State extends deadline on county fairgrounds septic system decision

EPHRATA The state is giving Grant County until Dec. 31 to make a decision about what to do with the fairgrounds septic systems.

The state Department of Health sent a response to the county giving officials an extension to decide whether to connect to Moses Lakes sewer system or change its septic systems.

The department initially wanted a decision by the end of June.

I want to emphasize that you only have to commit to a preferred solution by this deadline, not implement, stated Denise Lahmann, the departments program supervisor for large on-site septic systems and reclaimed water. Once you choose, well work with you on a reasonable implementation schedule for facility design, construction and possible abandonment.

Lahmann stated the county could collect more information about the groundwater, but department officials determined the county needs to make changes to the septic system.

We came to this conclusion by reviewing the recent record data, including effluent quality sampling results, flow monitoring numbers, which reveal that eluent waste strength is well above septic tank standards and flows exceed design capacity, she wrote.

The department is requiring the county to install a holding tank for the concession stand wastewater, and monitor how much wastewater is going into the septic tanks.

As part of the requirements the department wants a study on how the systems could be changed and the cost of connecting to the citys sewer system.

Commissioner Cindy Carter said the county plans to continue monitoring the septic systems during the fair.

She wants to see a new monitoring well installed to determine if the fairgrounds systems are affecting the groundwater.

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State extends deadline on county fairgrounds septic system decision