If you are a homeowner living in Central Florida or a Real Estate agent working in Florida please call Governor Crist's office now to tell him that the Department of Health is making it nearly impossible for those who own homes with septic tanks to be able to sell those homes.
FAR and our local board is also opposed to the new legislation that the Department of Health has proposed.
To avoid any possible nitrogen seepage from Septic tanks the DOH would require that the seller of the property replace their septic tanks at the sale of their home. Well, who is going to pay for this if the home is a short sale? The lender is highly unlikely to pay for this and the seller will not have the money to pay for this.
While this provision is set to apply for Central Florida we all need to call and say stop to this because once they get one area to do this, they will spread this throughout the rest of Florida.
We are not talking about a few dollars. A new system could cost ten thousand dollars or more to install. The DOH would require the testing to be done and permits pulled prior to a closing. This is really adding an undue burden on sellers.
Florida is paying for studies to be done on the nitrogen issues but there is not even any solid evidence yet about any of this. We believe that this is being done prematurally and that we need to have some studies and options looked at before these kinds of burdens are placed on homeowners.
The proposed language the DOH is considering …
The following standards shall apply in the Wekiva Study Area as defined in 369.316, F.S.
(a) In areas not scheduled, by an adopted local wastewater facility plan, to be served by a central sewer system by July 1, 2012, performance based treatment systems with a total nitrogen discharge limit of 10 milligrams per liter at the outlet of the treatment receptacle shall be required for new systems, modifications, and repairs. No increase in the authorized sewage flow allowances of 381.0065(4)(a), (b), and (g) shall allowed for use of these systems.
(b) In areas not scheduled, by an adopted local wastewater facility plan, to be served by a central sewer system by July 1, 2012, prior to completion of any real estate transaction for property with an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system that does not meet the above referenced standard, the seller must apply for and receive a construction permit to upgrade the system to a performance based treatment system with a total nitrogen discharge limit of 10 milligrams per liter at the outlet of the treatment receptacle. The system must be installed and receive final approval from the department within 18 months of the issue date of the permit.
(c) Land application of septage shall not be allowed.
Call Governor Crist today. You may reprint this article and pass it around. You may post it on your website or your blog. Please help spread the word. Thanks.
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