Grant aids septic-system fixes

Funds to benefit low-income residents in Benton County

BENTONVILLE -- A recently awarded grant will help Benton County deal with failing septic systems, but officials say problems will continue.

Septic systems

Despite the growth of urban areas in Benton County, with cities accounting for about 80 percent of the population, septic systems are still used to treat residential wastewater in rural areas. About 60 permits for new septic systems are being issued monthly in Benton County.

Source: Benton County Health Department

The county was awarded $185,000 in federal grant money through the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District in Harrison. Jay Stallard, senior grants administrator, said this is the second time the county has been awarded a grant to work with low-income rural residents who have failed or failing septic systems in their homes. The money comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Stallard said. The county administers the grant and works with the Benton County unit of the state Health Department, he said.

"The Health Department identifies the locations that have failed septic systems," Stallard said. "We verify their incomes."

Most of the recipients of the grant money could be described as "working poor," Stallard said.

"A lot of these people really don't have resources," he said. "They're making their house payments. They're going to work every day. They just couldn't quite get the resources saved up to address this kind of problem."

The income cutoff for Benton and Washington counties is from $32,000 to $36,000 a year for a two-person household, Stallard said. Based on average costs, installing a new septic system in these homes will cost about $10,000, he said.

When the county approved the grant application earlier this year, the Health Department had a list of more than 40 homes that may qualify for assistance. Caroline Eastman, environmental health specialist with the Benton County unit of the Health Department, said the list will change as some people are able to find help but that the number of homes with problems is pretty consistent. Benton County has more septic systems than any other Arkansas county and issues more permits on a monthly basis than any other county in the state, she said. Septic systems have a finite life span, and as long as they are used, some will fail, she said.

"The average life span is about 30 years, give or take," Eastman said. "As time goes on, you're having to replace these older systems."

The Health Department handles problem septic systems on a complaint basis, Eastman said. Once a complaint is received and the problem verified, she said, a homeowner will be sent a letter giving him 30 days to correct the problem. An extension of up to 10 days may be granted if circumstances warrant it, she said. Homeowners who fail to correct a problem can be referred to the prosecuting attorney's office, although that is rare, Eastman said.

"Most people want to fix their systems," she said. "They don't want the overflow laying on the ground. They don't want kids playing in it or animals drinking from it."

John Sudduth, the county's general services administrator, said the county's environmental division receives frequent complaints about septic systems, which are referred to the Health Department. The grant funding is helpful, Sudduth said, adding he expects this money to also improve the situation.

"We do have a problem in the county, and it's a huge problem," Sudduth said. "At Benton County environmental, we will get complaints or our employees will notice surfacing of sewage and we'll report it to the Health Department. We know of failed systems where the property owners simply don't have the money to get the systems repaired or replaced, so this is a huge help and we're glad to get it."

Metro on 08/08/2016

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