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Septic System Upgrade Deadline is Approaching Here's a friendly reminder to all Orono property owners with non-compliant onsite septic systems. Beginning in the mid-1990s the City began to identify those septic systems that made use of trench drainfields, a maj ority of which do not maintain the minimum required vertical separation above seasonal water tables. Each existinb system was subjected to soil borings to determine the seasonal water table depth. When a system was identified as non-compliant, the owner was notified of the need to bring the system into compliance.and given several years to complete the upgrade. The deadlines to upgrade were divided into whether or not the property was in the Shoreland District (within 1000' of a lake, or within 300' of a protected tributary stream). Properties in the Shoreland District were given until December 31, 2007 to become compliant. Properties outside the Shoreland area with non-compliant systems were allowed until December 31, 2010 to conform to the septic code. Don't wait until the last minute! The City is strongly recommending that property owners not wait until the deadline arrives to bring t�heir systems into compliance. The process to upgrade your septic system can be quite lengthy. The first step in the process is to hire a site evaluator & designer to determine what type of system is required and provide the blueprint for the system installation. The property owner inust then contract v�ith a septic s}�stem ir.sta??er to have thP system const:�a�ted. The installation of septic systems is very weather dependent, especially for mound systems, which can onTy be installed when the ground is relatively dry, i.e. typically Junc ilil•u September. Contractors' schedules fill up quickly, so it's important to start your plannin� and desibn process now to ensure a timely installation. The period of tirne from decidin�to update your septic system to the actual installation can easily eaceed three to four months or more. Please contact the Building and Zoninb Department at (952-249- 4500� ��ith an;� questions yo�i may have about brin�in� your septic system into compliance. For a list of licensed designers and 'ansta�lers you may go to ��w�.�fl.��-o�a�.��.aa�, eYick on C'ity I)epartments, elic�: on Septic, then clic�: on the lin�:to wti�ca.state.mn.us%pro�rams.