Aquifer recharge zones impacted by septic systems. Eeeww

This is a great article that demonstrates how government should step in to deal with larger issues. About six months ago there was a relatively huge outcry from the public when the county required septic system inspections in parts of the Black Hills. At a public meeting, locals shouted down a SDSMT professor, Foster Sawyer, calling him a liar when he testified about how leaky septic systems can impact ground water. 


One-third Pennington County inspected septic systems need major repairs or new treatment systems
After the public failed to acknowledge there could be problems, the county went ahead and quantified the problem by inspecting septic tanks near a sensitive aquifer recharge area. In this area houses and their septic tanks sit right on top of cavernous limestone so any untreated or contaminated water flows directly into the aquifer without the natural filtering or residence time that usually cleans ground water. What the inspectors found was that a large percentage of the personal sewage systems near this area were not meeting meeting standards and that some of those were probably contaminating the water supply (to be fair, that last bit is not mentioned in the article, make no mistake, ground water is being impacted).

Now I am all for homeowner rights and limiting government in a sensible way, but there are some very clear roles that government should take when it comes to public safety. In this case a vocal minority attempted to shed responsibility for a problem which clearly exists. The potential impacts that a few bad actors could have on the entire drinking water supply for a large area is significant. Frankly, I think there are good grounds for the Federal government to step in and apply Clean Water Act regulations on these individuals, especially if the case could be proven that water in adjacent public land was being impacted. If it takes the government to fine and ultimately hold individuals responsible for public safety, I'm all for it, even if some people can not afford to make the fixes. 

For the folks in the Black Hills who have been using cesspools and living in your own filth for as long as you can remember, well, I'm sorry, the place is too good for you. It is time to clean it up or move out. Land prices in the Black Hills are higher than they have ever been and you should take advantage of that and move someplace with a a less sensitive aquifer recharge zone and, possibly, modern plumbing. Let somebody who wants to enjoy the beautiful land take responsibility for the problem you created.