Septic updates present unique issues

Homeowners constantly encounter maintenance situations, including septic systems. For homeowners in Thompson Falls who face issues, replacing or repairing septic systems is becoming more difficult for homeowners in Thompson Falls.

County Sanitarian Shawn Sorenson on Monday gave the Thompson Falls City Council a report on wastewater activities in 2017 for the area of Thompson Falls north of the railroad tracks. Sorenson said the seven systems were installed last year, and that some projects "had some pretty serious difficulties."

Sorenson detailed each of the seven projects, and said a common difficulty above the railroad tracks in Thompson Falls is having limited space to properly repair or replace wastewater systems. The other primary issue on the hill in Thompson Falls is substantial rocks and boulders that have to be removed during projects, whether installing a new system or repairing or replacing an old system.

Sorenson told the council that the Board of Health decides whether or not to approve replacement systems. And though a replacement has not been denied yet in Thompson Falls, he said that some projects have been close. State regulations require septic tanks to be 10 feet from property lines and foundations, and Sorenson said if there are no alternatives and there just isn't enough room, the Board of Health has to issue a variance.

Though space is an issue on many of the more than 500 lots on the hill in Thompson Falls, Sorenson said that fortunately the water sources for the city are far away. "If we had a bunch of wells in the area, this would never work because you worry about contamination," he said.

Sorenson said that Sanders County, and specifically Thompson Falls, Heron, Noxon and Trout Creek, don't have community sewer systems, which is not common anymore.

In the report to the Thompson Falls City Council, Sorenson summarized wastewater treatment projects during the span of 1995 to 2017. In that time, 205 permits were issues, 43 being new systems and 162 of those replacement of failed systems.

In detailing the difficulty with projects, Sorenson said of all new and replacement systems between 1995 and 2017, 43 percent had adequate wastewater effluent treatment, with 57 percent having substandard treatment. Substandard treatment means that seepage pits were used, which doesn't offer much treatment, Sorenson said, but mostly just disposes of the wastewater.

For replacement systems, 35 percent have adequate wastewater effluent treatment, while 79 percent of new systems are adequate.

Monday's City Council meeting was the first for new council members Lynne Kersten and Shawni Vaught. Kersten will serve on the Police Commission & Planning Committee and the Water & Sewer Committee, as well as the Community & Public Relations Committee. Vaught will serve on the Budget/Finance, Recreation/Public Properties, and Streets and Alleys committees.

The council voted member Tom Eggensperger as its president.

At the meeting, residents of the Solid Rock Estates subdivision approached the council about having the city maintain roads in the subdivision. The area was originally built as a private subdivision, but later was annexed into the city. The homeowner's association currently maintains the roads. The council voted to move the issue to the Streets and Alleys committee, which will review the matter.