the homeowner is the untouchable sacred cow

In Arizona “we” granted the homeowner the status of an untouchable a
sacred cow … why …?

A Perspective for your consideration . . .

Here’s a quite different perspective on a fee charged for wastewater.

In Arizona we have chosen to legally exonerate the homeowner, upon whose property is installed a residential septic system, as a “sacred cow” untouchable and totally unaccountable and not responsible when it comes to the choices he makes as he uses and/or abuses this residential septic system. Why is that…?

Across Arizona we have over these past 50 years plus cowered when the topic of accountability and responsibility arises concerning instituting any positions which legally as well as financially hold anyone with a residential septic system accountable and responsible for how he uses and/or abuses it.

Yet, were that same homeowner connected to the water and wastewater system in Phoenix, he would be expected to pay about $49/per month as his portion of the cost to maintain this system. Were he, however, to reside on a property with his own wastewater septic system, “we” – that’s you and me – grant him absolution from any form of routine operation and maintenance. Let’s see on the one hand, if you live in Phoenix you’ll pay about $600/year for water/wastewater. Yet, if you live on property with your own wastewater septic system you can pay nothing. Might there be something a bit out of balance here…?

And not only do “we” unilaterally pardon the homeowner when they choose to illegally operate and/or abuse your septic system, we’ll even allow you to sell it to some unsuspecting person (caveat emptor) without holding you legally accountable or responsible. Now how’s that for another gift…? Call it a bonus…!

In the more than 30 years I have been involved in the residential septic industry in Arizona, we have stood by in silence as ADEQ instituted draconian rules, regulations, bulletins, opinions governing the design, the installation and even the O&M for all types of residential septic systems on the one hand, while we conveniently allowed them to leave the proverbial barn door open by choosing to NEVER put any teeth into enforcement, implementation or education. But this posture permits us to have ADEQ personnel strut around the country calling attention to the illegitimate efficacy of their promulgated Rule. Hey, look at us, we have incredibly prescriptive rules totaling more than 60 pages, we’re a national leader in the industry, though we do not enforce our rules, lest we kill the goose laying the golden egg of unsustainable economic growth through home building.

In the intervening 50 years the water and liquids we unconsciously flush down our septic system drains have morphed to contain increasing residual amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, cosmetics, chemicals, fabric softeners, floor strippers, toilet bowl cleaners and pharmaceuticals. Add to that the residual amount of MBTE the result of the gas we accidently spilled on our pants or shirt or socks. Into our septic tank system we unconsciously create a witches-brew potpourri which seeps into our ground ultimately making its way to becoming part of our potable (drinking) water supply. Might the need and/or requirement for routine residential septic O&M begin to take a bit of a different look…? Why then are “we” – that’s you and me – so utterly fearful to institute reasonable regulations which effectively and efficiently hold all users of septic systems to legitimate routine O&M standards…?

Were I a current owner and user of any residential septic system, and I have been, I would most assuredly want a seat at any table when and where any discussion was taking place respecting what these regulations should be. And I for one would certainly grant you a seat at the table. Historically, though, these rules and regulations are promulgated by ADEQ behind closed doors granting mere lip service to John Q. Public - “stakeholders” - while conceding far greater access to other county regulators, PR firms, lobbyists, lawyers, corporate AG, mines, big cities and counties and other large scale water users, but declining to extend this same courtesy to the “average” Arizona citizen. Please do not mistake my intention. I truly feel “we” are far past the time when “we” should be holding you – all owners and users of septic systems – accountable and responsible legally and financially for the use and/or misuse of that septic system while it is under your care, custody and control.

I seek not any punitive action rather the implementation of practices and processes which will provide long term for a cleaner effluent into a thoughtfully designed soil treatment component interfacing with our potable (drinking) water supply. I do not claim to have the answers to any of the myriad of questions surrounding how to design or implement such a process, but I am willing to be a part of an endeavor to contemplate one. Are you…?

Contemporary marketing gurus suggest that for any notion to be viable in the competition for your attention, the plea must be urgent, pervasive, and incorporate a willingness to pay. Water is considered by most ubiquitous in our society thereby failing to be seen as unique and valuable. And for some strange reason “we” seem to feel that no matter what “we” do to water it will always remain sustainable. Within the context of the concepts posed by these gurus how does one honestly position – water – to enable it to achieve the status required to be seen by you and me as urgent, pervasive and incorporate a willingness to pay…? I confess short of peppering you with words and pictures of water associated with death, mayhem, destruction, dying and disease especially relating to children, “we” – that’s you and me - find it ever so easy to turn away from any meaningful discussion on the myriad of issues associated with water. “We” need be aware “we” do so at our peril…!

"The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them" . . . Albert Einstein … If “we” – that’s you and me – are either unable or unwilling to begin to “think outside the box” we are doomed to merely repeat the same legacy positions and postures “we” have currently implemented. “We” should by this time be totally cognizant of the results of our current thinking and be at least willing to open to the immortal words of Captain Kirk of the Enterprise … “to boldly go where no man has gone before” … what that looks like I do not have a clue, but I’m willing to find out. Are you…?

Our future is precisely where it should be, squarely in our hands. It is up to us to collectively, thoughtfully and diligently to design and implement realistic and practical water components equitable for all of Arizona’s citizens, as well as all of mankind.