To the editor:

Every year, we erect an above-ground pool in our backyard, and every year, we take it down in late September.

The Brown County Health Department has a new septic ordinance proposal scheduled for a public meeting March 29. In this proposal, it states that I must now contact the health department when I put my pool up.

Section 208A: Before remodeling, expansion, construction or alteration of a residence with an on-site sewage system, the floor plans of the proposed residence must be reviewed by the Brown County Health Department. If the alterations include the addition of a bedroom or a jetted tub of 125 gallon capacity or more, the septic system must be updated to existing state and county codes.

Section 208B: Prior to any modification to the landscape, room addition, driveway, barn, shed, swimming pool, etc., the homeowner is required to obtain a septic record or septic locate approved by the Brown County Health Department to ensure there are no encroachments into the septic field and any changes must comply with Section 221.

Sounds simple enough. Only the health department doesn’t have any paperwork on my septic system. So to be compliant with the new ordinance, I need to have my septic system located for $250. I cannot simply probe the 16-foot circle for any signs of a septic system. I must pay to locate it.

Without septic records on file, I think it’s safe to assume that I don’t have boring samples either. Section 216: Each property owner must obtain a soil evaluation report showing three soil borings, or one pit and two soil borings, per septic site. All of the soil borings or pits must be located within the soil absorption field or bed.

Bore sampling is another $300.

Then there is this little gem. Section 222: The following situations will require a septic system that meets current standards and codes:

A change in use of a commercial structure to a residential dwelling, or vice versa.

A change to a residential dwelling in which the number of bedrooms, or rooms that can be perceived as a bedroom as defined in Section 101, are more than what is listed on the property card.

In which the septic system is not the appropriate size for the year which the house was built.

An outbuilding (garage, shed, barn, etc.) where a shower, sink and toilet are added may be considered a bedroom, and if it is determined to be a bedroom, the septic system must be sized to accommodate the addition.

A dwelling in which a septic system was illegally installed or not approved by the Brown County Health Department.

I don’t have any records showing my system was approved by the health department. I’ll need an inspection at an additional $250. Which requires a pumping, for an additional cost.

So instead of probing my own yard, I have to involve the health department and pay around $1,000 so I can cool off in my pool, in my backyard, on my property.

Sincerely,

Sherrie Mitchell, Brown County

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