Laserfiche WebLink
The remedy? Upgrade failing septic tanks or convert them to public sewer lines. <br />The challenge? Financing the upgrades and conversions. Replacing a septic tank <br />and drain field alone can cost $5,000 to $7,000 — and more if soil at the site needs <br />to be replaced. <br />Clearly, there are no simple solutions. However some communities on the Treasure <br />Coast are finding creative ways to address the problem. <br />• The city of Stuart has embarked on an ambitious project: expanding Stuart's <br />downtown sewer system to the rest of the city. To encourage residents to convert <br />from septic to sewer lines, the city is offering discounts: $2,000 off the $8,000 cost <br />and interest-free payments spread over 10 years. Those who pay up front will save <br />an additional $1,000. <br />• More than 50 residents of West Wabasso, an unincorporated area north of County <br />Road 510 in Indian River County, are converting from septic to sewer thanks to a <br />$750,000 federal grant through the state's Department of Economic Opportunity. <br />Unfortunately, there are still too few septic -conversion projects on the Treasure <br />Coast. <br />Solving the pollution problem in our Indian River Lagoon requires a multifaceted <br />approach. Septic -tanks conversions must be a part of this process — a process that <br />will be slow, piecemeal and costly. <br />If the ultimate goal is restoring and preserving the lagoon, local governments will <br />make a commitment to the process — and find creative ways to finance projects and <br />make the change. <br />krt:at <br />2013 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online <br />