Just about now Governor O’Malley may be hip deep in Lake Bonnie. The private lake in Goldsboro, Maryland has been closed to swimming, in part due to failing septic systems. The governor’s wade-in highlights the urgent need to curb septic system pollution. Some will deride it as a stunt — some already have. But by whatever means possible, the governor is trying to bring attention to a topic most people would rather not think about and whose costs are largely out of sight but are significant and long-term.
The Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011 (HB 1107/SB 846) would prohibit new residential major subdivisions (of 5 or more new lots) from using on-site septic systems. They would be allowed to use shared or multi-use sewerage systems, or connect to existing sewer.
The purpose of the bill is to reduce the amount of Nitrogen that is flowing into and harming the bay, streams and rivers. But the impact of septic sprawl goes beyond that. The cost of continuing sprawl patterns of development are born by everyone, no matter where you live, whether on septic or not.
See the study on our Cost of Sprawl page at Planning.Maryland.gov that describes how current growth patterns will require an estimated $104 billion in total road construction and maintenance costs up to 2030, compared to $75 billion under a Smart Growth scenario. The study, “Analyzing the Effects of Smart Growth on Projected Road Development in 2030,” was conducted by Ken (Kiman) Choi of Maryland Department of Planning last year.
And there are other costs to consider about septic sprawl. It may favor farmers who want to sell their farms, but less so for farmers who want to remain farming because homes sprouting up around them that make it harder to conduct agriculture. Also, for every $1 of tax revenue they produce, working farms require 30 to 50 cents on average in government services, compared to residential development, which requires $1.15 in services and up per $1 of tax revenue, according to the American Farmland Trust. Here are some Maryland county comparisons, based on data from several sources, including the Carroll County Dept. of Management & Budget (1994); Cecil County Office of Economic Development (1994) and the American Farmland Trust (1997, 2001-03).
For every $1 of tax revenue produced, residential properties require in services:
Carroll County $1.15
Cecil County $1.17
Cecil County $1.12
Frederick County $1.14
Harford County $1.11
Kent County $1.05
Wicomico County $1.21
For every $1 of tax revenue produced, Commercial and Industrial properties require in services:
Carroll County 48 cents
Cecil County 34 cents
Cecil County 28 cents
Frederick County 50 cents
Harford County 40 cents
Kent County 64 cents
Wicomico County 33 cents
For every $1 of tax revenue produced, Working and Open Land properties require in services:
Carroll County 45 cents
Cecil County 66 cents
Cecil County 37 cents
Frederick County 53 cents
Harford County 91 cents
Kent County 42 cents
Wicomico County 96 cents
Mar 10, 2011 @ 21:12:32
I think that the evidence shows that the proposed septic bill would have done little to help Lake Bonnie and do a whole lot to hurt Maryland farm families. Unfortunately, it is apparent that MDP and now the Governor turn a blind eye to the facts and the potential consequences of their actions. Specifically, Lake Bonnie was not polluted by modern day rural subdivisions that the bill is designed to elininate. No, the pollution at Lake Bonnie originated from several sources. Some of which were poorly run waste water treatment plants in trailer parks up stream from the lake. These systems when combined with the State of Maryland inability to effectively police them has led to much of the pollution. But rather than taking responsibility for the State’s failure, Maryland blames the ancient septic systems on tiny lots in Goldsboro. But again this is not an apple to apple comparison to modern day systems. Furthermore, the State of Maryland ordered these old systems corrected years ago. But as usual lack to commitment to bring about the fix in a timely fashion. Now after years of doing little more than studying the problem and the death of Lake Bonnie, the Governor weighs in with his photo opt. So who will pay the price for the State’s past ineffectiveness? The Maryland farm families of course, under the State’s latest backdoor DOWNZONING bill. And who in Maryland government look out for the farmers and their property rights – no one!
We have seen it time and time again, and nothing is about to change, at least not in my lifetime.