PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. – As more homes convert their septic tank systems to the sewer, the problem for homeowners on one side of Fay Boulevard is that the sewer line is on the other side of the divided four-lane highway.
Rosemary Augustine told your Port St. John Community Correspondent James Sparvero that making the long connection could cost homeowners up to $100,000.
“Which is a little outrageous,” Augustine said.
The homeowner contacted Sparvero through the News 6 Neighborhood Network, hoping to get more help making the switch than just the $12,000 she says she got approved for from a grant through Brevard County’s Save Our Indian River Lagoon program.
[RELATED: How cities are stepping up septic-to-sewer conversions across Brevard County]
“We’re talking $60,000 to $100,000 per homeowner to convert this,” Augustine said. “Why can’t the county bring the connection to our side of the street and make it accessible?”
Sparvero asked that question to the county, and they haven’t answered yet, nor did they want to be interviewed, but in an email they said the utilities department is looking into whether neighbors could share a connection running under the road.
“It’s not gonna be cheap, no matter what,” local plumber Jeff Rice of J. Rice Plumbing said. “There’s gotta be better options out there. Those kind of funds just aren’t accessible to most people on a short notice.”
A letter to homeowners reads that they have one year to make the conversion or face fines or service restrictions.
Augustine said next she might consider getting a legal opinion about this and possibly file a lawsuit against the county.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates to this story.