Port St. Lucie homeowners with septic systems can expect increasing pressure to connect to the city sewer system, particularly in waterfront neighborhoods, as part of the effort to clean up the St. Lucie River.
Several City Council members said they want to get more serious this year about inducing 17,654 homeowners to abandon their septic systems and reduce the pollutants flowing into St. Lucie River tributaries.
“It’s not getting better,” Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan said about the river pollution. “This is something that needs to be worked on. This is very important.”
Among the proposals the council discussed during its winter retreat on Feb. 21 were offering a discount on new sewer connections, extending the free financing period for connections to 15 years from 10 years, and requiring connections for homes in waterfront neighborhoods.
City Manager Russ Blackburn said he anticipated presenting a staff analysis of the proposals to the council on May 20.
There are 5,171 homes on septic systems within 50 feet of a waterway leading to the St. Lucie River, city records show. That includes 4,770 within the city limits and 401 in bordering neighborhoods in unincorporated St. Lucie County.
The council asked city utilities officials to determine the number of homes on septic systems within 150 feet of the St. Lucie River tributaries in case those are also contributing to water pollution.
The council also asked utilities officials to look for ways to reduce the $5,757 sewer connection charge, particularly for low- and moderate-income homeowners.
The hookup charge amounts to $47.98 per month under the city’s 10-year interest-free payment program, city records show. When added to the average monthly sewer bill of $55.56, homeowners are looking at a new expense of $103.54 per month to connect to the city sewer system.
That cost increase could trigger a rebellion by homeowners of limited means, several council members said.
“There is going to probably be pushback on this,” predicted Mayor Gregory Oravec.
Oravec and the other council members agreed to consider offering incentives, such as a 10 percent discount, to encourage homeowners with septic systems to connect to the city sewer system.
The city may decide to offer incentives for a certain period of time and then require the connections, Oravec said.
Councilman John Carvelli suggested starting a connection campaign with generous incentives and reducing them as time goes by so homeowners are motivated to hook up sooner.
The council also asked utilities officials to research whether state law would allow the city to start inspecting septic systems to make sure they are functioning properly.
In addition, the council asked utilities officials to determine ways to institute mandatory sewer system connections based on a home’s proximity to a river tributary and the age of its septic system.
It was political pressure that prompted the City Council not to require all homeowners to connect to the sewer system during the great utility expansion of 1996 through 2006.
“Currently, your septic has to fail before you are required to connect,” Oravec said. “That was kind of the political deal the council at the time cut so they could survive the bomb threats and the overflow public participation.”
