Testimony provided in person by Shannon Therriault:
Chair Regier, members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this bill and to testify over Zoom. My name is Shannon Therriault (THERRIAULT), I’m the director of Environmental Health at the Missoula City County Health Department, and I’ve been a registered sanitarian for almost 30 years. I’m also speaking on behalf of the Montana Environmental Health Association, which is a part of Confluence PH Alliance, and includes county sanitarians from across the state, including those who permit and inspect septic systems.
Many people, when they buy a home, don’t give a second thought to where the wastewater goes when they flush the toilet or use the garbage disposal or pour something down the drain. It’s important for homeowners to know that they have a septic system, so they can be thoughtful, or at least knowledgeable about the fact that what they put down their drains can affect how their system operates, and if used incorrectly, can contaminate groundwater, drinking water, surface water and the environment. It gives people a chance and a nudge to seek out information about how to maintain their system, and what the signs are of a system not operating properly.
In addition, we support the provision that sellers provide the septic permit to the buyer, if it’s available. That permit will indicate how old the system is, so that might give them an idea if it’s an expense to expect soon; where the system is located, so perhaps they won’t drive over it. It will also indicate the approved use, which if known at the time of sale can save headaches down the line. If the septic permit is sized for a single-family dwelling, but they know that there are two dwellings attached to it, the hope is that they will rectify that at the time of sale, or at least be made aware of it, should it become an issue later on. It really is in everyone’s best interest, including the seller’s and realtor’s, for this information be disclosed at the outset.
Testimony provided in person by Shannon Therriault:
ReplyDeleteChair Regier, members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this bill and to testify over Zoom. My name is Shannon Therriault (THERRIAULT), I’m the director of Environmental Health at the Missoula City County Health Department, and I’ve been a registered sanitarian for almost 30 years. I’m also speaking on behalf of the Montana Environmental Health Association, which is a part of Confluence PH Alliance, and includes county sanitarians from across the state, including those who permit and inspect septic systems.
Many people, when they buy a home, don’t give a second thought to where the wastewater goes when they flush the toilet or use the garbage disposal or pour something down the drain. It’s important for homeowners to know that they have a septic system, so they can be thoughtful, or at least knowledgeable about the fact that what they put down their drains can affect how their system operates, and if used incorrectly, can contaminate groundwater, drinking water, surface water and the environment. It gives people a chance and a nudge to seek out information about how to maintain their system, and what the signs are of a system not operating properly.
In addition, we support the provision that sellers provide the septic permit to the buyer, if it’s available. That permit will indicate how old the system is, so that might give them an idea if it’s an expense to expect soon; where the system is located, so perhaps they won’t drive over it. It will also indicate the approved use, which if known at the time of sale can save headaches down the line. If the septic permit is sized for a single-family dwelling, but they know that there are two dwellings attached to it, the hope is that they will rectify that at the time of sale, or at least be made aware of it, should it become an issue later on. It really is in everyone’s best interest, including the seller’s and realtor’s, for this information be disclosed at the outset.
Please vote a DO PASS on HB 415