Larry Griffin
A new bill filed today by Rep. Randy Fine, who represents House District 53, would aim to solve the Indian River Lagoon’s septic tank crisis and help all of Florida’s water quality by requiring the inspection of septic tanks as part of home and other real estate sales.
The Indian River Lagoon was revealed last year to have been polluted by human waste leaking from faulty septic tanks. The number of septic tanks in the area is unknown, but estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands combined in the five counties around the lagoon.
In a news release issued Thursday, Fine says he ran on four issues — solving the Indian River Lagoon problem, improving education, reforming the welfare state, and making Florida the best place in America to start, build, and grow a business.
This bill, called HB 285, would at least get started on the first one.
“There is no question that leaky septic tanks are contributing to water quality challenges across our state, including in our beloved Indian River Lagoon,” he said. “This measure would begin to tackle this issue by ensuring that septic tanks are inspected as part of the suite of inspections that regularly take place during a home sale so that buyers are fully informed about the properties they are considering buying.”
He said the legislation would make sure taxpayers or those on fixed income not planning to sell their homes aren’t burdened.
“Taxpayers will not be responsible for paying for the inspections, or any repairs that result, and those on fixed incomes, with no plans to sell their homes, will not be required to come up with funds for regular inspections,” he said.
