Comment on Water Quality Regulations by Dec. 20
Teton County is revising the regulations that govern small wastewater facilities (better known as septic tanks or septic systems).
Public comment on the proposed regulations closes on Dec. 20, 2021. The County Commission also plans to hold a public hearing on Dec. 21 to review the draft regulations.
The staff report on the draft update can be found along with the proposed draft regulations here.
The local water quality advocacy group, Protect Our Waters Jackson Hole, provides important analysis of the draft regulations on their website here.
Finally, here’s an excellent editorial from the editorial board of the News & Guide.
Please comment! You can do so either by email or during the public hearing (which will be held via Zoom, so you can comment from your home or office).
To do so, please e-mail Teton County Engineer Ted VanHolland at tvanholland@tetoncountywy.gov and copy the county commissioners at commissioners@tetoncountywy.gov.
My Perspective on the Proposed Regulations
The Snake River Aquifer is the sole source of drinking water aquifer for Jackson Hole. This is an important hydrological and legal distinction. In short, we get pretty much all our drinking water from – while disposing of our human waste into – this same source of groundwater.
Water quality in the valley is declining and is already seriously polluted in parts of the county, especially in Hoback. In other words, human sewage is contributing to contamination of our drinking water. That’s not only gross, but unhealthy in the long run.
It’s pretty much impossible (or at least infeasible) to clean up an aquifer after it’s polluted. Prevention is a much better option.
The proposed regulations are a small – but insufficient – step in the right direction. The proposed draft has three glaring shortcomings, which need to be addressed by:
Expanding the regulatory program to cover not only new systems but existing septic systems (e.g. phase in a program to regulate existing septic systems, starting with those that are most likely to be failing). One problem is that we apparently don’t even know how many septic systems we have – perhaps 2,000 to 3,500.
Initiating an inspection program, which can be phased in, starting with septic systems most likely to fail. The county can license local engineers and septic cleaning firms to do inspections.
Developing protection plans for the more than 100 private water systems in Teton County – currently only three of these have protection plans.
Weighing the Changes
I am still studying the proposed regulations, reading about regulations in other Western mountain towns, and talking with both experts and local folks (including that very special interest group of people who drink tap water), so I have not made up my mind.
My current impression, however, is that the County Commission needs to either send these regulations back to the drawing board for strengthening or condition approval of the proposed draft on a commitment – with a definite and ambitious deadline – to address at least the three essential measures described above.
I value your perspective. Please let me know what you think.
All the best for the holidays.