11-26-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Septic System Management Program August 24, 1990 Page 2 of 16 History of Orono's On-Site Sewage Treatment Inspection Program In the early 1970's, the City Council determined that the most effective way to preserve and enhance the water quality of Lake Minnetonka would be to limit the density of development within the watershed. They recognized that installation of municipal sewers has historically resulted In developer demands for smaller lot sizes for cost effectiveness. The Council therefore determined that municipal sev/ers would not be provided to the undeveloped rural areas of Orono and adopted 2-acre minimum lot size requirements for these unsewered areas, to provide adequate room for permanent use of septic systems, thereby avoiding (or at least postponing) high-density development . In February 1978, a full-time On-site Systems Inspection Program Manager was hired to review, inspect and approve all new septic system installations, inspect all existing septic systems on a regular basis, and create and administer septic system record keeping and homeowner education programs. A $20.00 per year program service charge was instituted in 1979, billed yearly to all septic system owners. Because many existing systems had never been documented as to design or location, it took 5 years to complete the initial round of system inspections, identifying and recording tank/drainf ield locations and following up on repairs. While the new on-site system ordinance adopted in 1978 anticipated inspection of each existing system at least once every 2 years, most systems were only inspected once within the first 5 year time period. Initial inspection efforts were also slowed by assignment of the inspector's time to related projects including documentation and follow-up on the Minnetonka Bluffs/West Ferndale sewer project. O