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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.

Why are the Small Wastewater Facility (Septic System) Regulations so important?

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Comments on Proposed Revisions to Teton County Small Wastewater Facility Regulations

    April 23, 2020 Comments submitted on behalf of Protect Our Water Jackson Hole, Wyoming Outdoor Council, and the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance on the proposed revisions to Teton County’s small...

    All the stuff we’re flushing needs a better solution

    • April 10, 2019
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    Septic systems leak pollutants into groundwater, but they’re hard to get rid of In Teton County’s struggle against water pollution, perhaps the most perplexing foe is the septic system. The...

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    The time to act is now.
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