Authority funds studies of septic elimination and sump-pump disconnection programs

The authority approved a professional-services task order to evaluate septic-system elimination costs and to recommend program options, while members agreed to further develop a voluntary sump-pump disconnection program before approving implementation measures.

A presenter explained task order #12 would evaluate the cost to provide sewer substitution where septic systems still exist, develop baseline numbers, and recommend application and review processes. The board approved task order #12 (approved in packet with a maximum amount stated in the meeting materials) to produce a study and report that will inform potential subsidy or reimbursement programs for homeowners.

Separately, a consultant spoke about task order #13 to develop a voluntary sump-pump disconnection program that would include detection methods (smoke testing, house-by-house inspection, camera inspection from the main) and policy guidance for where pumps should discharge. Board members emphasized the need to tailor methods to local conditions and to identify the most effective detection approaches before moving to incentives or penalties; the authority tabled the motion and requested further refinement of the scope.

Board members flagged the tradeoffs between incentives (“carrots”) and enforcement (“hammers”) for voluntary disconnection programs and asked staff to consider a public-education component combined with targeted field detection. Staff will return with refined scopes and cost estimates.

Next steps: consultant to complete the septic elimination cost evaluation and return recommendations; staff and consultant to refine the sump-pump scope with selected detection methods and pilot options for board review.