Alternative Septic Systems Draw Criticism

The board of supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia, declared a five-year moratorium on non-conventional, or alternative, septic systems in November 2008, but three months later the state assembly passed bills prohibiting localities from banning the systems. Governor Tim Kaine has not yet taken a position on the matter. Alternative septic systems, used in areas lacking public sewage systems where soil conditions preclude typical tank-and-leachfield systems, can be more complex than conventional systems and are prone to failure without adequate maintenance, say their critics. On the other hand, alternative systems are equipped with alarms to alert owners of system failures, and, according to contractors, they result in cleaner effluent when working properly. An article published by the Center for Public Integrity cited the opinion of a Loudoun County real estate agent that the attempt to impose a moratorium on alternative septic systems is actually a tactic to slow development, a claim Loudoun County Supervisor Jim Burton denies.