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Septic System Management Program <br />August 24, 1990 <br />Page 14 of 16 <br />Exhibit G illustrates the number of pump-outs reported by <br />pump-out contractors versus the number of existing system <br />inspections. The number of reported pump-outs generally is <br />higher when many inspections are being done. This is <br />predictable. An interesting fact to note is that in no year were <br />more than one-fifth of the existing systems pumped out. The <br />average yearly number of pump-outs since 1978 is 125, or <br />approximately 1 system in 8. This indi -ates that the typical <br />system is pumped out once every 8 years rather than once every 3 <br />years, as the code requires. This again can be related partially <br />to the low rate of existing system inspections, as well as to ^-he <br />lack of staff time devoted to education of the public rec'^rding <br />the need to pump septic systems. <br />Analysis <br />Some general conclusions can be reached by analyzing the <br />above charts and graphs. First, while the septic system program <br />fee has not increased since 1980, total income to the City from <br />the annual program service charge billing has increased at an <br />average rate of 1.5% per year since 1979, equivalent to the race <br />of increase of homes in the City which use septic systems. <br />At the same time, staff hours devoted to the septic system <br />program have generally decreased to less than half the hours <br />devoted at the beginning of the program. Staff hours were at a <br />high of 1600 hours in 1978, d'^opping to a low of 295 hours in <br />1989. <br />The degree of septic system maintenance (pumpout) activity <br />in the City tends to vary directly with the level of existing <br />system inspections. However, the number of existing system <br />repairs completed appears to relate more directly to the actual <br />number of staff hours devoted, rather than to the degree of <br />existing system inspections. Clearly, the presence of a summer <br />inspector results in residents maintaining their septic systems, <br />but system repair order compliance tends to increase <br />significantly during times of aggressive followup efforts.