Residents tell commissioners untreated sewage is reaching county lake; KDHE urged prosecution
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Summary
Residents and commissioners described widespread failures in septic pumping service affecting an estimated 30–40 seasonal homes and possible direct discharges into a county lake; KDHE reportedly urged Bourbon County to pursue enforcement and commissioners agreed to consult the county attorney and KDHE about options.
Public comment at the Bourbon County commission meeting turned to environmental and public-health concerns when a resident representing a homeowners association described repeated failures of septic pumping service that she said left “30 to 40” homes not getting pumped on a regular basis and resulted in sewage entering the ground and, in at least one instance, the lake.
The resident said the area serves roughly 1,200 residents with about 200 full-time occupants and that, when the contracted pumper failed to provide service, wastewater flowed into the environment. She told commissioners that Kansas Department of Health and Environment staff had told the HOA “Bourbon County needs to prosecute,” and she cited KDHE guidance and a $200-per-day fine figure as an example of potential enforcement penalties.
Chair Samuel Tran said he had inspected the area and described seeing a tank with both inlet and outlet piping and a line leading downhill toward the lakeside. Commissioners raised questions about the age and legality of the installations and whether required leach fields existed. The chair and other commissioners urged the resident to provide documentation and asked staff to forward materials to the county attorney for review.
Commissioner comments emphasized the county’s duty to safeguard residents’ health. The board requested staff follow up with KDHE and the county attorney to evaluate enforcement avenues and to report back at a future meeting with options for next steps, including whether state statutory remedies could be applied.
The meeting record shows no formal vote on enforcement at this session; commissioners instructed staff to pursue further information and legal review.
