LIVE OAK, Fla. — New state regulations could cause Suwannee County property owners to spend three to four times as much on septic systems.

Greg Bailey explained the fallout of the new state regulations on the installation of septic tanks to the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting.

The new regulations, which are part of the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, regulate new construction on parcels of land less than one acre.

On those properties, Bailey explained, regular septic tanks will no longer be allowed to be installed.

Instead, property owners within the Priority Focus Area in Suwannee County — which Bailey said covers around 80 percent of the county — have three options: connect to a local municipal sewer, if they live in a septic-sewer conversion area (which there are none currently, Bailey said), they can put in a standard system until connected to the sewer, or — most likely — they have to install a nitric-reducing system.

Bailey, with North Florida Professional Services, Inc., said there are currently two options with a potential third option coming soon for those owners.

All three will cause a rather large price increase on property owners.

According to Bailey, a standard system costs around $3,000 to install and there are no recurring annual costs to that system.

The first option would be to install a nitrogen reducing with aerobic treatment unit that reduces the nitrogen 65 percent total with the use of a drain field.

That option, though, costs around $8,000 to install and would also have recurring maintenance costs annually along with addition electricity to run a blower on the system.

The other option currently available, usually used for commercial purposes, is a performance-based treatment. Bailey said it costs an estimated $10-15,000 and would also have the maintenance costs and electricity increase as well as additional monitoring costs for sampling.

“I don’t foresee that being an option for most people,” Bailey said.

The potential third option, which is currently being experimented with, would call for a filter blanket (of nitrification soil and sand and sawdust) to be placed below the drain field. Bailey said that option, which could be available later this summer, is estimated to cost at least $10,000 to install but would not require extra permitting.

“As far as treatment, it’s very effective,” he said of the tests on the system which have been underway for the past 30 months. “But there’s questions as far as how long they will last without having to be replaced.”

Chairman Ricky Gamble said it may be wise for the county commissioners to put the topic on its list of legislative priorities to discuss.

Kerry Waldron, the administrator for the Department of Health-Suwannee County, agreed, adding Sen. Rob Bradley, whose district includes Suwannee County, was the author of the bill that brought on the new regulations.

While Gamble was worried the next step for legislators would be to expand the regulations to property on more and more acreage, Bailey said he would expect expansion to be used on existing systems that need repairs.

That will cause residents to try to repair systems themselves, Gamble replied.

“You tell someone they have to put in a $10-15,000 system, you’re going to get some 55-gallon drums and some rocks,” Gamble said. “I’m not saying I would do it, but you just know that’s what’s going to happen.”

While the regulations were set to take effect July 1, Waldron said the Florida Builder’s Association has requested an extension with concerns about the new system.

So as that process plays out, Waldron said his department will continue to take applications and inspect during the permitting process based on the current rules.

Project tour

County administrator Randy Harris also set up a tour for the commissioners for various projects around the county during Tuesday’s meeting.

The tour, which is open to the public, is set for Tuesday at 8 a.m. It will depart from the Suwannee Valley Transit Authority, located at 1907 Voyles St.

Harris said the tour would include road projects and the rail spur at the catalyst site.

Rodeo arena roof

The board authorized the county to advertise for bids on preparing the rodeo arena roof at the Suwannee County Coliseum.

That was a welcomed decision to resident Bruce Tillman.

Prior to the vote, Tillman urged the board to see the project through, adding it was long overdue and has prevented some events from being held at the Coliseum.

Tillman said the current condition of the arena affects the health of both the riders and animals in the rodeo as both ends of the arena currently get wet.

“That one thing is what keeps them from having an event here is because they can’t put their $25,000 or $40,000 horse at risk for injury,” Tillman told the board about conversations he’s had in the past with the leadership of the Florida High School Rodeo Association and the Florida Junior High School Rodeo Association.

“I just really want to encourage you guys to press forward with that project.”

Tillman said the possibility of those future events could provide a nice boost to the economy through hotels and restaurants from the participants and their families.