The mandate from Florida’s legislators, which requires many homeowners to upgrade their septic tanks or connect to the sewer system, has raised concerns among many in Sebastian. Although connecting to the sewer system is ideal, the cost is a deterrent.
Council Member Ed Dodd and Vice Mayor Christopher Nunn addressed this topic during last week’s City Council meeting. They emphasized that city and county officials are discussing the matter in Tallahassee.
Dodd mentioned, “There’s a lot of concerns and, in some cases, almost panic about the septic to sewer mandate scheduled for 2030, regarding the state statute that went into effect as of July 1, 2023.”
The core objective of this mandate, set for completion by July 2030, is to aid the Indian River Lagoon. Most affected areas are coastal, and Sebastian is no exception.
Nunn highlighted, “This is not a City of Sebastian issue; this is an issue that is affecting a huge portion of Florida. I believe that our legislature did not consider the enormous effect this new law would have on its citizens.”
Dodd voiced concerns regarding the financial strain of the mandate, a sentiment shared by the Sebastian City Council and the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners. Previously, homeowners might have been charged up to $30,000 for this transition.
However, he reassured, “There are a lot of forces that are looking at that legislation and working with the people in Tallahassee to do something about that.”
Entities such as the Florida League of Cities and the Florida League of Counties are already in deliberation. The City of Sebastian and the Indian River County Board of Commissioners have jointly addressed the matter.
Dodd further added that the proposed 2030 deadline might be unrealistic. He mentioned that a feasible timeline for the county utility department to establish a connection to the sewer might be around 2045 to 2050. He proposed a 20 to 25-year plan done by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to be finalized by 2030. Discussions on financial assistance for homeowners in the form of grants are also ongoing.
Highlighting the enormity of the project, Dodd remarked, “It would literally be over $100 million for us to install that enhanced septic tank in every house in Sebastian. That’s just not attainable by anybody. We couldn’t raise that kind of money if we sold everything that the city owns.”
However, Dodd urged residents to remain calm, expressing confidence in local authorities’ ability to amend the deadline. He concluded, “There are many forces that will do something about this. We are going to have to do it eventually.”
Nunn added, “The city, along with the Florida League of Cities, will work and, if need be, fight our legislators to find a sensible middle ground that works for our cities and counties and the citizens to protect our Lagoon and other bodies of water.”
