Jefferson Council: New Septic Laws Stink

The state has enacted new laws for individual sewage disposal systems, and according to the , they stink.

Cindee DeGennaro of the health department came before the council to discuss the new rules, which call for updated standards for filters and tanks and requiring upgrades and replacements when property is sold.

The new law, N.J.A.C. 7:9A, requires that cesspools be replaced at the time of a property transfer; however, it does not specify who is responsible for paying for the cost of replacement.

Effluent filters are recommended to be six inches rather than the older four-inch style, because they require less cleaning, DeGennaro said.  However, if a homeowner has a four-inch filter, cleaning is required every four months, and homeowners who do not comply can be fined, she said.

Also included in the law is a requirement that any cesspool that requires repair must be upgraded, and there is no extra time given for this provision. Also, placing a septic tank in front of a cesspool is no longer allowed.

In addition, if anything is observed to be malfunctioning during an inspection for a real estate property transfer, under the new law the inspector is required to report the malfunction to the health department. Then the health department must be sure that all requirements are met.

“This is so onerous for the citizens of Jefferson,” councilman Jay Dunham said. “It’s catastrophic for our residents.”

“It’s another example of a system that was working just fine becoming even more over-regulated,” said councilman Michael Sanchelli.

“What this does is place a financial burden on the people who can least afford it,” said business administrator James Leach. “It’s going to keep people from repairing their septics, and there’s no real benefit to the public.”