The Florida Legislature has been hard at work trying to address water quality issues throughout the state.
Some of those issues start with failing septic systems.
To help solve the problem, lawmakers passed new septic system requirements in Florida. Take a look below to get up to speed on these new requirements and their deadlines.
A septic system, also known as an onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), is a system that treats wastewater from a home and allows it to be absorbed by the soil without causing contamination or odor. It typically consists of a septic tank and a drainfield:
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Septic tankA watertight, underground chamber that holds wastewater long enough for solids to settle and grease and oil to float. The tank is usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene and has compartments and a T-shaped outlet to prevent sludge and scum from leaving.
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DrainfieldA shallow, covered excavation in unsaturated soil where bacteria break down wastewater pollutants. The treated effluent then returns to the property’s soil and groundwater
