1. When is this really going to affect me?

We don’t really know. There are a number of government agencies involved at the county, state and federal levels and they need to coordinate their efforts. The soonest that some residents of Fitch Mountain may be contacted looks to be at least a year out. This may come in the form of a mailed survey aimed at determining the age & type of septic system each homeowner has.

The NCRWQCB says that they will likely begin with properties for which there is NO PERMIT listed with PRMD. That is an indication the system may be very old or be a cesspit.

On the other hand, if you have a recently-installed system, you will likely never get “the letter”—many newer systems will be automatically approved. But we do not know the details on this matter yet.

2. Is this just a Fitch Mountain issue?

No. Communities throughout the Russian River watershed are affected. The NCRWQCB estimates that there are approximately 8,000 septic systems in the affected communities (out of a total of over 51,000 in the whole watershed). The communities of Monte Rio, Summerhome Park, Northwood, Hacienda and Villa Grande on the lower river are also taking an active role staying informed and trying to ensure that the plan is realistic and addresses the concerns of the residents. In fact, Supervisors Gore and Hopkins have been meeting with a voluntary OWTS advisory group representing these communities—and FMA is on it.

3. How did they decide to focus on these 8,000 properties?

The Water Board told us that a combination of distance from the Russian River and housing density was used to decide which properties to include. Under the current version of the draft plan, if any part of a property is within 600 feet of the river or a tributary, or is, in their best professional judgment, in an area where the housing density is a threat to water quality, it will be subject to these new standards.

Aug. 21, 2017: They HAD told us that all properties on Fitch Mountain would be held to the new standards. It now seems that they are including properties only within a band of 600’ from the river bank, with “supplemental measures” required for systems within a 100’ band. The OWTS-RRR is vigorously contesting these designations, demanding scientific evidence for the necessity of their inclusion.

4. Why is the FMA involved? Are we just bringing this down on ourselves?

This entire process began in 2000 with the passing of Assembly Bill 885:

This bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board, on or before January 1, 2004, and in consultation with the State Department of Health Services, the California Coastal Commission, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, counties, cities, and other interested parties, to adopt, specified regulations or standards for the permitting and operation of prescribed onsite sewage treatment systems that meet certain requirements.”

In 2002, the Water Board designated that Russian River as an impaired waterway (for passive recreation, not for drinking water) for pathogens. Water quality monitoring was conducted from 2007 through 2013. Though the scientific process used by the State and local water boards got bogged down on which bacteria to base the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), the Russian River and its tributaries were designated as “impaired” and human waste was implicated. There have been multiple public comment periods and public meetings to gather input on the process and findings. Communities on the river, including Fitch Mountain, as well as the Russian Riverkeeper, city governments, recreation clubs, and private citizens have submitted comment. This process is much bigger and broader than the FMA and is going to move forward with or without us.

Representatives from FMA, its Wastewater Systems Committee, (aka The Septicians,) are serving along with individuals from down-river communities in an advisory capacity to push for understanding of hardships and sources of funding. In sum, we are not driving this; we are trying to ensure that FM property-owners “get a fair shake.” And, we are being heard, even if the process is slow and imperfect.

5. Where are the septic assessments going to start?

The Water Board will use permit history data from Sonoma County’s Permit & Resource Management Department (PRMD) to build a database of what is officially known about the existing septic systems in the affected communities (the 8,000 mentioned above). There will be no record for properties with septic systems installed before the early ‘70s unless work requiring a septic evaluation has been done since then.

Given that the Water Board can’t engage with 8,000 homeowners at the same time, they will develop some form of prioritization. They may organize by community, or proximity to the waterway, or by housing density, or they could group properties by existing septic type per PRMD records, or those that don’t have any PRMD record. As far as we know they haven’t decided how they will roll this out.

6. Why don’t we just hook up to Healdsburg’s sewer treatment plant?

This has been explored in the past and may be discussed again as part of this effort. The cost of installing the necessary infrastructure on Fitch Mountain’s topography has been a major sticking point in the past. There are many other problems and challenges as well. For instance, installation of a sewer could stimulate housing growth, which has worried some residents. The Fitch Mountain property owners would have to foot the bill for building and maintaining the sewer infrastructure through tax assessments.

The FMA has requested meetings with Healdsburg’s Utilities Director to see if we can further define this possibility and see if this is even on the table within the next 10 years. The entire FM community will obviously be closely informed of, and involved in, this question.

7. Is there a minimum standard for an acceptable septic system?

Yes. PRMD has minimum standards laid out in its OWTS Manual (which it is, however, constantly revising). Cesspools are not going to be allowed any longer. Some type of tank and settling pit or leach field will likely be the minimum allowed. Systems that are located under the dwelling are not going to be allowed. Variances for setbacks, tank size, leach field size, and replacement area will be made. There will also be provisions for “experimental,” systems for groups of contiguous properties, etc. Variances may often require the addition of a pre-treatment unit. It is not clear if additional septic system options will be made available by the Water Board for those in affected areas.

Aug. 21, 2017: The OWTS-RRR is pushing for the allowance of leachpits as well, which are more suitable to very small lots such as many on FM. A leachpit is a cesspool with the addition of a leachline.

8. Could I be forced to give up my house and move?

No, it is not within the law for the water board to force you from your home. They are looking at “best practical” options for acceptable septics that take up very small spaces that can be installed on small lots without being under the house. And we fully expect—and will actively work towards--that, in “very difficult situations,” where there are problems of lot size, topography, or financial hardship, some kind of variance/permission will be officially available. The Supervisors, too, are very sensitive to this issue.

Aug 21, 2017: The OWTS-RRR is pushing for a clear definition for “hardship cases,” related either to the size/location of a lot or to financial hardship, and for clear protections for such property-owners, e.g. long-term waivers.

9. Am I going to have to pay to upgrade my septic?

If it’s clearly not meeting minimum standards, maybe, but we hope there will be financial help available. Code states that “Maintenance, monitoring, and repair of individual waste treatment and disposal systems shall be the responsibility of the individual property owner.” If your septic system does not meet the minimum criteria developed by the Water Board then you will be responsible for upgrading it so that it does.

Supervisors Gore and Hopkins are very sensitive to potential financial hardship situations and are looking for funding sources to help us pay for the costs of complying with these new standards, whatever they turn out to be. These could take the form of grants, zero or low-interest loans, forgivable loans, etc. Nailing down financial assistance will be an important goal of RR community input.

Aug 21, 2017: The OWTS-RRR is circulating a petition, for signature by individual Fitch Mountain property-owners, to ask the NCRWQCB to institute a 5-year continuation of SC’s current Voluntary Upgrade Program. That is, if you voluntarily upgrade your system over the next 5 years—at your expense, of course—it will NOT be subject to whatever new regulations may be put in place. Your upgrade will be considered to be contributing to the improvement of the water quality in the river. We hope this will be accepted in some form by the Board.

10. How will I be contacted once they start on Fitch Mountain?

The process is likely to start with a mailed survey asking about the current status of your septic. Questions such as: Where on the property is it located? What type is it (cesspool, tank & pit, tank with leach field, is it mounded)? When it was last serviced and/or pumped?

11. How can I learn more?

Use these links to get more information from other web sites: