Resolution 263-2007
Mayor Mario DiGennaro
RESOLUTION NO. 263 -2007
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY
SUPPORTING A PROGRAM TO CONVERT
DECOMMISSIONED SEPTIC TANKS TO CISTERNS.
WHlii:REAS, the State of Florida is currently under drought conditions; and
and
WHlii:REAS, the State of Florida has experienced many drought years in the recent past;
WHlii:REAS, as an area of critical state concern, Monroe County is under a State rule
requiring the: sewering of the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, owners of on-site sewage treatment systems, including septic tanks, are
required by law to connect to a central sewerage system within 30 days of such a system
becoming available; and
WH]~REAS, health regulations require the decommissioning of septic tanks when a
property is switched to a central sewerage system; and
WHEREA$, decommissioned septic tanks could be converted into cisterns for the
collection and storage of rainwater to be used for landscape irrigation and other non-potable
water uses; and
WH]~REAS, the use of cisterns would alleviate the demand for ever-decreasing water
resources; and
WHlcREAS, the State of Florida Department of Health Rule 64E-6.001, F.A.C. prohibits
the use of a decommissioned septic tank for any other purpose; and
WHI:REAS, the State of Florida Department of Health has previously allowed a
variance from Rule 64E-6.001, F.A.C., to allow the conversion of septic tanks to cisterns; and
WUEREAS, in an April 2005 e-mail, the Monroe County Health Department announced
that it would consider group variances under a single application; and
WHI~REAS, the Board of County Commissioners finds that conversion of septic tanks
Septic Tanks to Cisterns
to cisterns for irrigation purposes would: save drinking water otherwise used for landscape
irrigation currently, reduces storm water runoff since rainwater which strikes the roof is
collected instead of becoming sheet flow carrying pollutants into near shore waters, reduce the
reasons to violate water restrictions; and result in a greener Florida landscape during times of
s~vere drought;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1: That Monroe County supports a program for converting decommissioned
septic tanks to cisterns for use for irrigation purposes.
Section 2: Monroe County encourages the State of Florida to establish a conversion
program which would encourage and facilitate the conversion of septic tanks to cisterns.
Section 3: The Clerk is directed to send certified copies of this Resolution to Florida
to AnaViamonte Ros, Secretary of Department of Health (DOH), 2585 Merchants Row
Boulevard, Tallahassee, Fl.; Gerald Briggs, DOH Division of Environmental Health, Chief of
Onsite Sewage Programs, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Fl. 32399-1728, and to Bob
Eadie, Director of the Monroe County Health Department, 1100 Simonton Street, Key West, FL
33040.
Section 4:
This Resolution shall become effective on the date written below.
PASSED AND ADOP1ED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Horida, at a meeting of said Board held on the 18th day of July, A.D., 2007.
Mayor Mario DiGennaro
Mayor Pro Tern Dixie M. Spehar
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
Commissioner George Neugent
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Not: Present:
Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OFMONROEC~~RID1(")~
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