposed designating the town administrator (Tony Taxera) as the community official to coordinate outreach, reporting and program administration, while Rhode Island Housing and the infrastructure bank would administer the loans. He also recommended low‑burden education and outreach rather than an onerous municipal inspection regime to encourage participation.

Don Maderas, a licensed septic designer in Little Compton, praised the plan but warned it focuses on voluntary upgrades. He urged the council to consider mechanisms to ensure owners who should be upgrading systems — for example triggered by renovation or sale — do so, noting DEM does not always track whether permitted designs are installed.

The council approved a motion to submit the OWMP to DEM for review and to pursue CISLIP eligibility; members who spoke expressed appreciation for the consultant work and urged timely follow‑through to negotiate program terms with the infrastructure bank and Rhode Island Housing.

Next steps: staff will submit the plan to DEM, negotiate loan‑program terms with the infrastructure bank, and work with Rhode Island Housing to publicize loan availability and outreach to residents.