The BOCC was presented with an item to increase septage disposal fees at their two septage receiving stations: one located at the Airport wastewater treatment facility and the other at the Glen wastewater treatment facility.
The increases were proposed due to costs of the airport facility expansion, to help with debt payments, to prevent out of county septage haulers from seeking a more affordable rate here in Hernando County and to adjust for inflationary expense increases.
The DEP, enacted a law banning the spreading of septage sludge on specially permitted lands in July 2016. Some were given a waiver to continue the spreading until July 1, 2017. The county has already seen an increase in demand for septage wastewater treatment.
Septic waste is highly concentrated, about 35 times more concentrated than residential sewer wastewater. Staff explained that because it is more concentrated, the facility resources are used to a greater extent, specifically the amount of electricity and chemicals involved in treating the wastewater.
The current rate was reduced to $39.00 in 2012 from $58.00. The proposed rate is $77.43 per 1000 gallons of septage. The average fee for counties in Florida is $81.36.
Commissioner Dukes explained that a few years ago they had a company dumping all their waste on open grounds in a field next to a residential area. The county lowered the costs for disposal at the wastewater treatment facility as an incentive to stop dumping at the field.
Since the Federal government has mandated that they can’t dump it on open fields anymore, that situation wouldn’t be a problem now. Dukes stated that he’d support the increase since leaving the price low will bring in out of county haulers.
Shirley Miketinac pointed out during public comment that while she agrees with discouraging out of county haulers, this would be raising the price on in county residents to get their septic tanks pumped out.
Mr. Champion asked if other services are currently subsidizing the costs associated with treating the septage at $39 per 1000 gallons and Attorney Jon Jouben stated that they are.
The Commission voted unanimously to increase the rate to $77.43 effective Jan. 1 , 2017.