BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's justices of the peace on Tuesday recommended requiring inspection of septic systems before property is sold or transferred.
The Legislative Committee voted to send the proposal on to the Committee of the Whole.
What’s next
Benton County’s Committee of the Whole will discuss the proposed ordinance requiring inspection of septic systems when the panel meets at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Quorum Courtroom at the County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave. Bentonville.
Source: Staff report
Susan Anglin of District 9 said she favors the program.
"For water quality, and with the growth of the county, this is probably a very important step for us," she said.
The Planning Board discussed the issue last week. The proposal was developed by members of the Land Use Committee that recently revised planning and development regulations.
James Gately and Larry Kelly, members of the committee, said the need to identify and ensure the proper function of septic systems was clear to the committee during the earlier process but members agreed it needed to be addressed separately.
Gately said the goal is "to protect the citizens' health and safety." He said many property owners don't maintain septic systems at all or fail to maintain them properly, causing problems when the wastewater escapes into the porous karst limestone formations that lie under much of Benton County. He presented information on a gasoline leak and other incidents where water wells off site were contaminated.
"What happens here can affect somebody miles away," he said.
Gately presented photos showing examples of failed septic systems and information on how leaks can affect water wells and even larger bodies of water. He showed photos of algae blooms in Table Rock Lake and Grand Lake of the Cherokees caused by high levels of phosphorus and spoke of the need to protect Beaver Lake, an important part of the local tourism economy and the source of drinking water for much of the area.
Kelly said he has had dealing with properties with failing septic systems and the problem is widespread. State law didn't require permits for septic systems until 1977 and parcels over 10 acres were exempt until 1999.
Caroline Eastman with the Benton County unit of the state Health Department said her office has files on 25,000 permits and there's no way of knowing how many undocumented systems are in use. Eastman also said many new homes being built outside the larger cities are using septic systems and people who move into this area from other parts of the country are often unfamiliar with septic systems.
Eastman said the Health Department will develop a training program for people now licensed as designers or installers, since they are already familiar with septic systems. She said if the county adopts the ordinance and can show the program is a success, she hopes smaller cities will adopt similar programs.
The justices of the peace also recommended approval of an ordinance to adopt by reference the most recent versions of the building codes being used by the state. John Sudduth, general services administrator, said this will bring Benton County into compliance with current state regulations.
NW News on 08/26/2015