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Bulloch County explores large-scale septage plan, estimates millions to build regional pretreatment
Summary
County staff outlined options to address roughly 55,000 residential and 3,500 commercial septic systems, including buying treatment capacity at a regional plant or building a local pretreatment facility; estimated capital costs run into multiple millions and the board did not take action but directed further study.
Bulloch County commissioners on Feb. 3 heard a work session briefing on septage management that laid out options ranging from continued reliance on septic systems to construction of a pretreatment facility and buying capacity at a regional wastewater plant.
Mister Eldridge, leading the presentation, said the county has "55,000 residential septic tanks and about 3,500 commercial" systems and described repeated instances of roadside dumping. He said engineers’ estimates put capital costs in the multi‑millions: "You're looking at 9,000,000 for a facility, 8,000,000 for capacity and access, and that would be followed by an additional 8,000,000 for treatment," and noted a potential treatment throughput of about "250,000 gallons a day." Eldridge also said the county could use an EPA grant of about $4,000,000 toward capacity purchase if it moves quickly.
Eldridge reviewed a phased approach developed by consultants: do nothing; create a consolidated receiving facility for septage haulers that connects to a regional wastewater plant; or build local pretreatment so the receiving plant treats less concentrated waste. He said pretreatment reduces the per‑gallon impact on a regional plant and could stretch purchased capacity further.
Commissioners and attendees asked practical questions about site size, public acceptance and costs. A commissioner noted the study recommended a minimum footprint of "8 acres" and that the study authors recommended "20 to 25 acres" to allow setbacks and buffering. Eldridge suggested several funding paths, including the EPA grant, pilot payments from Hyundai and a countywide special service district funded by a modest annual fee (he estimated "$40 a year per septic tank would get you about 2,400,000 in revenue annually").
Speakers emphasized ancillary planning needs: integrating wastewater with land‑use planning ("transect zoning"), coordinating with nearby cities and accounting for fire‑flow and infrastructure implications. Eldridge cautioned the board that the county has a six‑month window to act if it wants to buy capacity at the regional plant under terms negotiated with a joint development authority.
The presentation did not propose immediate action; the board used the meeting as an informational briefing and agreed to publish the consultant report for public review and to continue discussions at future work sessions.
The county is expected to revisit the issue in future meetings as staff pursues grant opportunities and refines cost estimates.
