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Teton County Septic System Regulations

Date: 2020-2021
Status: Completed

Septic systems can cause contamination of our only source of drinking water.

In May 2021, Teton County released proposed updates to the Small Wastewater Facility (septic system) Regulations for Public Comment. POWJH took a leadership role to ensure the proposed rules protected drinking water and the environment.

Proper management of septic systems is of critical importance to our water resources. It is widely accepted that poor management can cause nutrient and microbial contamination to groundwater. Teton County’s Small Wastewater Facility (SWF) Regulations need to be stronger to protect our Sole Source Aquifer. Unfortunately, many of the septic systems in Teton County are improperly managed and do not provide the level of treatment necessary to adequately protect public health, and surface and groundwater quality.

POWJH Role

We advocated extending the Public Comment period from 45 to 60 days, as well as including a Public Meeting and a Public Hearing in the review process. POWJH also submitted detailed public comment on the revised rules.

Although the proposed updates to the regulations included some provisions to increase water quality protections, they did not go far enough. POWJH highlighted three primary concerns surrounding the updates we would like to see addressed;

Even though the Teton County Commissioners approved the revised regulations without the improvements suggested by POWJH, they did schedule a workshop in February 2022 to prioritize investigating septic system inspection, maintenance, and compliance programs. The Water Quality Management Plan process will also review POWJH’s concerns in detail.

Related Projects

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Community Solutions

Septic Maintenance Cost Share Program

Date: Spring 2017 & 2018
Status: Completed

Teton Conservation District and Friends of Fish Creek partnered to provide Teton County, Wyoming, residents the opportunity to receive a rebate for pumping septic systems which had not been maintained in the last 5 years.

Community Solutions

Teton County Comp Plan Updates

Date: 2020
Status: Completed

In 2020, POWJH spearheaded the effort to improve water quality protections in the 2012 Teton County Comprehensive Plan updates.

The time to act is now.
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